Trane XR13 Review

The XR13 is Trane’s most affordable air conditioner because it’s their most basic and least efficient. It has a mid-efficiency SEER and a single-stage compressor, and that means it’s not going to be right for a lot of homes. 

This XR13 model review will help you figure out if your home is one where this air conditioner would work. It will discuss pricing, efficiency, features, and warranty details, and it will talk about situations where the XR13 might and might not be appropriate. 

And for consumers out there who want a Trane air conditioner but not the XR13, the model review will also compare this A/C to three others from the brand. 

The Trane XR13 in a Nutshell

Average Price (with installation): $3,500 to $5,000

Top Features

• Equipped with Trane’s Climatuff™ compressor
• Durable construction made for lasting performance
• Backed by a decent warranty
• Compatible with Trane’s CleanEffects® Whole Home Air Cleaner
• Has the brand’s proprietary Spine Fin™ outdoor coil

The Bottom Line

The XR13 is powered by a single-stage compressor, the least advanced and least efficient type of compressor for air conditioners. 

It can only operate at 100 percent capacity when it’s running, so the XR13 is going to be a little noisier than some other air conditioners, and it won’t be able to provide consistent cooling throughout the entire house the way a more advanced model could. 

Further, because it also has a mid-efficiency SEER of 14.5 instead of a high-efficiency one, the XR13 is going to be better suited for homes with lower cooling demands. That could include houses in milder parts of Canada, smaller homes, or spaces where you don’t mind if it’s a little warmer.

Finally, while the XR13 will be cheaper than other Trane air conditioners, it may not qualify for as many rebates, and it won’t save you as much on energy bills over the years.  

In Depth Review

Trane XR13 Product Specifications

• Compressor: Single-stage
• SEER: Up to 14.5
• ENERGY STAR certified: No
• Decibel rating: As low as 75
• Tonnage: 1.5 to 5 tons
• Cooling capacity: 17,000 to 60,000 Btus 

Features Overview

All Trane air conditioners, including the XR13, are powered by the brand’s proprietary Climatuff compressor. It has been designed to be more efficient, more durable, and quieter than standard compressors. 

Another design feature that comes standard with all Trane air conditioners is their Spine Fin outdoor coil. It’s made entirely of aluminum and offers excellent heat transfer, improved efficiency, and increased corrosion-resistance. 

Lastly, the XR13 is compatible with CleanEffects, a whole-home air cleaner that can improve indoor air quality and remove pollutants, dander, allergens, dust, and other contaminants from the air in your home.

Other Key Features

• All materials and components have been tested for reliability and longevity 
• Cabinet is protected by a rust-resistant baked-on powder paint
• Design has been tested in Trane’s Systems Extreme Environmental Test lab
• Quick-Sess cabinet provides additional protection for the coil
• Louvered panels on the side provide the entire unit with additional protection
• Has a DuraTuff™ non-corrosive basepan

Warranty Information

The XR13 is backed by Trane’s standard warranty, which includes a 10-year parts warranty and a 10-year compressor warranty.

Registration is required for these full terms. Once the air conditioner is installed, you'll have 60 days to register it with Trane and qualify for the registered warranty terms. Should you fail to register during the 60-day window, then the XR13 will only be covered by a five-year parts warranty.

To register, all you have to do is provide Trane with your name and address, the air conditioner’s model and serial number, the name of the HVAC contractor who installed the air conditioner, and the date of installation.

Comparable Models by Trane

Model Comparison by Price: XR13 versus XL16i

The XL16i is a mid-range model with a high-efficiency SEER, so it’s going to be pricier than the XR13. On average, the XL16i costs between $4,500 and $6,000 in Canada, including installation.

Although the XL16i has the same single-stage compressor style as the XR13, it manages to achieve a high-efficiency SEER of 18. Not only will it save you more on energy bills, but it will also be better equipped to cool larger spaces, it has a much better SEER for handling Canadian summers, and it could qualify for more rebates.  

It also boasts quieter operation, some models are equipped with a variable-speed fan motor, and it has additional features for weather- and corrosion-resistance. 

Finally, the XL16i comes with a longer 12-year parts warranty, though it has the same 10-year parts warranty as the XR13.

Model Comparison by Features: XR13 versus XV20i

The XV20i has the most features of any Trane air conditioner, and it’s also the brand’s most expensive, efficient, and powerful model. 

The premium-tier XV20i is a variable-speed air conditioner with TruComfort technology, so it can make minute adjustments to the cooling output to produce efficient and consistent comfort.

This model has all of Trane’s premium technologies, features, and components, including a communicating ComfortLink™ II control board, corrosion-resistant design elements, noise-reducing features, and much more. 

The XV20i also has an ultra-high SEER of 22, so it will cost a lot and won’t generate additional energy savings compared to a 16- to 18-SEER air conditioner.

Whereas the XR13 probably won’t be efficient enough for most homes in Canada, the XV20i is going to be too powerful, even though it’s an impressive premium air conditioner with a lot of great features. 

Model Comparison by Tier: XR13 versus XR17

The XR17 is another entry-level XR model from Trane, but it has a lot more to offer compared to the XR13.

The XR17 is a two-stage air conditioner, meaning it has a high and low cooling output. The high stage is for heat waves or times of high humidity, and the low stage is for energy-saving temperature maintenance. As such, the XR17 has a SEER of 17 and ENERGY STAR certification.

When it comes to efficiency, the best SEER range for Canada tends to be between 16 and 18, so the XR17 is going to perform better for our summers. It won’t have any trouble keeping larger homes cool, and it’s going to cut energy bills by a lot more than the XR13.

And another thing about the XR17 is that the high-efficiency SEER and ENERGY STAR could mean it will qualify for more rebates, so while it will be more expensive to buy, there are ways it can save you money.