Napoleon Brand Air Conditioner Review & Buying Guide

This guide will cover everything you need to know about Napoleon air conditioner units, including information about the brand, areas where the company excels and how they could improve, what models they have available, the price range of their units, the warranty they offer, and more.

The Napoleon brand review will also tell you what real Canadian homeowners and HVAC specialists think about Napoleon air conditioners. It will also answer common questions about the brand, discuss how Napoleon compares to the competition, and help you decide if one of their air conditioners is right for your home.

Article Contents

• Review of Napoleon's Strengths and Limitations
  • Strong Points
  • Room for Improvement
  • Bottom Line
• Napoleon Air Conditioner Model Series Overview
  • Basic
  • Better
  • Best
• Model Breakdown and Comparison
  • NT Series 16
  • NT Series 14
  • NT Series 13
  • Napoleon’s Quietest and Noisiest Air Conditioners
• Exclusive Features
  • WHISPER QUIET System
  • Microchannel Coil Technology
• Warranty Analysis
• Is an Napoleon Air Conditioner Right for Me?
• Napoleon Add-ons, Extras, and Thermostats
• About the Company
• Napoleon FAQs
• Napoleon Customer Reviews

Napoleon is a decent choice if you're in the market for a new air conditioner, especially if you want to buy from one of the few brands that’s actually local. Their made-in-Canada cooling products are fairly durable, reliable, and made with quality components and materials.

However, the company is somewhat newer to air conditioner manufacturing compared to fireplaces, heating systems, and BBQs. So while their units may not be perfect, they’ve made strides over the years to match the production levels of their other product lines.

This guide will help you determine if a Napoleon air conditioner is right for you, tell you what you can expect to pay, and help you decide which model is a good fit for your home.

Review of Napoleon’s Strengths and Limitations

Strong Points

One thing Canadians love about Napoleon is that their products are proudly made in Ontario. Just as importantly, their air conditioners are made with durable components that are designed to last, and their cooling systems have been specially engineered for relatively efficient and reliable performance.

Something else that consumers like about Napoleon air conditioners is that they're compact, and that means they can fit in smaller spaces (like under decks) and use less refrigerant, which is a bonus for the environment.

That’s because every one of their air conditioners is made with microchannel coils, which offer improved heat transfer and efficiency in a smaller space compared to standard coils. Similarly, all of their air conditioners are equipped with efficient Copeland scroll compressors, one of the most popular compressors on the market.

Napoleon’s products are also designed for quiet operation, though they could do a little better in this area.

Another thing that’s great about Napoleon air conditioners is that they have numerous features to make service easier for HVAC specialists, and that can mean faster and possibly cheaper maintenance calls.

Finally, the brand backs their air conditioners with a good warranty, so you get peace of mind knowing that your investment is protected for several years.

Room For Improvement

Napoleon air conditioners are reasonably reliable and of decent quality, but the company has a very small selection of central air conditioners to choose from (though they do have a slightly larger selection of ductless models).

In fact, there are only three models in their entire central air conditioner product line, and they're all single-stage air conditioners with single-stage fans.

If you want a two-stage or variable-speed air conditioner that’s quieter, more efficient, and better at managing humidity and delivering consistent temperatures, then Napoleon might not be the brand for you. All of Napoleon’s air conditioners are nearly identical aside from having different SEER ratings.

Only one of the models qualifies as a high-efficiency air conditioner, and none of them have ENERGY STAR® certification. This could potentially pose problems if you are hoping to apply for rebates because most rebates are for high-efficiency models with ENERGY STAR certification.

It’s worthwhile mentioning that Canadian summers don’t typically get hot enough to justify the cost of an air conditioner that has a SEER above 16 to 18, but Napoleon’s highest SEER air conditioner is 16, and there's only one option in the recommended range for Canada.

Another thing lacking from the Napoleon line is additional technologies and features. The brand has some great proprietary designs and unique component features, but they don’t have special tech like Wi-Fi connectivity, advanced humidity control, or any of the other bells and whistles that some other brands offer.

The Bottom Line

Napoleon is a great brand for homeowners who are familiar with the company and want a solid air conditioner to match their Napoleon furnace. The company boasts air conditioners that are made of durable materials, made in Canada, and guaranteed to last.

Napoleon uses some quality components, like scroll compressors and microchannel coils, that make their air conditioners perform better and more efficiently, even if they don’t have any two-stage or variable-speed models.

Because Napoleon only has one air conditioner in the 16- to 18-SEER range, they might not be the right brand for a lot of Canadians, especially if you need to cool a larger home or live in a warmer part of the country where you have to contend with heat waves or humidity during the summer.

Ultimately, the brand might not offer the selection, the higher efficiency models, or the features and technologies that some other brands have, but they do make dependable air conditioners that are compact, environmentally responsible, relatively affordable to buy and operate, and built to perform reliably for many summers.

➤ Want the BEST Prices on Napoleon air conditioners? Fill out a free quote request today

Napoleon Air Conditioner Model Series Overview

Basic

It’s easy to break down Napoleon air conditioners into three separate tiers because they currently only have three models available, but there isn't much difference between the models.

Their most basic offering is the NT Series 13. It’s a single-stage air conditioner with microchannel coils, WHISPER QUIET features, a Copeland scroll compressor, a decent warranty, and features to facilitate service and maintenance.

The main thing that sets it apart from the other Napoleon air conditioners is the SEER rating: the NT Series 13 has a SEER rating of 13, which is quite low, even for our milder Canadian summers. As such, this air conditioner will likely work best in a space with lower cooling demands, like a small home, cottage, or house in a mild part of the country.

We mentioned before that the recommended SEER for Canada is generally 16 to 18, and that’s because air conditioners in that efficiency range offer the best balance between purchase price, efficiency, and long-term energy savings.

Better

The NT Series 14 SEER is a mid-efficiency air conditioner. It’s single-stage, has a PSC fan motor, and has the same design elements and features as the other Napoleon models, including having the same compressor style, fan design, and environmentally friendly refrigerant.

The thing that separates this air conditioner from the entry-level model is the SEER rating, as the NT Series 14 has a SEER of 14.

However, like the entry-level model, this air conditioner will probably be best suited for spaces with lower cooling demands because the 14 SEER falls short of what's recommended for Canada.

Best

The NT Series 16 SEER air conditioner from Napoleon is their highest-efficiency air conditioner, and even though it doesn’t have ENERGY STAR certification, it could theoretically qualify.

This unit will cost the most of any Napoleon air conditioner, but it will save you the most on monthly cooling bills. And because it’s in the recommended SEER range for Canada, it will also offer a decent balance between price and operating costs while also being better at handling larger spaces.

Aside from the higher SEER rating and higher cost, the stats and design features of the NT Series 16 aren't much different from Napoleon’s other air conditioners.

Model Breakdown and Comparison

What are Warranty and Overall Grades? These grades are calculated using FurnacePrices.ca's own proprietary algorithm which weighs a range of criteria to generate an easy-to-compare score.

Warranty Grades take into account several warranty terms & exclusions found in the fine print to make it easier for ordinary homeowners to compare warranty coverage without having to tediously dig through dense warranty documents.

Overall Grades weigh general factors like efficiency and features, as well as the warranty grade. Note that a model with a low grade is not necessarily a bad choice (more affordable models will usually always score lower). The grades are meant more to make it easier to compare the relative strength of different models. A high end model will score better but also cost a lot more and not necessarily be the ideal option for everyone, just like a sports car will score higher than a minivan in many aspects but isn't necessarily the ideal choice for the average family (despite what your significant other may try to argue!)

NT Series 16

Read Full NT Series 16 Review

Napoleon’s NT Series 16 is their most efficient and highest-tier air conditioner, but it’s quite basic compared to the high-end models offered by other manufacturers. This is a single-stage air conditioner paired with a PSC fan motor, meaning it’s one of the most standard air conditioner styles on the market. Nonetheless, there are lots of things to love about the NT Series 16, including the compact size, the WHISPER QUIET technology, and the low-vibration compressor that further reduces noise. This unit also uses a chlorine-free refrigerant that doesn’t deplete the ozone layer. Like other Napoleon air conditioners, the NT Series 16 is also easy to access and service, and is equipped with special microchannel condenser coils that reduce the size of the unit and the amount of refrigerant required. This is also the only model from Napoleon that has a SEER in the 16 to 18 range that’s recommended for Canada, so it will be the most versatile of their air conditioners, will save you the most on energy bills, and will be best suited for larger homes.

• Compressor: Single-stage
• SEER: Up to 16
• ENERGY STAR certified: No
• Decibel rating: As low as 74
• Tier – Best
• Ideal for: Canadians looking for a basic, affordable, and high-efficiency air conditioner that will cool your home without costing too much to operate. The NT Series 16 has a SEER that’s ideal for Canada, and while it only has a single-stage compressor, it will reduce summer cooling bills and perform better than an older air conditioner with a standard- or mid-efficiency SEER rating.

NT Series 14

Read Full NT Series 14 Review

The NT Series 14 is almost identical to the NT Series 16 in most ways. The main differences are the price and the SEER rating. This model has a SEER of 14, so it will be more affordable than the NT Series 16. Beyond that, the two units are very similar: the NT Series 14 is a single-stage air conditioner that has the microchannel condenser coils, it uses the same refrigerant, it has the WHISPER QUIET technology, it comes equipped with an industry-leading filter drier, it’s backed by the same warranty, and it promises easy access for service and maintenance. The NT Series 14 doesn’t quite reach the 16 to 18 SEER that’s recommended for Canada, so it won’t offer the same balance between purchase price and long-term energy savings. It will be affordable, but it won’t save as much on energy bills over the years compared to the NT Series 16. It may also work better in homes with slightly lower cooling demands, such as homes in milder parts of the country (like coastal areas) or smaller spaces.

• Compressor: Single-stage
• SEER: Up to 14
• ENERGY STAR certified: No
• Decibel rating: As low as 74
• Tier – Mid
• Ideal for: Homeowners who want a basic and affordable air conditioner that will be capable of cooling smaller spaces or homes in milder parts of Canada. The NT Series 14 has a single-stage compressor and SEER rating that’s a little lower than high-efficiency, so a professional load calculation is recommended before you invest in this model.

NT Series 13

Read Full NT Series 13 Review

Napoleon’s NT Series 13 air conditioner is almost identical to the NT Series 14, with the only real difference being a slightly lower SEER. The NT Series 13 is a single-stage air conditioner with a SEER of 13 and no ENERGY STAR certification. It has the WHISPER QUIET system, the microchannel condenser coils, features to make maintenance and service faster, easier, and possibly cheaper, and a Copeland scroll compressor. This model falls short of the recommended SEER range for Canada, so you might want a professional load calculation done beforehand to make sure it’s going to be powerful and efficient enough for your home. It may work best in smaller spaces, or milder parts of the country that don’t contend with summer heat waves or periods of high humidity. The NT Series 13 will be relatively affordable, but it may not qualify for rebates. It will reduce summer cooling costs compared to an older A/C, but not as much as a high-efficiency one.

• Compressor: Single-stage
• SEER: Up to 13
• ENERGY STAR certified: No
• Decibel rating: As low as 74
• Tier – Entry
• Ideal for: Spaces like cottages or small homes, or houses in parts of Canada that don’t have extremely hot or humid summers and don’t need an overly powerful air conditioner. The NT Series 13 will be an affordable air conditioner, and it will cost less to operate than a standard-efficiency model, but the lower SEER and single-stage operation mean it won’t be right for every home.

Napoleon’s Quietest and Noisiest Air Conditioners

Napoleon advertises their air conditioners as operating no louder than a whisper, and they say this is thanks in part to their WHISPER QUIET technology.

However, if you want to get technical, the sound of a whisper is around 30 decibels. By contrast, all of Napoleon’s air conditioners operate around 74 decibels, so they obviously aren't really whisper quiet. Rather, Napoleon air conditioners are closer to the sound of a vacuum cleaner or washing machine, which operate around 70 decibels.

Single-stage compressors are the loudest, and because Napoleon only has single-stage air conditioners, they all produce about the same amount of noise, which is standard sound performance. Most single-stage air conditioners operate in the 70- to 74-decibel range.

If noise level is important to you, then you should know there are air conditioners on the market that operate in the 50- to 60-decibel range. However, you will have to budget more for them because they’ll have more advanced two-stage or variable-speed compressors, which are much quieter than single-stage ones.

Get FREE Quotes from Certified Local Contractors!

Get an estimate now >>

Exclusive Features from Napoleon

Feature 1 – WHISPER QUIET System

How Napoleon describes it: Aluminum swept fan blades that are engineered to make your Napoleon air conditioner operate as quietly as a whisper.

What it is in plain language: We've mentioned the Whisper Quiet system a few times because all of Napoleon’s cooling units are equipped with this. But we haven't really explained what it is, so let’s do that now.

As Napoleon describes, the system involves a special swept-wing fan. That means the blades have been specially contoured to improve air flow, increase efficiency, and reduce noise.

Beyond that, the fan blades are also made with a more durable plated steel hub and aluminum blades, so they tend to last longer than other fan components.

Is it more than just hype? Thanks to the special fan design, Napoleon air conditioners operate as low as 74 decibels. However, we mentioned already that there are air conditioners on the market that are much quieter. Carrier is one brand that stands out because their top-of-the-line model is as quiet as 51 decibels.

Carrier is a premium brand and that’s their premier variable-speed air conditioner, so you would have to pay a great deal more for an A/C like that compared to one of Napoleon’s single-stage models, but it’s still important to know there are much quieter air conditioners on the market.

Furthermore, there are plenty of brands out there that use swept-wing fans because they are indeed quieter. Napoleon has just given this a special name. Lots of other brands have done something similar, including:

• Carrier’s Silencer System II
• Lennox’s SilentComfort
• Coleman’s WhisperDrive™ Comfort System
• York’s QuietDrive Comfort System
• Luxaire’s SilentDrive™ Comfort System

These fancy names refer to a single feature or a collection of design features that reduce noise, such as swept-wing fans, sound-control tops, compressor sound blankets, and quiet-mounted components.

Ultimately, the factor that has the most impact on an air conditioner’s sound performance is the compressor style. Two-stage compressors are quieter than single-stage ones, and variable-speed compressors are the quietest.

Features 2 – Microchannel Coil Technology

How Napoleon describes it: Napoleon’s superior all-aluminum microchannel condenser coils are compact and wrap around the inside of the air conditioner, so the units are smaller and use less refrigerant.

What it is in plain language: The condenser coils are a crucial component in an air conditioning system because they house refrigerant and absorb heat from your home to cool your space.

Microchannel coils like the ones Napoleon uses are smaller than traditional coils, and that means they take up less space and use less refrigerant, but they also have improved heat transfer because there's a larger contact area between the aluminum coil and the refrigerant.

Is it more than just hype? The more efficient the coils are and the better heat transfer they have, the more efficient the entire system will be. Because microchannel coils have better heat transfer, they're more efficient than standard coils.

And because microchannel coils take up less space, Napoleon air conditioners are more compact than other A/Cs.

Furthermore, the coils are made of aluminum, which is longer-lasting and more corrosion-resistant than copper and promises easier maintenance.

While microchannel coils are definitely a plus, they're not exclusive to Napoleon. York, Luxaire, and Coleman all use microchannel condenser coils in some of their air conditioners as well.

Warranty Analysis

The warranty terms

Some manufacturers offer different warranty lengths based on the tier and price of the model, but Napoleon offers the same warranty terms for all of their air conditioners.

Any Napoleon air conditioner you buy will be covered by a 10-year parts warranty and a separate 10-year compressor warranty.

Registration is required for the full terms to apply

Like other HVAC manufacturers, Napoleon encourages customers to register their products. The way they motivate you is by offering standard (shorter) warranty terms and registered (longer) warranty terms.

The 10-year parts and 10-year compressor warranties are what you get when you register your unit. Most brands give you a 60- to 90-day window to register. If you don’t register during that period, then you'll only be protected by a five-year warranty that covers parts and the compressor.

It’s highly recommended that you register because the additional protection could save you a lot of money in those five years.

Plus, it only takes a few minutes to register, so the only thing you have to lose is the extra coverage if you don’t.

To register, go to Napoleon’s website and fill out the form. They’ll ask you for your name and address, the name of the HVAC installer, the serial and model numbers for the air conditioner, and the installation date.

Conditions and restrictions

Warranties are great because they protect consumers from defective equipment, but Napoleon (and every other HVAC brand) has things they require you to do in order to keep the warranty valid.

Because warranties are meant to cover components that were defective because of the manufacturing process, Napoleon won’t honour the warranty if you’ve done anything that could have theoretically caused the defects.

For example, if you installed the A/C yourself, then the unit could have been damaged during installation, so Napoleon will terminate the warranty.

Here are examples of the most common responsibilities you'll have if you want to keep your coverage valid:

• Hire a licensed HVAC professional to install the unit
• Have a licensed HVAC professional come in every year to perform regular maintenance and service
• Keep receipts to prove you’ve done maintenance annually
• Deal with required repairs promptly and with the help of a professional
• Use the air conditioner according to the instructions in the owner’s manual
• Only use manufacturer-approved parts when a component needs to be replaced
• Don’t move the air conditioner from where you originally installed it

And be aware that if you don’t live in the house where the air conditioner is installed, then you might not be eligible for the full warranty terms.

How the Napoleon warranty measures up to the competition

The standard air conditioner warranty in the HVAC industry is a 10-year parts warranty. There are plenty of brands who offer this type of coverage and nothing more.

Because Napoleon offers separate 10-year warranties for parts and the compressor, their warranty can be considered good rather than just standard.

At the same time, there are lots of other brands that offer great warranty coverage. That includes things like parts or compressor warranties that last longer than 10 years, separate warranties for the coils, and unit replacement warranties.

Unit replacement warranties mean the manufacturer will give you a new air conditioner if the compressor (and sometimes the coil) fails during the coverage period.

In case you want an air conditioner with a great warranty, here are some examples of the coverage types offered by brands with excellent protection:

• Goodman offers both lifetime compressor warranties plus 10-year unit replacement warranties
• American Standard has separate 10-year warranties for parts and the coil plus 12-year compressor warranties
• York has lifetime compressor warranties
• Amana has lifetime unit replacement warranties
• Trane has 12-year compressor warranties
• Daikin has 12-year parts warranties plus 12-year unit replacement warranties
• Comfortmaker and Keeprite have 10-year parts warranties plus 10-year unit replacement warranties

Be a happy homeowner when you purchase a Napoleon air conditioner. Fill out our online form to get a free quote.

Is a Napoleon Air Conditioner Right for Me?

What’s your budget like?

Napoleon is a mid-range brand, and on average, their air conditioners cost between $3,000 and $6,000+ to buy and install in Canada. Being mid-range means there are more affordable brands out there and more expensive ones.

Economy brands tend to charge between $3,000 and $5,500 for their air conditioners, and that includes brands like York, Goodman, and KeepRite.

Premium brands charge anywhere from $3,500 to $7,500+, and examples of those include Lennox, Carrier, Trane, and American Standard.

It’s important to remember that Napoleon doesn’t have any two-stage or variable-speed air conditioners, and while these are more expensive, they're also more efficient and provide quieter and more consistent cooling.

Further, 16- to 18-SEER air conditioners provide the best return on investment in terms of cost versus long-term energy savings. In other words, if you don’t have a huge budget but still want a high-efficiency unit that offers better performance, then you might want to consider a mid-range air conditioner from an economy brand.

Will you be there long enough to enjoy a new high-efficiency air conditioner?

Long-term return on an air conditioner investment can come from warranty claims and energy savings over the years if you buy a high-efficiency model with good coverage.

But in order to reap those financial benefits, you have to be in your home for several years. If you plan to move soon, chances are you won’t be taking your air conditioner with you, and that means you won’t get back any of the money you invested in a new A/C, especially a more expensive high-efficiency model with additional features.

And here's another thing to keep in mind: HVAC equipment doesn’t usually increase the value of a home, even if you buy an expensive high-end air conditioner. In that case, you also won’t get back any of the money you put into a new A/C.

The point is that if you plan to move soon, then your best financial move might be to opt for a less expensive air conditioner from an entry-level or mid-range brand. For example, you could buy one of Napoleon’s mid-efficiency models, as long as a load calculation shows it’s powerful and efficient enough for your space.

Does Napoleon have the SEER rating you want?

Napoleon arguably has the smallest selection of air conditioners on the market. Moreover, all of their air conditioners are single-stage, so two of the three models only have mid-efficiency SEERs. Only one Napoleon air conditioner has a high-efficiency rating.

Further, we mentioned before that the recommended SEER range for Canada is between 16 and 18, and Napoleon only has one model in that range.

Most of their air conditioners are going to perform better in spaces with lower cooling demands, like cottages, smaller homes, or houses in milder parts of the country that don’t experience regular heat waves or long periods of humidity.

Similarly, the 13- and 14-SEER models aren't going to produce the same type of energy savings as a high-efficiency model. Depending on your situation and the quotes you get from contractors, most Canadians might be better off with Napoleon’s slightly more expensive 16-SEER air conditioner because it will be more affordable to operate over the years.

Another thing to remember is that none of Napoleon’s models are ENERGY STAR certified, and that could impact rebate eligibility. Rebates are an excellent way to save money—sometimes upwards of $1,000—on a new air conditioner, but most rebates are for high-efficiency air conditioners with ENERGY STAR certification, so it’s possible that Napoleon’s models won’t qualify.

Does Napoleon have your dream features?

Aside from the WHISPER QUIET system that plenty of brands have and the microchannel coils that aren't unique to Napoleon, Napoleon doesn’t really have any special features or novel technologies.

By contrast, there are other brands that have put more time and effort into developing such technologies or incorporating them into their products, and it’s good to know what those are so you don’t miss out on something that might appeal to you.

Before you invest in a new air conditioner, take a look at the features that are available with different brands:

• Daikin, Carrier, KeepRite, Lennox, Goodman, and Amana all have variable-speed air conditioners with inverter technology that can make precise adjustments to the compressor and fan speeds to fine-tune cooling and increase efficiency
• Amana, Goodman, American Standard, and Trane have air conditioners with communicating capabilities
• Daikin, Goodman, and Amana have models with built-in self-diagnostics
• Coleman, York, and Luxaire have customizable climate settings based on whether you live somewhere dry, temperate, or humid
• Those same three brands have built-in touchscreen displays that enable HVAC installers to immediately access information about refrigerant charges

Are you concerned with warranty coverage?

Napoleon’s warranty is better than the industry-standard, but it’s far from the best warranty protection available. The brands with some of the best coverage include American Standard, Goodman, York, Amana, Daikin, and Trane.

However, you have to remember that no matter what brand you buy, you'll have to be willing to abide by the warranty terms, restrictions, and conditions if you want to take full advantage of what the brand offers and keep the coverage valid for the full term.

That includes registering the unit during the 60- to 90-day window, paying for professional installation, paying for annual maintenance, and taking care of repairs when required.

In other words, you don’t necessarily have to pay premium prices for a high-end brand to get the best coverage, but you will have to budget money for installation and ongoing maintenance to get the most from any warranty.

What's more important than brand?

Napoleon is a Canadian company, and they're smaller than a lot of the HVAC giants out there, so fewer people have heard of them compared to brands like Lennox, Goodman, or Trane.

Just because you may not have heard about Napoleon doesn’t mean they aren't a good brand. Indeed, they make quality air conditioners that are dependable and outfitted with reliable components.

And here's something else to keep in mind about the major brands: most of them are owned by only a handful of parent companies, so the name on the air conditioner cabinet means less than you might think.

For example, the parent company that owns Napoleon is Wolf Steel Ltd., and they also manufacture air conditioners under the name Continental.

So if brand name isn't that important, then what is? For starters, getting an air conditioner that’s within your budget, that’s sized properly for your home, that’s backed by a good warranty, that offers the sound performance you want, and that will offer years of energy-saving comfort.

And here's one more thing you may not have considered: choosing the right contractor. This is arguably the most important thing because a trained and experienced contractor will make sure you get the right air conditioner. Here's what else they’ll do:

• Help you find a cooling system that matches all your needs
• Perform a load calculation and determine the right size air conditioner for your house
• Install your air conditioner properly and without damaging it or voiding the warranty
• Match the new system with your existing HVAC equipment, or help you upgrade it all
• Fine-tune the air conditioner so it operates at the expected efficiency
• Help you register or apply for rebates
• Install adjunct HVAC equipment like thermostats
• Source manufacturer-approved parts for your A/C when you need repairs
• Make time when you need repairs, annual maintenance, or emergency service

Napoleon Add-ons, Extras, and Thermostats

Thermostats

Napoleon makes several NT series programmable thermostats, though they don’t have any smart thermostats. They have a basic programmable thermostat with three pre-sets for home, sleep, and away, a more advanced temperature control with seven-day scheduling, and a thermostat with presets for weekdays versus the weekend.

They also have a more basic NT series thermostat that isn't smart or programmable, but just a standard temperature control.

While programmable thermostats can help to reduce energy costs, the ones Napoleon offers are pretty simple. There are alternatives available, like smart thermostats from Nest or ecobee, that can learn your behaviours and save you even more on energy costs, and they're compatible with most HVAC equipment.

UVC Air Purifiers

Napoleon has what they call HomeShield air purification products. These are special UVC lights made by Philips that harness the power of the sun to kill mold, viruses, bacteria, and pathogens.

The lights are available in standard and medical grade, and there are three configurations to choose from: two options where the lights are installed in the ductwork around the HVAC equipment and one where the light is installed in the furnace.

In both cases, the lights purify the air going through your HVAC system and prevent pathogens from recirculating around the house. Systems like this are ideal for people who want to control the spread of viruses and bacteria in their homes. However, it won’t work for people who have asthma and allergies and are looking to reduce things like dust, pollen, and dander.

Media Filters

Media filters are similar to furnace filters, but they're thicker, made of different materials, and much more effective at capturing dust, dirt, dander, pollen, and other airborne particles that can trigger asthma and allergies.

The media filter that Napoleon makes attaches easily to the side of your existing HVAC equipment. It has a MERV 11 rating, so it captures up to 85 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns. These are better for homes that have people with allergies or breathing issues compared to the germicidal UV lights.

Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs)

HRVs and ERVs are ventilation systems that are ideal for homes that lack proper ventilation, such as homes that don’t have vents in the kitchen or bathroom, or homes that need more ventilation and humidity control.

HRVs bring in fresh outdoor air and remove stale air from inside, but they also exchange heat between the two air sources to prevent additional strain on your HVAC system. ERVs work the same way, but they exchange both heat and moisture between the two air sources to maintain an ideal indoor humidity level between 30 and 50 percent.

Choosing between an HRV and ERV mainly comes down to the humidity levels in your home. In winter, an ERV will increase humidity in the home and an HRV will decrease it. In summer, an HRV will increase humidity in the home and an ERV will decrease it.

About the Company

Napoleon was founded in 1976 in Barrie, Ontario as a steel fabrication company, and while they have branched out into heating and air conditioning since then, their HVAC manufacturing facility is still located in Barrie.

Although Napoleon might not be known for their cutting-edge technologies, they do have a reputation for making well-designed and high-quality air conditioners that last, and they stand behind their products with a good warranty.

Eager to learn more about Napoleon’s central air conditioners? Fill out a request for an online quote, and one of our representatives will be happy to provide you with a free, no obligation quote.

Napoleon FAQs

Are Napoleon air conditioners good?

Napoleon air conditioners are made with quality components, and the 10-year parts warranty is an assurance that you'll get at least 10 years of reliable service from one of their cooling systems. You can also help to extend the life of your system by having it installed professionally, taking care of annual maintenance, and dealing with repairs immediately.

What's the best Napoleon air conditioner?

For Canada, Napoleon’s NT Series 16 air conditioner will probably provide the best balance between price and long-term energy savings for most homeowners. It has a high-efficiency SEER of 16, which is in the recommended range for Canada, and it will be better equipped at cooling larger homes compared to their 13- and 14-SEER models.

Napoleon Customer Reviews