Always Look Up the Warranty

Prior to having the combi boiler installed, I got a couple of quotes. One was for a highly pricesd, well thought out brand (I never heard of it until I started looking it up). Then there was the HTP that I accepted, which was more mid priced and reviews were more moderate (not bad, just moderate - but better than other brands that one would usually think of as high quality, much less those found at DIY stores. Anyway, what I was really interested in was the warranty. If the difference was enough, then I may have gone with the higher priced option. Note, that price was not my my concern, it was a combination of lifespan, reliability, parts availability (a German brand parts may not be available right off the bat) and experience of installation company.

One of the companies that gave me a quote did not at first give me a model number to look up (just the brand), so I requested and received that info (I'll call this Model 1). The company that I went with, as a matter of course, gave me the model number (Model 2).

So I looked it up and Model 1, on the general info page, states a limited lifetime warranty. But when I looked up the spec sheet - that warranty was on the pressure tank for 10 years, then a reducing amount up to 15 years. For the rest of it, it was a 5 year warranty. So, "lifetime" means what they consider the lifetime of the system, not the the whole time it is in the residence. Oh, and you must register it, hook it up to wifi and activate thier app within 60 days of installation to get that.

For Model #2, the general info page states a 15 year limited warranty. But you have to register for the free extended coverage, within 6 months of installation (otherwise it is 5 years). Once registered, then the warranty is pretty much the same as the "lifetime" warranty as Model 1.

So Sunday I got online and registered the unit (oh by the way, it has to be installed by a company, not self-installed), and Monday morning I had confirmation that they had accepted my warranty extension.

So always check into the warranty and understand what "lifetime" means to a company. In just looking at phrasing, it would look like Model 1 has a way better warranty than Unit 2, but that is not the case. Also look for any other requirements like registration timeframe, where model 1 was more restrictive than model 2.

Comments

[Cop Car]

As you know from my pleasant experience with Delta Faucet Co, if I pay any attention to a claim of "lifetime" warrantee at all, I assume it to be hyperbole. You tied them down. Well done! The big question is "whose lifetime".

You are in the right job, detail person that you are!

[Mike-SMO]

The "fine print" can be entertaining or shocking, but you better read it.