Goodman GMES92 Review

LIMITED INVENTORY: Please note, this model has been marked as having limited inventory by the manufacturer, although it may still be available for purchase through distributors and contractors for some time.

The GMES92 is an affordable entry-level furnace, but it doesn’t meet the Canadian government’s new efficiency minimum of 95 percent, so it’s not a high-AFUE furnace. This is a fairly basic model in terms of specifications, but it does have a few features and design elements that improve the quality and efficiency of the unit. 

This Goodman furnace review of the GMES92 will aim to help you decide if this furnace is worth the money, and if it could be a good furnace for your home.

We’ll go over the GMES92’s specifications, features, price, warranty terms, AFUE, and more. And to give you an idea of what else Goodman offers and how the GMES92 stands up against other models, we’ll compare this furnace to three others that the brand makes. 

The Goodman GMES92 in a Nutshell

Average Price (with installation): $4,000 to $4,600

Top Features

• Equipped with a secondary heat exchanger 
• Uses a silicon nitride ignitor that saves fuel
• Has low nitrogen oxide emissions
• Economical 
• Quiet operation
• High-efficiency AFUE
• Excellent warranty
• Compact and space-saving

The Bottom Line

The GMES92 is a basic single-stage furnace, but Goodman has equipped it with some features that make it more appealing than a base model.

It has a multi-speed blower that has more airflow settings than just on and off. It also has an ECM blower motor, which is quieter and more efficient than a standard one. 

Something else the GMES92 has is a secondary heat exchanger that traps and recycles energy from the exhaust gasses, so this furnace boasts better efficiency and less heat loss than a non-condensing furnace. 

This furnace’s AFUE is no longer considered high-efficiency in Canada, and it might not be powerful enough to keep a larger home comfortable through Canada’s cold winters. In fact, you'll only be able to buy one here if it was manufactured before July 2019. This probably has something to do with why Goodman isn't making this furnace anymore.

In Depth Review

Goodman GMES92 Product Specifications

• AFUE: 92 percent
• Burner type: Single-stage
• Blower type: Multi-speed ECM
• ENERGY STAR® certified: No
• Heating capacity: 36,840 to 110,520 BTUs

Features Overview

We mentioned that the GMES92 is generally more suitable for smaller homes, and one of the benefits of this furnace is that it’s compact, has a small footprint, and has versatile installation options. 

The GMES92 can be installed in an upflow or horizontal position, meaning it can potentially fit in a basement, crawl space, or even a closet. Plus, it has been designed for fast and easy installation, which could save you on labour costs. 

Other Key Features

• Air leakage is less than 2 percent
• Important components protected by a heavy-gauge cabinet coated with a durable finish
• Heat exchanger cabinet is insulated for increased heat transfer and less noise
• Ignitor is durable, reliable, and long-lasting
• Primary heat exchanger is made with a heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant aluminized-steel
• Unit doesn’t leak water because of fast drainage
• Has a self-diagnostic control board connected to an LED fault code display for quicker troubleshooting
• Easily paired with an electronic air cleaner and humidifier

Warranty Information

The GMES92 doesn’t have Goodman’s best warranty, but it still has excellent coverage, especially for an entry-level model.

This furnace is protected by a 10-year parts warranty, a lifetime heat exchanger warranty, and a two-year unit replacement warranty. 

With the unit replacement warranty, Goodman will replace the furnace if the heat exchanger fails in the first two years. After that, the original heat exchanger warranty will still apply for the lifetime of the unit, giving your investment excellent coverage. 

There are things you have to do if you want to take advantage of Goodman’s warranty, and they include:

• Hire a professional HVAC technician to install the unit, otherwise you could void the warranty
• Register the GMES92 on Goodman’s website within 60 days of installation to be eligible for the full warranty terms
• Pay attention to the regular maintenance that’s required to keep the warranty valid

Comparable Models by Goodman

Model Comparison by Price: GMES92 versus GMVC96

The GMVC96 is at the top end of Goodman’s mid-range furnaces. It can typically cost anywhere from $4,400 to $5,000 to buy and install this model, and there are many reasons why the extra couple hundred dollars could be a wise investment. 

The GMVC96 is a two-stage furnace with a variable-speed blower. This means it has a high and low heat output, and that it can incrementally change the airflow. As such, it’s a quieter, more efficient furnace that provides more even heat.  

There are several ways the GMVC96 could save you more money in the long run. It has an AFUE of 96 percent, so it will reduce your heating bills even more than the GMES92. It also has a longer 10-year unit replacement warranty. Finally, the GMVC96 has ENERGY STAR certification and could be eligible for rebates that would reduce the purchase price. 

And here's something else about the GMVC96: it has Goodman’s special features, ComfortBridge technology and the CoolCloud HVAC app. 

For a little bit more money, you get a lot more furnace with the GMVC96.

Model Comparison by Features: GMES92 versus GMVM97

The GMVM97 is one of Goodman’s top-of-the-line units. It costs at least $600 more than the GMES92, but like the GMVC96, it could provide a lot more value. 

The GMVM97 is a modulating, variable-speed furnace, so it can make incremental adjustments to both the heating output and the airflow. These furnaces are the best when it comes to efficiency, even heat, humidity management, and quiet operation. 

With an AFUE of 98 percent, the GMVM97 is going to save you plenty on energy bills. Plus, it’s ENERGY STAR certified and will likely qualify for any rebate around. And it too has a longer 10-year unit replacement warranty.

ComfortBridge technology and the CoolCloud HVAC app come standard with the GMVM97. ComfortBridge is a communicating feature that improves the performance and efficiency of the unit. CoolCloud is an app that contractors can use to facilitate installation and repairs, which could mean cheaper service calls. 

Model Comparison by Tier: GMES92 versus GMVS96-U

The GMVS96-U is another entry-level Goodman furnace, but it’s superior to the GMES92 in many ways, including being more powerful and more efficient.

The GMVS96-U has a single-stage burner, but it’s paired with a more sophisticated variable-speed blower motor that makes it quieter, more efficient, and more consistent with heat delivery.

It also has a high-efficiency AFUE of 96 percent and ENERGY STAR certification, so it will save you more on heating bills and keep your home more comfortable.

Further, the GMVS96-U has ultra-low NOx emissions, so it’s better for environmentally friendly Canadians. And if you like the idea of premium features, the GMVS96-U has Goodman’s ComfortBridge communicating technology and the CoolCloud HVAC app.