Dave Lennox Signature Collection SL297NV Review

Furnaces in the Dave Lennox Signature Collection series are premium-tier Lennox furnaces. The SL297NV isn't their premier model, but it is still a two-stage gas furnace and one of their most advanced and most efficient.

This is the Lennox model review for you when you need a new Lennox furnace! It will compare the SL297NV to three other Lennox gas furnaces based on price, features, and tier to help you decide if it’s a good fit for your home and budget.

Plus, we’ll cover all the important details about the SL297NV, including its price range, design features, special technologies, and warranty coverage.

The Dave Lennox Signature Collection SL297NV in a Nutshell

Average Price (with installation): $7,000 to $7,600

Top Features

• Ultra-low nitrogen oxide emissions
• ENERGY STAR® Most Efficient 2021
• Has the lowest emissions of any furnace on the market
• Quiet operation
• High-efficiency AFUE
• Variable-speed blower for improved humidity control
• Has SilentComfort™ technology and sound absorbing insulation to make it one of the quietest furnaces
• Offers great humidity control
• Backed by a standard warranty
• Compatible with humidifiers and air filters, including the PureAir™ S and PureAir systems
• Uses Lennox’s SureLight® silicon nitride ignitor

The Bottom Line

The Dave Lennox Signature Collection SL297NV is a two-stage, variable-capacity gas furnace with a high efficiency rating AFUE of 97.5 percent. That means it will be well-equipped to heat any Canadian home, and it will save you money on energy costs.

The two-stage operation means it can switch between a high and low heating output to maintain the temperature while also saving money, and the variable-speed blower can make incremental adjustments to the airflow for quieter and more efficient operation.

The SL297NV is also equipped with a special premix burner that reduces emissions, so its nitrogen oxide emissions are actually 65 percent lower than standard low-NOx furnaces.

Although the SL297NV is a pricey furnace that requires a healthy budget, it will likely qualify for most rebates, and it will reduce winter energy bills a great deal compared to an older and less efficient furnace.

 

In Depth Review

Dave Lennox Signature Collection SL297NV Product Specifications

• AFUE: 97.5 percent
• Burner type: Two-stage
• Blower type: Variable-speed
• ENERGY STAR certified: Yes

Features Overview

Lennox doesn’t put a lot of emphasis on novel features and technologies for their furnaces. Aside from the ultra-low NOx emissions and great design elements, one of the most appealing special features about the SL297NV is its compatibility with the proprietary iComfort® S30, an ultra-smart learning thermostat that has some great selling points.

One of the cool things about the iComfort S30 is that it can monitor pollen levels and outdoor air quality and make automatic adjustments to reduce the impact on your indoor air.

And for further energy savings, you can also pair the thermostat with a mobile device to take advantage of geofencing technology, which will automatically turn the furnace off/down when you leave and turn it back on/up when you get home.

Beyond that, the iComfort S30 can even keep active tabs on performance and diagnostics reports and automatically alert your HVAC dealer about problems.

Furthermore, the device is compatible with Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and more if you want voice control access to the thermostat.

Other Key Features

• Factory tested for performance and reliability
• Has an insulated blower compartment that improves efficiency by minimizing heat loss
• Efficiency and cost-savings can be maximized through the dual fuel function if you pair the SL297NV with an electric heat pump
• Has an ultra-low continuous fan option

Warranty Information

The SL297NV comes with the same basic protection as other Lennox natural gas furnaces: a lifetime heat exchanger warranty and a 10-year parts warranty.

To get access to those full terms, you must register your new furnace within 60 days of installation. And to be eligible for the warranty at all, you'll have to pay a licensed HVAC professional to put the furnace in, so don’t forget to budget for installation costs.

You may have heard of other brands offering unit replacement warranties, but Lennox doesn’t offer this type of protection even though Lennox furnace prices are higher than most other brands.

Comparable Models by Lennox

Model Comparison by Price: SL297NV versus ML196E

The entry-level Merit ML196E is one of Lennox’s more affordable high-efficiency furnaces, coming in around $4,200 to $4,800 with installation.

The cheaper model isn't as efficient or as sophisticated because it has single-stage operation and a constant torque blower motor. At the same time, Merit models have secondary heat exchangers, so this is still a high-efficiency furnace with an AFUE of 96 percent. The difference in energy costs between the two won’t be enormous.

However, the ML196E won’t be as good at providing consistent heat, especially if you live in a larger house. Single-stage furnaces are better for smaller homes or houses in places with milder winters. Two-stage furnaces like the SL297NV are typically better for most Canadian homes.

Model Comparison by Features: SL297NV versus EL196E

The SL297NV is one of the most advanced Lennox furnace models, so there aren't many that can compete in terms of features.

For example, the EL196E is one of the Lennox Elite series furnaces, so it’s a mid-range heating system. It only has single-stage operation, meaning the heat is either pumping or it’s off. It also has a constant torque blower, which isn't as advanced as a variable-speed alternative.  

Furthermore, the EL196E has a slightly lower 96 percent AFUE. In other words, the EL196E might not qualify for the same rebates, and it won’t be as capable of keeping a larger home consistently warm through cold temperatures.

Nonetheless, the energy efficiency of both furnace models is similar, so you might not notice much of a difference in savings between the two.

Model Comparison by Tier: SL297NV versus SLP99V

The SLP99V is another furnace in the Dave Lennox Signature Collection series. It’s also Lennox’s top-of-the-line model and comes at a higher price point.

There are a few benefits to the pricier model, including that it has a modulating burner, variable-speed blower, and secondary heat exchanger.

It can make incremental adjustments to the airflow and 1-percent changes to the heat output. This further improves efficiency, quiet operation, even heat distribution, and humidity control.

Plus, with an AFUE of 99 percent, the SLP99V is the most efficient furnace on the market, making it capable of keeping a home of any size warm and comfortable through the coldest of winters, all while saving the most money possible.

One thing it doesn’t have, however, is the ultra-low NOx emissions rating that the SL297NV has.