Portland, OR asked in Construction Law for Oregon

Q: Can I get an legal recourse from contractors who improperly installed my heat pump making it impossible to service.

They sealed the grate to the outside so I cannot access the condenser coils to clean them. And now my compressor has failed. If they had not permanently attached the grate to the outside them I could have cleaned it and made it last a lot longer. My building was built in 2008, not sure if I can still do anything. But I have to now replace a pretty young heat pump because it wasn't installed properly.

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1 Lawyer Answer

A: The law generally provided an implied warranty that contractors will do their work in a good and workmanlike manner. Your question strongly suggests your contractor did not. Generally Oregon has a four-year statute of limitations for breach of implied warranty claims from the date the contractor completed its work.

Heat pumps can last 10-15 years. So your question suggests that your heat pump may have been installed less than four years ago. You should schedule a consultation with an attorney who practices in consumer law or construction law in or near the county where your building is located.

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