KeepRite Performance 92 N92ESN Review

The Performance 92 N92ESN is an entry-level furnace. It’s the most affordable high-efficiency furnace in KeepRite’s product line, and that also means it’s the most standard in terms of what it has to offer. 

The Performance 92 won’t be suitable for a lot of homes in Canada, but this model review will help you determine if it might work for yours. The review will cover the unit’s average price with installation, the AFUE, key features, warranty details, and more. 

And to show you what else is available at slightly higher price points, we’ll also compare the Performance 92 to three other KeepRite furnaces based on price, tier, and features. 

The KeepRite Performance 92 N92ESN in a Nutshell

Average Price (with installation): $3,000 to $4,500

Top Features

• Specially designed heat exchanger for longer performance
• Secondary heat exchanger improves efficiency
• Affordable high-efficiency furnace
• Reliable and fuel-saving components
• Reduced heating costs compared to older furnaces

The Bottom Line

The Performance 92 is KeepRite’s most budget-friendly high-efficiency furnace, so it’s also the most basic in terms of design elements, capabilities, and features.  

It has a single-stage burner, a fixed-speed blower motor, and an AFUE of 92.1 percent. Compared to an older and less efficient furnace, the Performance 92 could lower your annual heating bills in the right setting.

Because Canadian winters in most parts of the country are harsher than other places, single-stage, single-speed furnaces aren't always sufficient to keep your house warm. This is especially true if you live in a larger home, such as a detached house or a home with multiple floors.

The most suitable application for this furnace would be a smaller home, like a townhouse, cottage, or condo, in a milder part of Canada.

Another important thing to know about the Performance 92 is that it doesn’t meet the new guidelines the Canadian government recently passed regarding minimum efficiency standards. 

All furnaces manufactured after July 2019 must have an AFUE of 95 percent or higher, so the only way you can get this furnace in Canada is to find a unit that was manufactured prior to the compliance date (July 2019).

In Depth Review

KeepRite Performance 92 N92ESN Product Specifications

• AFUE: 92.1 percent
• Burner type: Single-stage
• Blower type: Single-speed
• ENERGY STAR® certified: No
• Heating capacity: 40,000 to 120,000 BTUs

Features Overview

Despite being a more basic furnace, the Performance 92 does still boast some of the design elements that make KeepRite an attractive brand. 

One of those design features is the rigid press joint heat exchanger. These don’t rely on welds to keep the joints together, so they tend to enjoy a longer life because they're more resistant to heat, pressure, and cracking. The unit also has a secondary heat exchanger that extracts maximum heat from the flue gasses for more efficient fuel use.

Another feature is the dual fuel compatibility. You can pair the Performance 92 with an electric heat pump, and when you integrate them with a compatible thermostat, the furnace will automatically switch between the two fuels based on which one is more economical at a given time.  

The Performance 92 is also equipped with an ECM blower motor, and these are more efficient and require less maintenance than other types. Similarly, the furnace doesn’t use a fuel-wasting pilot light, but rather a more reliable silicon nitride igniter.

Finally, the Performance 92 provides quiet comfort all winter thanks to the fully insulated cabinet, the soft-mounted blower and inducer motor, and the isolated blower motor.

Other Key Features

• Compatible with accessories like humidifiers and air purifiers
• Special control system that monitors performance and provides diagnostics for faster and more accurate troubleshooting
• Soft-mount rubber gaskets for quiet operation

Warranty Information

The Performance 92 is only backed by KeepRite’s base warranty, which includes a 20-year heat exchanger warranty and a 10-year parts warranty. 

Even so, you still have to register the furnace within 90 days of installation to be eligible for that coverage. Unregistered furnaces will lose out on some of the protection offered. 

You can register on KeepRite’s website. You'll need to provide your contact details, the serial and model number of the furnace, the date of installation, and the name and address of the HVAC professional who installed it.  

Comparable Models by KeepRite

Model Comparison by Price: Performance 92 versus QuietComfort 96 G96VTN

The QuietComfort 96 G96VTN is a mid-range model, so it’s definitely not the most expensive furnace that KeepRite has. In fact, it’s in the next price range up from the Performance 92, and typically costs between $3,500 and $5,500 to buy and install. 

Although the QuietComfort 96 could cost you roughly $1,000 more to buy, the money you could save in the long run will most likely offset any difference between the purchase prices, and you'll have a more comfortable home. 

The first way the QuietComfort 96 can save you money is through its higher 96 percent AFUE. Although the difference isn't huge, the higher-efficiency model will save you more every month, and over the lifespan of the furnace, that could add up to a pretty penny. 

Another way the QuietComfort 96 can save you money is through potential rebates. It’s a higher-performing two-stage furnace with a variable-speed blower, and it’s ENERGY STAR certified, so it’s probably going to qualify for more rebates than the Performance 92.

And here's one more thing: the QuietComfort 96 has a superior warranty that includes lifetime heat exchanger coverage and a five-year No Hassle Replacement warranty. Those alone could save you a great deal on repair costs.  

Model Comparison by Features: Performance 92 versus Ion 98 G97CMN

To give you a better idea of everything that KeepRite has to offer, let’s compare the Performance 92 to their best furnace, the Ion 98 G97CMN.

The Ion 98 is a modulating and variable-speed furnace with an AFUE of 98 percent and ENERGY STAR certification. What this means for you is that the furnace will have no trouble keeping your house warm, you'll have a consistent temperature throughout, and you'll save even more on heating bills. 

This furnace will also be quieter, and it will qualify for more rebates.

Further, it has a much better warranty, including a lifetime heat exchanger warranty and 10-year No Hassle Replacement coverage. 

Finally, the Ion 98 is compatible with the Ion System Control, a smart thermostat that has a number of features for increased comfort, convenience, and energy savings.  

Model Comparison by Tier: Performance 92 versus Performance 96 N96VSN

The Performance 96 N96VSN is in the same entry-level tier as the Performance 92, but it falls into a somewhat higher price range because it has more to offer. 

Whereas the Performance 92 has a single-speed blower and AFUE of 92.1 percent, the Performance 96 has a superior variable-speed blower and an AFUE of 96 percent. 

The variable-speed operation enables the furnace to make incremental adjustments to the airflow, so this model will be quieter, more efficient, and better at producing a consistent temperature around the house. 

The Performance 96 is also a single-stage furnace, so you still have to make sure it will be powerful enough for your home, but it’s much better equipped to handle some of Canada’s colder winters. 

Other benefits of the Performance 96 include its lifetime heat exchanger warranty, ENERGY STAR certification, and the fact that it exceeds the government’s new efficiency minimums for furnaces.