Lennox Merit ML193E Review

In the market for a new Lennox furnace? The ML193E is the most affordable model from the brand, but it might not be powerful or efficient enough for most Canadian homes.

The ML193E is Lennox’s least sophisticated model. Its efficiency rating is below 95%, so this doesn’t qualify as one of the brand’s high-efficiency furnaces.

If you need a new furnace and are looking at a Lennox model, this review will tell you what you need to know about the ML193E.

We’ll cover the furnace’s design elements, price, AFUE, special features, burner and blower types, heat exchanger details, and warranty terms so that you can decide if this furnace is worth the investment. Finally, we’ll compare the ML193E to three other Lennox models based on tier, price, and features.

The Lennox Merit ML193E in a Nutshell

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

Top Features

• Better efficiency thanks to the secondary heat exchanger and condensing technology
• Constant torque motor can adjust airflow for more even temperatures around the house
• Quiet operation
• Durable and lasting components
• Designed for fast installation
• Proprietary blower motor
• Compatible with an air filter and humidifier
• Doesn’t meet Canada’s new energy efficiency minimum for gas furnaces
• Comes with standard warranty coverage
• Equipped with proprietary Lennox components, including the ignition system and heat exchangers

The Bottom Line

It’s important to understand that the ML193E no longer qualifies as a high-efficiency furnace based on the Canadian government’s 2019 recommendations.

Single-stage furnaces with efficiency ratings below 95% aren't considered powerful or efficient enough for our winters, so you may not be able to find this model in Canada.

Further, Lennox furnace prices are higher than most, and even though this gas furnace will be cheaper than their other models, it likely won’t qualify for rebates and won’t save you as much on energy costs.

However, if this furnace works for your home, then it does have some attractive design elements, including the constant torque blower motor, secondary heat exchanger, condensing technology, and dual fuel compatibility when paired with a heat pump.  

Finally, the ML193E is compatible with one of Lennox’s iComfort smart thermostats, which can give you access to a few cool features.

In Depth Review

Lennox Merit ML193E Product Specifications

• AFUE: 93 percent
• Burner type: Single-stage
• Blower type: Constant torque
• ENERGY STAR certified: No

Features Overview

This natural gas furnace is made with proprietary Lennox components, including the Power Saver constant torque motor, SureLight® silicon nitride ignitor, and Duralok Plus heat exchanger.

Lennox gas furnaces are also compatible with the brand’s smart thermostats. The ML193E is compatible with the iComfort M30, which has geofencing, technological compatibilities, and temperature matching capabilities.

The geofencing feature allows you to connect the thermostat to your smartphone. That way, the thermostat can detect when you come and go and change the furnace settings accordingly.

Technological compatibilities include Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and IFTTT, which can give you voice control capabilities with the thermostat.

Finally, the temperature matching means the thermostat will balance the indoor humidity and temperature to ensure the inside temperature always feels like what you’ve programmed it to be.

Other Key Features

• Has a sealed blower compartment and burner box, and this reduces noise and air leakage to 1 percent
• Equipped with a robust blower assembly that increase airflow, reduces noise, improves longevity, and maintains efficiency over time
• Dual fuel compatibility means you can pair the ML193E with a heat pump to save money by switching between gas and electricity
• Comes with flanges, flue collars, and holes already prepared for faster and more accurate installation
• Duralok Plus heat exchanger is made from a durable material and has a special clamshell design that improves heat transfer to the home while reducing air leaks
• Durable burner is quiet, efficient, and long-lasting

Warranty Information

Lennox furnaces only have standard coverage, and entry-level Merit models have the shortest warranty. The ML193E is protected by a 20-year heat exchanger warranty and a 10-year parts warranty.

In order to qualify for the full warranty, you must register the furnace within 60 days of installation. Unregistered furnaces will still be warrantied, but you'll lose some protection. For example, the parts warranty will expire after five years on an unregistered furnace.

And make sure you budget for installation costs because you'll have to have the unit installed by a licensed HVAC contractor. Finally, take care of the regular maintenance laid out in the owner’s manual or warranty conditions document to keep the warranty valid.

Comparable Models by Lennox

Model Comparison by Price: ML193E versus Elite EL296V

The EL296V is one of the mid-range Lennox Elite series furnaces. It costs substantially more than the ML193E, averaging between $6,800 and $7,400 to buy and install.

There are benefits to the more expensive Elite model. It’s a two-stage gas furnace, so it can run at a lower speed most of the time to maintain your home’s temperature and reduce fuel demands. It also has a superior variable-speed blower that’s better with humidity management, efficiency, and quiet operation. 

As a result, the EL296V has a high-efficiency 96 percent AFUE that will save you more on energy costs. It’s also more likely to qualify for rebates that could make it more affordable.

When comparing Lennox furnace models for Canadian homes, the EL296V is the clear winner.

Model Comparison by Features: ML193E versus Dave Lennox Signature Collection SLP99V

The Dave Lennox Signature Collection SLP99V is the most powerful, efficient, and expensive model that Lennox makes. It has an AFUE of 99%, so it’s also the most efficient heating system on the market.

The SLP99V is a variable-capacity gas furnace with a modulating burner, meaning it can make incremental adjustments—as small as 1 percent—to the heat output and airflow.

This Lennox furnace will be one of the best available when it comes to keeping your home warm through the coldest winters, eliminating hot and cold spots, and managing humidity. It will also be one of the quietest heating systems available.

Plus, it’s compatible with a thermostat that has even more capabilities, including active monitoring for system errors and changing the fan settings based on the outdoor air quality.

Model Comparison by Tier: ML193E versus ML296V

The ML296V is also an entry-level Merit series furnace, but an argument could be made that it’s a far superior model. 

It will cost a little more, but let’s talk about what you get for the slightly higher price: a two-stage, variable-speed furnace with more even heat through your house, better cost-savings on your heating bills, a chance to qualify for rebates, and an AFUE of 96 percent.

With AFUE, the percentage tells you how much fuel is converted to heat and how much is wasted. So the ML193E converts $0.93 of every dollar into fuel, whereas the ML296V converts $0.96 of every dollar to fuel. The more expensive model could potentially save you more in the long-run through increased energy savings.

Beyond that, the ML296V will be better at keeping your home warm when the mercury really drops, even if you live in a larger home with higher heating demands.