
Goodman GCVM97 Review
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AFUE:Up to 97 percent
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ENERGY STAR ®:Yes
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Burner Type:Modulating
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Blower Type:Variable-speed ECM
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Warranty Score:
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Overall Grade:
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Price:$4,700 to $5,300
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BTU Output:29,400 to 97,000
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The GCVM97 is one of Goodman’s two top-tier modulating furnaces with variable-speed capabilities.
This is a highly efficient furnace that will have no trouble keeping any house warm through the coldest of winters. Plus, it will help to eliminate hot and cold spots throughout the house, leaving you with a home that’s the perfect temperature in every corner from top to bottom.
The GCVM97 is a quality Goodman gas furnace, but it might not be right for every house. This Goodman furnace review will help you determine just that. We’ll talk about the furnace’s specifications, pricing, warranty details, and more, plus we’ll show you three other Goodman models that might be viable alternatives.
The GCVM97 in a Nutshell
Average Price (with installation): $4,700 to $5,300
Top Features
- Quality design and components for long life
- Has a secondary heat exchanger that cuts fuel waste and heat loss while improving efficiency
- ECM blower motor is quiet, durable, and efficient
- Equipped with a modulating gas valve that self-calibrates and auto-configures for easier installation
- Protected by an industry-leading warranty
- Has gentle airflow changes to accommodate new heating demands
- Boasts lower nitrogen oxide emissions than traditional furnaces
- Can be paired with a communicating or non-communicating thermostat
- Excellent value for the cost
- Likely eligible for rebates
The Bottom Line
There are plenty of things to love about the GCVM97, including the modulating gas burner, variable-speed blower motor, and secondary heat exchanger.
All of these components work together to improve efficiency, reduce noise, and deliver consistent heat while also managing indoor humidity levels.
The result is a quiet and effective furnace with a high-efficiency rating and ENERGY STAR® certification that will save you on monthly heating bills. What's more, Goodman gas furnace prices tend to be lower than prices from other brands, so you'll spend less compared to with a brand like Carrier or Lennox.
Moreover, the GCVM97 is also compatible with Goodman’s proprietary and special features, ComfortBridge Technology and the CoolCloud HVAC app, which we’ll discuss in more detail later.
In Depth Review
Goodman GCVM97 Product Specifications
- AFUE: 97 percent
- Burner type: Modulating
- Blower type: Variable-speed ECM
- ENERGY STAR certified: Yes
- Heating capacity: 29,400 to 97,000 BTUs
Features Overview
ComfortBridge Technology is a communicating system that allows the furnace’s major components to communicate with the thermostat, in much the same way that Bluetooth enables you to connect different devices. The components deliver data to the thermostat, and the thermostat uses that data to adjust settings based on heating demands, humidity, and the temperature. This ensures that the furnace is always performing at peak efficiency and delivering the right heat for your comfort.
The CoolCloud HVAC app is an app that professional contractors can download and use to communicate with the furnace. The app is meant to make installation and repairs easier because it enables the contractor to see important data and functions, the repair history, diagnostics, and even notes from other contractors.
Other Key Features
- Ready for easy connection to an electronic air cleaner or humidifier
- The unit doesn’t leak thanks to the fast condensate water drainage
- Has a special tubular heat exchanger made of aluminized steel for increased heat resistance, durability, and efficiency
- The silicon nitride igniter eliminates the need for a fuel-wasting pilot light and improves reliability
- Equipped with a self-diagnostic control board that monitors performance
- Fault code display shows recent diagnostics data for faster and easier troubleshooting
- Less air leakage, quieter operation, and improved heat transfer thanks to the thermally insulated cabinet
Warranty Information
The GCVM97 is protected by Goodman’s full warranty, which is one of the best in the industry. Here are the three separate coverage types you get with this furnace:
- A 10-year parts warranty
- A 10-year unit replacement warranty
- A lifetime heat exchanger warranty
With the unit replacement warranty, Goodman will replace the entire furnace if the heat exchanger should fail in the first 10 years after the furnace is installed. This is amazing because then you still have the lifetime heat exchanger warranty to protect you if anything else happens.
Goodman gives homeowners 60 days to register new furnaces (from the date of installation), and doing so will ensure you're eligible for these full warranty terms. Failing to register will mean some of the warranty coverage will be lost or reduced.
Similarly, you'll probably want to hire a licensed contractor to install the furnace because failing to do so could result in the warranty being terminated.
Comparable Models by Goodman
Model Comparison by Price: GCVM97 versus GMEC96
The GMEC96 is a slightly cheaper furnace, with the installed price averaging between $4,400 and $5,000. However, there is a trade-off to the lower cost that you should be aware of.
For starters, the GMEC96 only has a two-stage gas valve. While these are superior to single-stage ones, they're not as sophisticated or as efficient as modulating burners. Similarly, the GMEC96 only has a multi-speed blower motor, meaning it has a few airflow settings rather than being able to make small changes.
As such, the GMEC96 is less efficient, with an AFUE of 96 percent. It has the same warranty as the GCVM97, but it doesn’t have the ComfortBridge technology or CoolCloud HVAC app.
In the end, the GMEC96 will save you plenty on annual heating bills, but not as much as the GCVM97, and you won’t get Goodman’s additional special features.
Note that the GMEC96 has been marked as a limited inventory furnace, which likely means Goodman isn't making more. The GMEC96 might still be available through local HVAC dealers for some time.
Model Comparison by Features: GCVM97 versus GM9S96-U
The GM9S96-U is an entry-level Goodman furnace, so it’s much more basic than the GCVM97. Some of the most important differences are that the GM9S96-U has a single-stage burner and a multi-speed ECM blower motor, neither of which can compete with the premium model’s modulating, variable-speed operation.
Nonetheless, the GM9S96-U has some great design elements, including a secondary heat exchanger and highly efficient primary heat exchanger, so it still achieves a high-efficiency AFUE of 96 percent. In other words, this model will be more affordable and save you a similar amount on heating bills.
What's more, the GM9S96-U has a special premix burner, so it actually achieves ultra-low NOx emissions, which is a requirement in some areas.
However, the GM9S96-U may be better suited to smaller homes because of the single-stage burner.
Model Comparison by Tier: GCVM97 versus GMVM97
The GMVM97 is nearly identical to the GCVM97 in terms of specifications, features, pricing, and warranty. Here's what the two have in common:
- Modulating burners and variable-speed ECM blowers
- Heating input
- ENERGY STAR certification
- Special Goodman features and compatibilities
- Cabinet size
- Primary heat exchanger design
- Secondary heat exchangers
- Warranties
- Standard features that come with all Goodman furnaces
One noticeable difference between the two is that the GMVM97 is slightly cheaper: between $4,600 and $5,200 on average. The GCVM97 also has a slightly lower AFUE of 97 percent, though it will save you almost as much on heating bills as the GCVM97.