KeepRite Ion 98 G97CMN Review

The Ion series 98 G97CMN is KeepRrite’s most powerful, efficient, and sophisticated gas furnace. It has some great design elements and cool features, and it has been designed for quiet and lasting performance.

This model review of the Ion 98 will tell you everything you need to know about this particular KeepRite furnace. 

We’ll cover the average cost with installation, top features, warranty certificate, efficiency rating, and more. And to help you decide if this is the right model for your home, we’ll also compare the Ion 98 to three other KeepRite gas furnaces based on price, tier, and features. 

The KeepRite Ion 98 G97CMN in a Nutshell

Average Price (with installation): $4,500 to $5,500

Top Features

• Excellent efficiency
• Reliable performance
• Can be controlled remotely when paired with the Ion System Control
• High-efficiency and cost-saving AFUE
• Quiet operation
• Backed by a great warranty
• Monitors operation for faster maintenance
• Equipped with a secondary heat exchanger that improves efficiency and reduces heat loss
• Wi-Fi enabled when you pair it with the Ion™ System Control smart thermostat
• Variable-speed blower motor works with your air conditioner to dehumidify in summer
• High rebate eligibility

The Bottom Line

The Ion 98 is a modulating furnace with a variable-speed blower motor. It can make incremental adjustments to both the heat output and the airflow. 

The modulating burner can run between 40 and 100 percent capacity, so it will operate most of the time at lower speeds to keep your home warm and save you money. It can also ramp up when the outside temperature drops. 

These types of furnaces have the best temperature control, they're quieter than standard furnaces, and they offer better humidity management. 

Plus, high-efficiency models with modulating burners are the most capable of keeping larger spaces warm, even through Canada’s coldest weather. Moreover, this furnace will efficiently convert most of the fuel it uses into heat for your home.

In Depth Review

KeepRite Ion 98 G97CMN Product Specifications

• AFUE: 98 percent
• Burner type: Modulating
• Blower type: Variable-speed ECM
• ENERGY STAR certified: Yes
• Heating capacity: 60,000 to 120,000 BTUs

Features Overview

The Ion 98 can be paired with KeepRite’s most advanced smart thermostat, the Ion System Control, and this can unlock even more great features. 

For example, the Ion System Control enables you to schedule and manage settings for temperature, ventilation, energy management, and humidity. It also lets you program settings for seven days, including home, away, and sleep modes. That can help improve energy efficiency and save you money on heating bills.

The thermostat is also a monitoring system that provides diagnostic information. When you need maintenance and repairs, the diagnostic data can make service faster and cheaper. 

Moreover, this furnace is equipped with a special rigid press joint primary heat exchanger. These tend to have a longer life than standard heat exchangers because they're more resistant to cracks and pressure. 

Finally, the Ion 98 has features for quiet operation, such as a fully insulated cabinet, an isolated blower, and soft mounting hardware for the blower and inducer motor. 

Other Key Features

• Dual fuel compatibility means you can pair the furnace with an electric heat pump to take advantage of advanced energy savings
• Compatible with air purifiers and humidifiers
• Equipped with a silicon nitride igniter that’s more reliable and that wastes less fuel than a traditional pilot light
• Numerous safety features, including a high temperature limit control
• Equipped with a variable-speed induced draft combustion motor
• The pre-painted steel cabinet is insulated and durable
• Cabinet has a tight fit door latch system

Warranty Information

The Ion 98 has an excellent warranty that protects the furnace for many years, including:

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

The No Hassle Replacement warranty is KeepRite’s version of the unit replacement warranty. It guarantees that KeepRite will replace the entire furnace if the heat exchanger fails in the first 10 years of operation.  

Timely registration is required if you want the full warranty. After installation, you'll have 90 days to register. Otherwise, you'll lose some of the coverage. Further, the full coverage is only available when the furnace is installed in residential applications.  

Comparable Models by KeepRite

Model Comparison by Price: Ion 98 versus Performance 92 N92ESN

The Performance series 92 N92ESN is a far more affordable gas furnace, averaging between $3,000 and $4,500 to buy and install. 

The lower price, however, means a few trade-offs. The Performance 92 has a single-stage gas valve, a multi-speed blower, and a lower 92 percent AFUE. 

Not only will the Performance 92 cost more to operate, but it also won’t be as capable of handling Canada’s coldest winters, especially if you live in a larger house. In fact, furnaces with efficiency ratings below 95 percent aren't considered high efficiency in Canada anymore.

Most Canadians will need something more efficient and powerful than the Performance series 92. You probably won’t even be able to find this model in the Great White North.

If you do manage to find one, the Performance 92 isn't compatible with the Ion System Control, it has a shorter 20-year heat exchanger warranty, and it doesn’t have a No Hassle Replacement warranty.

Model Comparison by Features: Ion 98 versus QuietComfort 96 G96VTN

KeepRite’s QuietComfort 96 G96VTN is a mid-range gas furnace, meaning it will be in the middle in terms of price, features offered, and warranty coverage. 

The QuietComfort 96 has two-stage operation, meaning it has a high and low heat output in the ON setting. While these furnaces are superior to single-stage ones, they aren't as powerful as modulating models like the Ion 98. 

The mid-range gas furnace is paired with a variable-speed blower motor, it’s dual fuel compatible, and it has an AFUE of 96 percent. It will be powerful and efficient enough for most homes in Canada, it will cost less than the Ion model, and it will save a similar amount on heating bills.

However, it’s not compatible with the Ion System Control, and it has a shorter five-year No Hassle Replacement warranty. 

Model Comparison by Tier: Ion 98 versus Ion 95 G95CSU

The Ion 98 is KeepRite’s top-of-the-line furnace, and while there are no other models in their product line that can compete in terms of overall features, there are some that have unique benefits that the Ion 98 doesn’t. 

One of those models is the Ion 95 G95CSU. It’s part of the same premium Ion tier as the Ion 98, and it boasts some of the same great features: ENERGY STAR, a variable-speed blower, and compatibility with the Ion System Control. 

But the Ion 95 only has single-stage operation, it has a lower 95 percent AFUE, and it has a shorter five-year No Hassle Replacement warranty.

At the same time, the Ion 95 has something that the Ion 98 doesn’t: it’s an ultra-low NOx furnace. Nitrogen oxide is a potent greenhouse gas, so lower NOx emissions are better for the environment.