FARMINGTON, Conn. - Carrier Corp. announced it is enhancing the warranties on its 90 percent-plus efficient gas furnaces. Carrier said it will provide an industry leading 20-year parts and labor warranty for the secondary heat exchanger.

The enhancements are in response to a recent class-action lawsuit by a small number of U.S. and Canadian consumers claiming premature failure on the secondary heat exchanger found in Carrier, Bryant, Payne and Day & Night high-efficiency condensing gas furnaces that are 90 percent AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) or greater and were produced after Jan. 1, 1989. (Day & Night furnaces sold after January 2007 are not affected.)

Carrier said it firmly denies these claims and maintains that it acted lawfully and properly. The company said it stands behind its products, and believes that the patented material used to construct the secondary heat exchanger is superior.

To resolve the issue, Carrier has agreed to a proposed settlement that provides enhanced warranty coverage in the unlikely event of a failure of the secondary heat exchangers on its 90 percent AFUE or greater high-efficiency gas furnaces.

While the company said it has seen an extraordinarily low national warranty rate, the settlement proposal provides customers an enhanced 20-year parts and labor warranty for the secondary heat exchanger. In the event of a failure, customers could opt for coverage of the parts and labor for the replacement of the secondary heat exchanger, or a credit toward the purchase of a new, more energy-efficient system that can provide greater comfort and energy savings.  Customers who have already been required to replace their secondary heat exchanger would receive monetary compensation from Carrier.

Carrier and Bryant dealers are advised to contact their distributor for additional details, or call 877-574-0173 for more information.

Publication date: 12/03/2007