Ruud Achiever Series – R96P Review

The Ruud Achiever Plus Series R96P is a two-stage furnace that has an AFUE of 96%. It shares many features of the top Ruud models, especially when it comes to saving energy and cutting back on operational noise.

In a Nutshell

Average Price (installed): $4,335 - $5,170

Top Features

• AFUE: up to 96%
• BTU input: 42,000 - 112,000
• BTU output: 41,000 - 109,000
• Aluminized steel heat exchanger
• PlusOneⓇ Ignition System

The Bottom Line

The R96P is an efficient model that carries over the essentials from top models. If you’re looking for a furnace that does the job without worrying about possible extra features that you may not use, this is a good model to consider. It’s also a compact unit that makes it ideal for installation and future servicing.

In-Depth Review

Ruud Achiever Plus Series R96P

• Two-stage, multi-position PSC
• PlusOneⓇ Water Management System
• LED display for diagnosing issues

Other Key Features

• 20% quieter operation
• Lifetime warranty on the heat exchanger

Energy and Heat Efficiency

The two-stage of operation helps to keep costs down and run efficiently. With the two-stage you can run the R96P at the lower stage to heat your home to your desired temperature, but should there be a big temperature change and the furnace needs a boost, you can run it at 100% capacity. Since it won’t be running at full capacity the majority, you’ll save on energy costs and help reduce the load on the environment.

Some of the Ruud features include improved airflow for quiet operation. The R96P includes a PlusOneⓇ 7-digit LED display for maintenance. Either you or your technician can use the readout from the display in order to diagnose the issue with your unit. The PlusOneⓇ Ignition System is meant to be reliable and last a long time with the Direct Spark Ignition since there are few other parts to go wrong and cause a failure with your furnace in this regard.

If you’ve got a small space, the R96P has a low profile at 34 inches. It makes servicing and installation easier in tight quarters, which in turn leads to lower costs later on. The design is also done in such a way that the unit is still able to be worked on in any orientation that you have it installed in.

The PlusOneⓇ Water Management System has a drain sensor that lets you know when it gets blocked or clogged, so you don’t need to waste time running diagnostics and checking issues to understand how to solve the problem and get your furnace working again. The quarter turn door fasteners allow you to get access to the cabinet without using tools for easy entry.

Quiet Running

The airflow is designed in such a way that cuts back on sound by 20%. Without having to push air through the ducts forcefully, the noise from the air moving through your ductwork is lessened. The hemmed edges on cabinets and doors also mean less noise from simple operations, since it’s designed not to clang when running. 

Warranty Information

Ruud offers a lifetime warranty on the heat exchanger, which is easily removable for servicing or replacing. It is a durable part since it’s made of aluminized steel and designed to withstand corrosion and the high stresses of the constant heat it’s under. The 10-year warranty covers parts, which is conditional with registration.

Comparable Models by Ruud

Model Comparison by Lower Price - Ruud Achiever Plus Series R96P versus Ruud Achiever Plus Series R95T

The R95T is a model on the same line a little lower down than the R96P. They both have the same warranties to cover the heat exchanger and parts, and they both operate with about the same noise levels. The diagnostic panel and ignition are the same on both models and the heat exchanger is removable. However, the R95T has a lower AFUE at 95% and is a single-stage furnace meaning that it is either on or off and doesn’t modulate. The constant torque of the R95T though means that the unit is still efficient across operation speeds.

Model Comparison by Features - Ruud Achiever Plus Series R96P versus Ruud Achiever Plus R96T

The R96T is a sister model to the R96P, since both have the same AFUE rating and are two-stage furnaces. The R96T though is ENERGY STAR ® certified and uses a constant torque motor. They are both quietly operating units and have the same warranties for parts and the heat exchanger. They are very alike and both feature a removable heat exchanger for servicing or replacement.

Model Comparison by Premium Tier - Ruud Achiever Plus Series R96P versus Ruud Ultra Series U96V

The U96V is a higher model that has a lot of the same features, but runs more efficiently. It is ENERGY STAR certified and that is the main difference. Both furnaces are two-stage and modulating, and have the same warranties for the heat exchanger and parts. They have an AFUE rating of 96% and share features like the diagnostic panel and the water management system. They are quietly-operating units and are reliable in cold weather.