Labour Warranties on Water Softeners Exposed

A water softener warranty can look impressive on paper. Seven years. Ten years. Fifteen years. Lifetime.

But here's what those big warranty numbers don't always tell you: parts and labour are two different warranties. So before comparing, there's one important question to ask:

Does that warranty cover the part—or does it cover the cost of actually fixing the problem?

Those are two very different things.

A Parts Warranty Isn't a Labour Warranty

Many water softeners come with long warranties on tanks, valves or individual components. That's good—but a replacement part is only one part of a service call.

Imagine that your water softener develops a small leak after two years. The problem turns out to be an O-ring worth less than a dollar.

The O-ring may be covered under the parts warranty.

The technician's time isn't.

If your labour warranty has expired, you could still be paying for a service call, diagnosis and installation to replace a 99-cent part.

Suddenly, that long parts warranty doesn't feel quite as comprehensive.

Five Questions to Ask Before Buying a Water Softener

When you're comparing water softener quotes, don't compare warranty lengths without finding out exactly what they mean. Ask:

1. How long is the labour warranty?
2. If a covered part fails, will I pay a service-call charge?
3. Does the warranty include diagnosis and installation of the replacement part?
4. Who performs the warranty service—the company that installed it or someone else?
5. How long has the company been servicing water treatment equipment in my area?

Why We Warranty Our Labour for Five Years

At Ontario Soft Water, we've been installing and servicing water treatment equipment in Waterloo Region since 1989.

We know that good equipment should last. We also know that even a small component can occasionally need attention.

That's why our water softeners include a 5-year labour warranty, along with our manufacturer parts warranty which varies by product.

If something covered by your warranty needs attention during those first five years, we don't think you should be handed a bill for our time simply because the replacement part itself was inexpensive.

Compare the Whole Warranty, Not Just the Number

When you're choosing a water softener, price matters. So does equipment quality. But you're also choosing the company that will answer the phone if something needs attention two, three or four years from now.

Before you buy, ask every dealer one simple question:

“If something goes wrong in year three, what will it cost me to have you come out and fix it?”

The answer may tell you more about the warranty than the number printed on the brochure.  Ontario Soft Water Since 1989 Serving Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and area