KeepRite QuietComfort 96 G96VTN Review

The QuietComfort 96 G96VTN is a great contender to consider if you're thinking about buying a KeepRite heating system. It’s a high-efficiency furnace and checks a lot of boxes in terms of affordability, design elements, and warranty. 

This QuietComfort 96 model review will help you assess this furnace. It will tell you about the energy efficiency rating, average price with installation, warranty coverage and details, design elements, and special features. 

And in case you're considering other KeepRite furnaces as well, this model review will also compare the QuietComfort 96 to three other models based on tier, price, and features. 

The KeepRite QuietComfort 96 G96VTN in a Nutshell

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

Top Features

• Lots of great features for efficient operation
• Cost-saving benefits come from the high AFUE, great design elements, and ENERGY STAR® certification
• Protection for your investment thanks to the great warranty
• Quiet operation from design elements and additional noise-reducing features
• Secondary heat exchanger reduces heat loss and fuel waste
• Primary heat exchanger has an improved design for longer life
• Quality components for lasting performance

The Bottom Line

The Quiet Comfort series is KeepRite’s mid-range tier, and the QuietComfort 96 packs a punch in terms of efficiency, capability, and reliable performance. 

This gas furnace can offer great value. It won’t cost an arm and a leg compared to more expensive brands, and the two-stage operation and variable-speed blower motor mean it will keep just about any home warm.

The furnace will deliver great temperature control and have a lot of residential applications in Canada, even in medium or large houses.

The 96 percent AFUE and ENERGY STAR certification also mean this gas furnace will reduce your monthly heating costs compared to your older heating system. Plus, it could also save you money through rebate eligibility that might further reduce the purchase price. 

In Depth Review

KeepRite QuietComfort 96 G96VTN Product Specifications

• AFUE: 96 percent
• Burner type: Two-stage
• Blower type: Variable-speed ECM
• ENERGY STAR certified: Yes
• Heating capacity: 60,000 to 120,000 BTUs

Features Overview

The QuietComfort 96 doesn’t really have any exciting technologies or features, but it does have some great design elements. Those include the two-stage burner, variable-speed ECM blower motor, specially designed primary heat exchanger, and secondary heat exchanger.

The two-stage burner means there's a high and low heat output. The furnace usually operates in the lower stage to maintain your home’s temperature without wasting fuel. When it gets colder, the furnace will go into the second stage to produce more heat. 

The variable-speed blower makes incremental changes to the airflow to improve temperature consistency throughout the house. It’s also highly efficient and great at managing humidity. In fact, it can also provide better summer dehumidification when paired with a compatible air conditioner.

The QuietComfort 96 has a durable and long-lasting rigid press joint primary heat exchanger. This is a type of clamshell heat exchanger, meaning it’s more resistant to heat, pressure, and cracking. 

Finally, the secondary heat exchanger in the QuietComfort 96 extracts additional heat from the flue gasses that would otherwise be lost, so this furnace can provide more heat with the same amount of fuel as a non-condensing furnace. 

Other Key Features

• The furnace is dual fuel compatible and can be paired with an electric heat pump for optimized energy-savings
• Has a fully insulated cabinet to improve heat transfer and reduce noise
• Equipped with a safety feature that prevents overheating
• Can be paired with HVAC accessories like air purifiers and humidifiers
• Blower and inducer motor are soft-mounted for quieter performance
• Silicon nitride igniter doesn’t waste fuel and is more reliable than a pilot light
• Blower motor is isolated to reduce noise
• Has an electronic control that monitors the system and provides diagnostics
• Comes with safety features like a high temperature limit control
• Equipped with a variable-speed induced draft combustion motor
• Solid steel cabinet is pre-painted and outfitted with a tight fit door latch

Warranty Information

The QuietComfort 96 comes with a great warranty certificate—almost as good as the coverage that KeepRite offers for their premium units. The protection for the QuietComfort 96 includes:

• A lifetime heat exchanger limited warranty
• A 10-year parts warranty
• A five-year No Hassle Replacement limited warranty

The No Hassle Replacement warranty means that if the heat exchanger fails during the coverage period, then KeepRite will replace the entire furnace with a comparable unit. 

Timely registration is required if you want the full unit replacement, parts, and heat exchanger warranty. Once the furnace is installed, you'll have 90 days to register. You'll just have to provide KeepRite with your information, the name of the licensed HVAC installer, the furnace model number, and a few other details.

Comparable Models by KeepRite

Model Comparison by Price: QuietComfort 96 versus Performance 96 N96VSN

One of the other models in the same price range (though cheaper) as the QuietComfort 96 is the Performance series 96 N96VSN. It’s in the same cost category as the QuietComfort 96, and they're both high-efficiency models, but the Performance 96 only has a single-stage gas valve.

Furnaces with single-stage operation aren't as high-performing because they only have one heat output. In Canada, furnaces like this will perform best in smaller spaces or milder parts of the country.

The Performance model also doesn’t have a No Hassle Replacement warranty, though it does have the same heat exchanger and parts warranty. 

Model Comparison by Features: QuietComfort 96 versus Ion 98 G97CMN

The QuietComfort 96 holds its own compared to many other KeepRite furnaces, but the Ion series 98 G97CMN is the brand’s top model, so it has some features and selling points that the QuietComfort 96 doesn’t. 

The Ion 98 is the most expensive model that KeepRite has, and that’s because it has a modulating burner. 

This means it can run for long periods to keep your home at the ideal temperature without using a lot of energy. But it can also modulate the heat output incrementally when the mercury increases or drops so that every corner of your home stays at the temperature you want it.

As such, the Ion model has a 98 percent AFUE, so it will save you a little more on energy bills over the years. In addition, it has a longer 10-year No Hassle Replacement warranty.

What's more, the premium model also has Wi-Fi technology and compatibility with the Ion System Control. That’s a smart thermostat that can give you access to even more features and capabilities.  

Model Comparison by Tier: QuietComfort 96 versus Ion 96 G96CTN

There aren't any other high-efficiency furnaces in KeepRite’s mid-range QuietComfort series, but the most comparable model to the QuietComfort 96 is the premium-tier Ion 96 G96CTN. 

These two units are very similar—though not identical—in terms of pricing, features, warranty, and more. The Ion 96 is also a two-stage furnace with a variable-speed blower, though it has a marginally higher 96.7 percent AFUE. 

The Ion 96 falls into the same price range as the QuietComfort 96, but it will be a little more expensive. This is because of the higher AFUE, but also because it has a longer 10-year No Hassle Replacement warranty, and it’s compatible with the Ion System Control.