On July 1st of 2023, the consumers who live in the state of Florida got a break! HB 1203 Registration and Transfer of HVAC Warranties, which was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, went into effect. Manufacturers of air conditioning equipment will back their warranties on equipment installed on Florida residential properties in the manner they advertised for that product. That doesn’t seem to be a stretch of ethics but it is what and why we had to go through a legal process to assist the implementation of such ethics.
In case you are not aware, this legislation concerns the “10-year Warranty” offered by most manufacturers. Previously, some manufacturers limited this warranty to the “original purchaser” meaning that if you bought someone’s house that had air conditioning equipment with this type of warranty, the moment you bought the house, the warranty on that equipment fell to a lesser level of coverage (in fairness, some manufacturers had a procedure that could keep the coverage of the equipment if you filed paperwork promptly). That left the new homeowner in the position of thinking his air conditioning equipment was “covered” and therefore one less thing to worry about during his process of buying a home. He would only find out the truth when he needed a repair (thinking the part was under warranty) and the poor air conditioning technician got to deliver the bad news as to the lack of warranty coverage. Shoot the messenger….why don’t you?
The homeowner invariably would believe the “messenger” was a crook! When told them the truth, they would verify that with probably another contractor but the initial impression left a bad taste in the consumers’ mind. Unfortunately, not about the manufacturer but the contractor.
Enter the contractors of the Florida Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (FRACCA) who were sick of being the “messenger”. We argued to the Florida Legislature that we didn’t care what duration each manufacturer wanted to offer, but as long as that piece of equipment was still on the same property, the warranty should remain. With some degree of irony, we ran this scenario by Florida State Senator Jim Boyd who, unbeknown to us, had just dealt with this issue at his newly purchased home. From there the process got somewhat easier!
This should come as welcome news to all parties but there are always other voices. FRACCA stuck up for the consumer, contractors (whether you participate or not) and demonstrated what ethics are. I am proud to be a part of this organization and the men and women who helped pass this legislation. Next time you see them…thank them!
About Paul
Paul Stehle cut his teeth in the HVAC industry at an early age, helping his father operate a sheet metal shop out of the family’s basement in Long Island, NY. He joined his father and older brother when they opened Climatic Conditioning, Inc. in Sarasota, FL in 1972. They all earned A/C contractor’s licenses and built the business successfully, at one point employing 65 people. Paul and his brother recently sold the business and retired.
Paul has served on local and statewide air conditioning contractor associations and has consistently been among the first to defend the industry when it has been threatened and has been an advocate for unity, apprenticeships, professionalism and fairness. He has supported other trade associations as well, most notably the Gulf Coast Builder’s Exchange. Though “retired”, Paul continues to be involved in the HVACR industry and his community. Stay tuned for more literary contributions.
Contact Paul by emailing pgs1953@aol.com.
From ACprosite owner Peter Montana: See a review of the 2023 legislative session’s impact on the industry HERE.
