[jrref]

I think what most are missing is working on your HVAC system as a DIY project will void the warranty. But do DIY folks change capacitors and contactors? Sure and most of the time there is no problem making a warranty claim. But installing a soft or hard start device yourself for example, and then trying to make a warranty claim on the compressor will probably be a no-go because they will say "how do we know the device you installed didn't ruin the compressor". On the other hand, If you had a soft start device installed by a "Authorized" Technician, whatever that means, then you will probably be OK. At the last hurricane expo here in the Villages I saw many companies saying they needed to install the soft start device if you purchased their generator and wanted to put the A/C on the generator so there has to be a work around when installing this device and maintaining your warranty.

In addition to this question another one comes to mind. If you don't maintain you HVAC system by a "Qualified" HVAC company do you void the warranty? You can 100% clean your inside and outside coils, measure and replace the capacitors, contactor, maybe even chang a fan motor for example but how is a DIYer going to put gages on the condensor and then take it a step further if it needs refrigerant, how can you buy it without a license? I don't think you can.

So, here is an example, DIYer goes and somehow gets the refrigerent and trys to fix his or her system that's not cooling enough.They feel it just needs more freon so they add it. Now the system is overcharged and the compressor is working harder or liquid is getting into the compressor and "flooding" it. The compressor then prematurely fails. Is Carrier going to give you a warranty compressor after you caused it to fail? I can go on and on but I think everyone gets the point. I think when you buy a new system, part of the cost of owning the system is having a HVAC company come once a year and maintain it. You can probably lessen the cost by checking the capacitor before they come and change it out yourself and the same if the contactor went bad but other than a few DIYer maintenance items you have to rely on the HVAC company. Once your warranty is up then "go at it", do whatever you want and let us know how it turns out.