8.Warranty Liability

The Company accrues for estimated warranty costs as sales are recognized and periodically assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liability and adjusts the amount as necessary.  The Company’s warranties generally provide, with respect to its snow and ice control equipment, that all material and workmanship will be free from defect for a period of two years after the date of purchase by the end-user, and with respect to its parts and accessories purchased separately, that such parts and accessories will be free from defect for a period of one year after the date of purchase by the end-user.  Certain snowplows only provide for a one year warranty.  The Company determines the amount of the estimated warranty costs (and its corresponding warranty reserve) based on the Company’s prior five years of warranty history utilizing a formula driven by historical warranty expense and applying management’s judgment.  The Company adjusts its historical warranty costs to take into account unique factors such as the introduction of new products into the marketplace that do not provide a historical warranty record to assess.  The warranty reserve is $5,281 at March 31, 2017 of which $2,120 is included in Other long term liabilities and $3,161 is included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.  The warranty reserve is $6,160 at December 31, 2016 of which $2,625 is included in Other long term liabilities and $3,535 is included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. 

The following is a rollforward of the Company’s warranty liability: