Trane S9X1 Review

The S9X1 is one of Trane’s most affordable high-efficiency furnaces. It’s a single-stage model with an AFUE up to 96 percent, so if this furnace is powerful enough for your home, then it’s sure to save you plenty on heating bills compared to an older furnace. 

Good Trane furnace reviews will tell you the important facts you need to know about a furnace to make an educated decision. As such, this S9X1 review will talk about the average Trane furnace price in Canada for this model and all its main features. That way, you can decide if it meets your budget and your home’s heating and comfort requirements.

The S9X1 review will cover the S9X1’s design elements, warranty coverage, burner and blower type, efficiency rating, and more. We’ll conclude by comparing this model to three others from Trane so you can see how it stacks up based on price, tier, and features.

The Trane S9X1 in a Nutshell

Average Price (with installation): $4,500 to $5,600

Top Features

• Equipped with a constant torque ECM blower motor
• Has Trane’s special Vortica II blower design
• Has a secondary heat exchanger for better fuel economy
• Compact and space-saving size
• Protected by a standard warranty
• One of Trane’s more budget-friendly models
• Corrosion- and heat-resistant stainless steel heat exchanger 
• Dual fuel capability  
• Compatible with Trane’s air filtration system
• Control board is self-diagnostic
• Tubular stainless steel heat exchanger is heat- and pressure-resistant

The Bottom Line

If you're looking for a Trane furnace in Canada, then the S9X1 might be a good option.

It has a few attractive design features, including the secondary heat exchanger that extracts more energy from the combustion process than a non-condensing furnace. That means you get more heat from the same amount of fuel and better efficiency.

And the constant torque ECM motor is a step up from a basic blower motor because it has more than one speed, and ECMs use less electricity and are more durable. 

It also has a high-efficiency and ENERGY STAR® qualifying AFUE of 96 percent, depending on the sub-model, and could potentially qualify for some rebates. 

But you should know that the S9X1 is a single-stage furnace, and for Canada’s colder winters, these furnaces are typically only suitable for small or maybe medium houses, like single-stories, condos, or townhomes. 

This is one of Trane’s more affordable high-efficiency units, and as long as it’s powerful enough for your home, then it could reduce your winter heating bills year after year compared to a mid-efficiency heating system.  

In Depth Review

Trane S9X1 Product Specifications

• AFUE: Up to 96 percent
• Burner type: Single-stage
• Blower type: Constant torque ECM
• ENERGY STAR certified: Yes
• Heating input: 40,000 to 120,000 BTUs 

Features Overview

Trane’s single-stage furnaces don’t have a lot of special features or technologies, but one good thing the S9X1 has is a self-diagnostic integrated furnace control board. This means the furnace monitors and tracks its performance and can provide diagnostic details when something goes wrong. When you need maintenance or repairs, the diagnostics can make service faster and more accurate. 

Like many Trane furnaces, this one is equipped with their special Vortica II blower, which is a specially shaped blower that reduces noise and increases efficiency.

Beyond that, the only special feature the S9X1 has is compatibility with some other technologies, which require additional equipment purchases. 

For example, the S9X1 is compatible with Trane’s CleanEffects, a powerful whole-home filtration system that can drastically reduce allergens and unwanted particles from the air to improve your indoor air quality. 

Another compatibility the S9X1 has is dual fuel operation. That means you can integrate this furnace with an electronic heat pump. The system will then switch between the two fuels to save you as much money as possible on heating costs. 

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Other Key Features

• Materials and parts are rigorously tested for dependability and long life
• Special burner design that’s quieter and more efficient
• Galvanized steel cabinet is pre-painted to protect internal components
• Has a fuel-saving silicon nitride hot surface igniter that’s more reliable than a pilot light
• Heat exchanger and blower compartments are fully insulated for better heat transfer and quieter operation
• Made with heavy-duty, high-quality gaskets
• Offers sealed combustion and a 100 percent outdoor air option

Warranty Information

The S9X1 is protected by a 10-year parts warranty and a lifetime heat exchanger warranty. However, to be eligible for those full terms, you will have to register a new furnace with Trane within 60 days of installation. 

Should you fail to register a new furnace, then the parts warranty will only last five years and the heat exchanger warranty will expire after 20.

Registration is relatively painless. You can do it on Trane’s website by providing things like your name and address, the contact details for the HVAC professional who installed the furnace, the date of installation, and the serial and model number of the furnace. 

And yes, you will have to hire a licensed HVAC professional to install the furnace if you want to keep your warranty valid and get the longest protection. 

Comparable Models by Trane

Model Comparison by Price: S9X1 versus S9X2

The S9X2 isn't the most expensive model in Trane’s line, but you will need a larger budget compared to the S9X1. Canadians pay an average of $5,000 to $5,600 to buy and install the S9X2.

Nonetheless, these two Trane furnace models are similar in a lot of ways, including the constant torque ECM blower motor, secondary heat exchanger, dual fuel and CleanEffects compatibility, ENERGY STAR certification, and 96 percent AFUE.

There is one major difference, and that is that the S9X2 has a two-stage burner. Whereas the S9X1 can only operate at 100 percent capacity in the ON mode, the S9X2 has a high and low heat output. 

Two-stage furnaces are more powerful, more efficient, quieter, and better at maintaining a constant temperature throughout the house. 

Model Comparison by Features: S9X1 versus XC95m

The XC95m is Trane’s most advanced and most expensive model. You will pay quite a bit more for the top-of-the-line model, but you'll also get more in return. 

The XC95m is a modulating, variable-speed furnace. That means it can make incremental adjustments to both the heat output and airflow. 

With an AFUE of 97.3 percent and advanced design elements, this furnace is powerful enough to heat any home in Canada, and it will be quieter and more efficient while doing so. It will also provide a more even temperature throughout the house while eliminating hot and cold spots.

Not only will the XC95m save you more on heating bills over the years, but it might also qualify for larger rebates. 

There are also some special features the XC95m has, including Trane’s patented Vortica II variable-speed blower, the Comfort-R enhanced dehumidification mode, and Trane’s communicating technology, ComfortLink™ II. That means it has a communicating interface, and you can unlock more features when you pair the furnace with a ComfortLink™ II smart thermostat.  

Model Comparison by Tier: S9X1 versus S9B1

The S9B1 is very similar to the S9X1 in many ways, including design elements and price point. They’re both single-stage furnaces with constant torque ECM blower motors, secondary heat exchangers, dual fuel compatibility, and the option for the CleanEffects air purification system. 

One important difference between the two models is that the S9B1 only has an AFUE of 92 percent. This means it won’t be as capable of heating some homes, and it won’t save you as much on heating bills over the years. 

And here’s something else you need to know: the Canadian government has recently increased the minimum efficiency standards for furnaces to 95 percent. That means furnaces like the S9B1 are being phased out, and you'll only be able to buy one if it was manufactured before July 2019.