Air conditioner warranty invalidated if self-installed

realh

We would like to get one of these air conditioners https://www.tesco.com/direct/electriq-eiq-9wminv-air-conditioner/324-7542.prd?skuId=324-7542.

The description says it's pre-gassed and sealed for easy installation, but the 2 year warranty is subject to it being installed by qualified F-gas personnel. Does that mean we'd have no warranty at all if self-installed? Or would we be able to fall back on a mandatory one year warranty, or would they have to prove a fault was caused by incorrect installation to be allowed to refuse a warranty claim?

marliepanda

realh wrote: »

We would like to get one of these air conditioners https://www.tesco.com/direct/electriq-eiq-9wminv-air-conditioner/324-7542.prd?skuId=324-7542.

The description says it's pre-gassed and sealed for easy installation, but the 2 year warranty is subject to it being installed by qualified F-gas personnel. Does that mean we'd have no warranty at all if self-installed? Or would we be able to fall back on a mandatory one year warranty, or would they have to prove a fault was caused by incorrect installation to be allowed to refuse a warranty claim?

Mandatory one year warranty? Explain please.

Anyway their two year warranty can have any caveats they want. They can require that the Queen herself installs it if they want.

A warranty is over and above your statutory right, which allows you ‘a remedy’ for up to 6 years after purchase for items deemed to be inherently faulty.

Tiexen

as you say:
These units contain a gas governed by F-Gas regulations. The gas must be handled by qualified F-Gas personnel. 2 year warranty is subject to commissioning by qualified F-Gas engineers.


I guess you could do the fitting and get it gassed by F-Gas engineers


You will need a couple of holes in your wall - 1 for the gas pipes and 1 for the condensation hose

realh

Mandatory one year warranty? Explain please.

So one year warranties are just a convention, not mandatory?

A warranty is over and above your statutory right, which allows you !!!8216;a remedy!!!8217; for up to 6 years after purchase for items deemed to be inherently faulty.

That's what I was asking. If it did go wrong would the onus be on them to prove that the fault occurred during or after installation?

Tiexen

realh wrote: »

>

That's what I was asking. If it did go wrong would the onus be on them to prove that the fault occurred during or after installation?

Like fitting a gas boiler yourself would invalidate any warrenty.

realh

Tiexen wrote: »

as you say:
These units contain a gas governed by F-Gas regulations. The gas must be handled by qualified F-Gas personnel. 2 year warranty is subject to commissioning by qualified F-Gas engineers.

I guess you could do the fitting and get it gassed by F-Gas engineers

You will need a couple of holes in your wall - 1 for the gas pipes and 1 for the condensation hose

It says it comes pre-gassed and sealed though. But I would have thought the refrigerant has to circulate between the external and internal units, presumably using the copper pipe supplied, so that's a bit weird.

marliepanda

realh wrote: »

So one year warranties are just a convention, not mandatory?



That's what I was asking. If it did go wrong would the onus be on them to prove that the fault occurred during or after installation?

Depends if you were claiming under your stat rights or the warranty. If the warranty requires a professional install you would fall at the first hurdle.

Under the stat rights it would be their responsibility to disprove an inherent fault UNDER six months, and your job to prove and inherent fault AFTER six months.

And no, no warranty has to be offered legally.

Nilrem

realh wrote: »

It says it comes pre-gassed and sealed though. But I would have thought the refrigerant has to circulate between the external and internal units, presumably using the copper pipe supplied, so that's a bit weird.

The compressor unit probably contains the gas under higher pressure than would be needed in use high enough for it to work once the whole system is gassed) either "free" in the unit, or in a reservoir bottle that you open a valve for once it's installed, if the latter than a qualified tech will have the equipment to do a pre gassing leak test (the same way when you get your car air con regassed they'll test it for leaks)..

I'm guessing the warranty will potentially be invalid if not fitted by someone who is qualified due to both the legal requirements of handling the gas, and the fact that if the gas is released during fitting, or because it's not made gas tight the unit won't work and potentially will get damaged (the gas contains a lubricant so if it's running without it parts can get worn/damaged).

I suspect because of those reasons the manufacturer can impose specific limits on the warranty that can ignore the normal rules, in much the same way as has already been said applies to some gas appliances.