Short answer: very often, yes — and almost nobody tells the customer. With most major heat pump and HVAC manufacturers, the warranty on parts (often 10 years) and on the compressor is conditional on maintenance performed by a qualified professional, generally every year, with proof to back it up. A customer who has never had their unit serviced can see their claim disputed the day the compressor fails.
What manufacturers ask for most often
- Periodic maintenance by a professional — "home" maintenance (rinsing the filters) is necessary but rarely enough for the warranty.
- Documented proof: dated invoices or maintenance reports, kept by the customer. No paper, no argument.
- Warranty registration within the deadline (often 60 to 90 days after installation) — otherwise the term may be reduced to the base warranty.
- Compliant parts and installation — installation by a certified contractor is where everything starts.
Important: every warranty has its own conditions, which change from one manufacturer, model and year to the next. This guide describes widespread practices, not legal advice: the only reliable source is the customer's warranty certificate and the manufacturer's document.
What it means for the installer
It is a golden service opportunity, and an honest one: reminding your customers that their warranty requires documented maintenance is doing them a favour — not selling them something. It is also the reminder argument that gets the most replies, because it protects a unit worth several thousand dollars. And every maintenance visit performed becomes dated proof in the customer's file: on the day of a claim, you are the one who saved them.
How to prove maintenance on the day of a claim
A warranty claim comes down to dates. What really helps: a dated visit report with the technician's name, the points checked (pressures, coils, electrical connections, filters, condensate drain), and the matching invoice. Keep these documents per piece of equipment, not per year: when the day comes, you pull out the complete history of a unit in one move. That is exactly what a proof file does in an installation registry.
The checklist to give your customers
- Find the warranty certificate and check: term, maintenance conditions, proof requirement.
- Check that the warranty was actually registered after installation.
- Schedule annual professional maintenance — ideally before the peak season.
- Keep every invoice and maintenance report in one folder.
Frequently asked questions
Can the customer do the maintenance themselves?
Cleaning the filters, yes — and they should. But most manufacturers require that a complete maintenance be performed by a qualified professional to keep the parts and compressor warranty.
How often?
Most often once a year; some manufacturers or some operating conditions (heavy use, dusty environment) call for two visits. The warranty certificate is the authority.
What happens if the unit changes owner?
Many warranties are reduced or non-transferable when a house is sold. One more reason to keep the history by address: the new owner becomes a customer to remind.
Byrsia does this work automatically: warranty tracking per piece of equipment, reminders at the right time in your name, and a maintenance proof file exportable in one click for claims.
Test with 50 of your invoices — freePublished on 2026-09-20 · This guide is informative and general; it replaces neither the manufacturers' documents nor legal or accounting advice.