Carrier Performance™ Series 96 – 59TP6 Review

Thinking about a Carrier furnace for your home? You probably have questions like “are Carrier furnaces good?” and “how much is a Carrier furnace?” This review will answer those questions and more!

The Performance 96 - 59TP6 is a two-stage, variable-speed furnace with a high-efficiency AFUE, so it should be powerful enough for just about any Canadian home.

This model review will help you understand the important aspects of this furnace, including its specifications, key features, warranty terms, and average pricing.

And to guide you about whether this furnace is a good investment, we’ll also compare it to three other Carrier models. 

About the Performance 96 – 59TP6

Average Price (installed): $5,000 to $5,600

Top Features

• Highly-efficient ECM blower motor with a variable-speed function that enhances comfort levels
• Secondary heat exchanger for improved energy and fuel performance
• Two-stage operation and high-efficiency AFUE mean the model could be eligible for rebates
• Delivers heat quietly and consistently
• Offers good humidity control
• Backed by a standard warranty
• Can be operated with the ecobee smart thermostat

The Bottom Line

This mid-range Carrier gas furnace is highly efficient and has some excellent specifications that promise cost-savings and coziness through many winters.

Thanks to the secondary heat exchanger, two-stage burner with a high and low heat output, and variable-speed blower motor, this furnace should have no trouble keeping large homes consistently warm through Canada’s coldest deep freezes.

The Performance 96 – 59TP6 is an efficient furnace that significantly improves the comfort levels in your home. This furnace has excellent insulation, making it a very quiet system and ideal for homeowners looking for a furnace that provides optimal performance.

Carrier furnace prices are high compared to most of their competitors, so you will have to budget accordingly. However, this furnace has high rebate eligibility, and it will reduce winter heating bills year after year compared to your older heating system.

In-Depth Review

Performance 96 – 59TP6 Product Specifications

• AFUE: 96.5 percent
• Burner type: Two-stage
• Blower type: Variable-speed ECM
• ENERGY STAR certified: Yes
• Price range: $5,000 to $5,600

Features Overview

The Performance 96 – 59TP6 is an exceptionally quiet furnace thanks to the variable-speed blower motor and insulated cabinet, which also reduces air leaks and heat loss.

It’s also compatible with some additional Carrier features, including the SmartEvap™ technology, which works with your air conditioner in summer to reduce humidity levels and keep the coils free of moisture and bacteria.

Another technological compatibility this furnace has is Hybrid Heat. When you combine this model with a heat pump and appropriate thermostat, the furnace gains dual fuel operation, meaning it will switch between gas and electric heat to save you money.

One more cool feature is Carrier’s Comfort Heat Technology. It enables the furnace to predict your heating demands based on previous cycles. A furnace that can do this will offer more consistent heat without those pesky temperature swings.

Other Key Features

• Insulated cabinet reduces noise and air leaks
• Heavy-gauge steel cabinet protects important internal components for lasting life
• Has hot surface ignition for improved reliability and reduced fuel waste
• You can pair the furnace with a compatible thermostat to get access to multiple fan settings in the Constant ON mode
• Aluminized-steel primary heat exchanger for a long lifespan
• Provides outstanding year-round moisture management when installed with a humidifier or two-stage air conditioner
• Can be converted to propane
• Equipped with a two-speed inducer motor

Warranty Information

Most Carrier furnace models come with the same warranty, including the Performance 96 – 59TP6. It’s covered by a lifetime limited warranty on the heat exchanger and a 10-year limited warranty on parts.

To be eligible for the full warranty terms, you'll have to register your new furnace online within 90 days of installation. Unregistered furnaces have shorter warranties for the heat exchanger and parts.

This warranty is standard for the industry, even though Carrier is a premium brand. It’s certainly not the best coverage in the business, and there are mid-range and economy brands that have better warranty protection.

Comparable Models by Carrier

Model Comparison by Price: 59TP6 versus Infinity 96 – 59TN6

The Infinity 96 – 59TN6 is a premium-tier furnace, and it falls into the average price range of $6,000 to $6,600.

For the extra thousand dollars, you might expect quite a few additional features, but the truth is the Performance and Infinity 96 models are very similar: they both have two-stage operation and variable-speed blower motors with secondary heat exchangers.

One of the main differences is the Infinity model has a slightly higher 96.7 percent AFUE. In practice, however, that won’t really make much of a difference to your wallet.

The Infinity 96 also has a couple additional technological compatibilities that the Performance model doesn’t, such as the Ideal Humidity System and compatibility with the Infinity System Control—that’s Carrier’s proprietary smart thermostat.

Model Comparison by Features: 59TP6 versus Comfort™ 95 – 59SC5

The Comfort™ 95 – 59SC5 is an entry-level furnace, whereas the Performance 96 – 59TP6 is mid-range. That means the Comfort model will be less expensive, but it will also have fewer features and inferior specifications.

The Comfort model does have the same AFUE rating of 96.5 percent, but it only has a single-stage burner and multi-speed blower motor.

As long as this furnace is sized properly for your home and you don’t have high heating demands in winter, the less expensive Comfort model should save you the same on energy bills every year as the Performance 96.

However, the heat it provides won’t be as consistent, it won’t provide the same level of humidity management, and it won’t be as effective at keeping larger homes warm through colder weather.

Model Comparison by Tier: 59TP6 versus Performance™ 96 – 59SP6

The Performance 96 – 59SP6 is another mid-range Carrier furnace, but it’s in a slightly lower price range because it only has a single-stage burner. This means it’s less capable when it comes to quiet operation and delivering consistent temperatures.

It will likely also be best for spaces with lower heating demands, such as smaller homes or houses in more temperate parts of Canada.

However, the Performance 96 – 59SP6 does have a quiet and efficient variable-speed blower motor and secondary heat exchanger, so it has the same AFUE rating as the 59TP6. In other words, it will cost less and save you the same on heating bills.