How long is the Watts pressure reducing valve warranty?

Watts states that it warrants each product to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal usage for a period of one year from the date of original shipment. That wording has three parts that matter.

• One year. The coverage period is a single year.
• From original shipment. The start date is when the product left Watts, not when you installed it. A valve that sat in a warehouse or on a shelf for months has used up part of its year before you ever touch it.
• Normal usage. The promise covers defects in material and workmanship under normal usage. It is not a promise that the valve will last a set number of years in your house.

The sheet is dated 2021 and covers the Series LF25AUB-Z3. Watts may change its terms for other models or later years, so read the sheet that came with yours.

### What will Watts do if the valve is defective?

Watts says that in the event of such defects within the warranty period, the company will, at its option, replace or recondition the product without charge. The choice belongs to Watts. You do not get to pick between a new valve and a reconditioned one. The sheet calls this the sole and exclusive remedy for breach of warranty.

The sheet is short on what it covers and long on what it does not. Watts says it is not responsible for incidental, special or consequential damages, and it lists examples: lost profits and the cost of repairing or replacing other property that is damaged if the product does not work properly. The same passage names other costs resulting from labor charges, delays, vandalism, negligence, fouling caused by foreign material, damage from adverse water conditions, chemical, or any other circumstances over which the company has no control.

For a homeowner, that means the warranty is about the valve itself. If a valve fails and floods a closet, the warranty does not pay for the closet. The labor to swap the valve is also on the list of costs Watts does not take on.

### What voids the warranty?

Watts says the warranty is invalidated by any abuse, misuse, misapplication, improper installation or improper maintenance or alteration of the product. Two of those terms tie back to how the valve is set up and looked after.

• Improper installation. Watts's own sheet says a licensed contractor should install the valve per local codes and ordinances. Our page on how to install a Watts pressure reducing valve walks through the steps the sheet lists.
• Improper maintenance. The sheet's maintenance notes say to clean the strainer, and to open the inlet water supply slowly. Our page on how to clean a Watts pressure reducing valve strainer covers that job.

Alteration also appears on the list. The sheet's adjustment note says to use a pressure gauge to verify the setting any time you adjust the valve. Our page on how to adjust a Watts pressure reducing valve covers it.

The Watts sheet says the company makes no other warranties, express or implied, and that it disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. It then adds that some states do not allow limits on how long an implied warranty lasts, and some do not allow the exclusion or limit of incidental or consequential damages, so the limits may not apply to you. The sheet also says that, as far as is consistent with state law, any implied warranties that cannot be disclaimed are limited to one year from the date of original shipment.

The Federal Trade Commission explains the idea behind implied warranties. It says the laws in every state create implied warranties, which it calls unspoken promises, that cover almost everything you buy. It describes a warranty of merchantability as the seller's promise that a product will do what it is supposed to do. It also says implied warranties might cover problems a written warranty does not, and that they last as long as four years in some states. The FTC tells shoppers to contact a lawyer or a state consumer protection office for details about implied warranty coverage in their state.

### What does Arizona law say?

Arizona's version of the Uniform Commercial Code lists what makes goods merchantable. Among other points, ARS 47-2314 says goods must at least pass without objection in the trade under the contract description and be fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are used. It applies where the seller is a merchant with respect to goods of that kind, unless excluded or modified under section 47-2316.

ARS 47-2316 sets the rules for such exclusions. To exclude the implied warranty of merchantability, the language must mention merchantability and, in a writing, must be conspicuous. The Watts sheet does mention merchantability, in capital letters. Whether a given disclaimer holds up in a given case is a legal question, so speak to a lawyer or the Arizona consumer protection office if real money is at stake.

The Watts sheet does not list a claims address or phone number in the warranty text itself. The sheet's footer lists Watts's contact numbers for the United States, Canada and Latin America, and its website. The FTC gives general steps for any product.

1. 1Contact the seller first. The FTC says that if you have a problem with a product, contact the seller. If the seller does not resolve it, write to the manufacturer.
2. 2Send proof. The FTC says to save your product receipt with the warranty, because the receipt proves the date you bought the product and that you are the original owner.
3. 3Use certified mail. To prove the company got your letter, the FTC suggests sending it by certified mail and asking for a return receipt.
4. 4Expect a repair attempt. The FTC notes that a company may have the right to fix the product before it refunds your money.

Because the Watts warranty runs from shipment, the receipt alone may not show when your one year began. Ask the seller or Watts how they treat the date.

### What should you keep on file?

The FTC recommends saving a copy of the warranty and the receipt. For a pressure reducing valve, add these.

• The installation sheet from the box, with the model number.
• The receipt or invoice, with the install date.
• A photo of the valve label and the pressure gauge reading after start-up.
• Notes on any strainer cleaning or adjustment, with dates.

A warranty covers a defective valve. It will not tell you whether your house needs one, whether the setting is right, or whether pressure is rising for another reason. Call a plumber if the valve is leaking, if pressure creeps up after you set it, or if you cannot tell whether a problem is the valve or the water heater. HQ Plumbing & Air is licensed and insured, gives free estimates, quotes an upfront price, and offers 24/7 service.