Goodman GMVM97 Review
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AFUE:Up to 98 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:A+++
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Overall Grade:A+++
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Price:$4,600 to $5,200
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BTU Output:29,400 to 97,000
In order to help homeowners shop for furnaces and air conditioners, we developed our own proprietary algorithms which weigh a range of criteria and factors to provide an easy-to-compare grade (e.g. B-, A+, etc).
Warranty Grade: It can be difficult to know which brands and models offer the best warranty coverage, particularly because a lot of the key details are hidden in dense warranty documents filled with hard to understand legalese. Thankfully for you, we’ve carefully studied them and created this grading system to account for things like the length AND quality of their guarantee, coverage restrictions and more!
Overall Grade: This grade weighs key factors like efficiency, ENERGY STAR certification, comfort, noise level (for A/Cs), our warranty grade, and more.
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Goodman’s GMVM97 is their premier furnace. It’s the most sophisticated heating system they make, and also the most efficient. It has some great design specifications, a fantastic warranty, and some great features. Plus, it’s one of the most affordable high-efficiency modulating furnaces around.
This Goodman GMVM97 model review will go over in detail all of the important features and specifications about this furnace to help you choose an upgrade, and we’ll compare it to three other Goodman models in case this brand has something more suitable for you.
The Goodman GMVM97 in a Nutshell
Average Price (with installation): $4,600 to $5,200
Top Features
- Lower nitrogen oxide emissions than some furnaces
- Excellent design specifications
- High-efficiency AFUE
- Self-diagnostics for easier troubleshooting and repairs
- Compatible with communicating and non-communicating thermostats
- Can change airflow according to heating demands for optimal comfort levels
- Backed by an excellent warranty
- A more budget-friendly option
- Compatible with all Goodman special features
- Secondary heat exchanger for improved efficiency
The Bottom Line
The GMVM97 is a modulating, variable-speed furnace, and this means it can make incremental changes to the heating output. This saves you money, keeps your home at just the right temperature, controls humidity levels, eliminates hot and cold spots, and reduces operational noise.
And thanks to the efficiency rating, design, and ENERGY STAR® certification, this furnace will likely be eligible for any rebates that are available.
Another great thing about the GMVM97 is that it’s compatible with all of Goodman’s special and exclusive features, including the communicating ComfortBridge™ Technology and the CoolCloud™ HVAC app.
In Depth Review
Goodman GMVM97 Product Specifications
- AFUE: 98 percent
- Burner type: Modulating
- Blower type: Variable-speed ECM
- ENERGY STAR certified: Yes
- Heating capacity: 29,400 to 97,000 BTUs
Features Overview
One of the special features from Goodman is called ComfortBridge Technology. This is a communicating technology that allows important components in the furnace to communicate with the thermostat. The thermostat can then tell the furnace to adjust its settings automatically based on things like temperature settings, humidity levels, and heating demands.
Another cool feature that you get with the GMVM97 is the CoolCloud HVAC app. This is an app that contractors can use to connect to the furnace during installation and repairs. The app makes it easier to configure settings during installation, and makes repairs and maintenance faster by giving HVAC techs access to diagnostics data and notes from past contractors.
Other Key Features
- The primary heat exchanger has a tubular design for increased longevity and durability
- Uses a reliable and durable silicon nitride igniter that saves fuel compared to a pilot light
- Ready to be paired with an electronic air cleaner and humidifier
- Cabinet is insulated to reduce air leaks, dampen noise, and increase heat transfer
- Variable-speed induced-draft blower is quiet and efficient
- Fewer water leaks thanks to quick condensate drainage
Warranty Information
Despite being a more economy brand, Goodman offers one of the best furnace warranties. The GMVM97 is covered by a:
- 10-year parts warranty
- 10-year unit replacement warranty
- Lifetime heat exchanger warranty
With the unit replacement warranty, Goodman will offer to replace the entire furnace if the heat exchanger fails within 10 years.
To be eligible for the full terms, make sure you register the furnace within 60 days of installation, and hire a licensed HVAC professional to do the installation. Not registering the furnace will reduce the warranty coverage period, and a DIY installation could void the warranty completely.
Comparable Models by Goodman
Model Comparison by Price: GMVM97 versus GCSS92
The GCSS92 is one of Goodman’s entry-level models. If budget is a major concern, then you could save a few hundred dollars by opting for the GCSS92. This model costs between $4,000 and $4,600 to buy and install.
There are some things you should know about the cheaper model, however. For example, it only has a single-stage burner and multi-speed blower motor, so it won’t be as efficient, and it won’t be as effective when it comes to quiet operation, managing humidity, and eliminating hot and cold spots.
Furthermore, the GCSS92 has less warranty coverage, it only has an AFUE of 92 percent, and it’s not ENERGY STAR certified.
What does that mean for you? Although you'll save more on the up-front purchase price, you won’t save as much in the long-run on annual energy bills. Plus, there's a good chance the GCSS92 won’t be eligible for as many rebates. Rebates can sometimes be quite hefty, and could in fact level out the price difference between the two units.
In other words, there's a good chance the GMVM97 will provide better long-term value and cost-savings.
Model Comparison by Features: GMVM97 versus GMES96-U
Goodman’s GMVM97 is one of their most advanced furnaces, so nothing else from their product line competes in terms of overall features.
The GMES96-U, for example, is a less sophisticated furnace because it’s only single-stage and only has a multi-speed blower motor.
It is ENERGY STAR certified, but it has a lower 96 percent AFUE. Finally, it doesn’t have the communicating ComfortBridge Technology or the CoolCloud HVAC app.
At the same time, the GMES96-U does have something that the GMVM97 doesn’t: ultra-low nitrogen oxide emissions. NOx is a greenhouse gas, so buying a furnace with ultra-low emissions can reduce your home’s environmental impact.
Model Comparison by Tier: GMVM97 versus GCVM97
The GMVM97 and GCVM97 are nearly identical. They're both modulating furnaces with variable-speed ECM blower motors, have ENERGY STAR certification and 98 percent AFUEs, have the same warranty coverage, and have the same features and technological compatibilities.
The only real difference between the two is the price: the GCVM97 actually costs a little more, averaging between $4,700 and $5,300 with installation.