Trane XC95M Review

Trane’s XC95M is a modulating gas furnace and the top-of-the-line offering from the brand. Featuring some of the latest technology, a 97.3 percent efficiency rating, and a durable build, the XC95M is a great option if you’re looking for a high-end furnace and have a healthy budget to spend on an upgrade.

Like all good Trane furnace reviews, this XC95M model review will give you the important information you need to decide if this furnace will meet your comfort needs and budget.

We’ll talk about the average price Canadians pay for the XC95M, and review its top features, efficiency, warranty details, and more. Plus, we’ll compare it to three other models so you can see what else you can get from Trane in terms of features at different price points.

Trane XC95M in a Nutshell

Average Price (installed): $6,400 to $7,000

Top Features

• Secondary heat exchanger for improved efficiency
• Equipped with Trane’s patented blower motor
• Communicating capabilities
• Self-diagnostics for faster and more accurate repairs
• Has an enhanced dehumidification mode for summer
• Compatible with Trane’s advanced filtration system
• Crimped primary heat exchanger is more durable and resistant to cracking
• Industry-standard warranty
• AFUE range from 95 to 97.3 percent
• Dual fuel compatible

The Bottom Line

If you're in the market for a Trane furnace and want the best of what the brand offers, then the XC95M might be for you.

The XC95M is packed full of impressive technology and design features. It has a modulating gas valve that enables the unit to operate anywhere between 40 and 100 percent capacity, making it Trane’s most energy-efficient furnace.

It also has a variable-speed blower that can incrementally change the airflow for quieter and more efficient operation, fewer hot and cold spots around the house, and better humidity management.

The XC95M is Trane’s most powerful and most efficient furnace. Trane furnace prices are already some of the highest on the market, so you can expect to pay a lot for this model. Luckily, thanks to the design features, high AFUE, and ENERGY STAR® certification, it will likely qualify for cost-saving rebates.

Finally, this unit boasts all of Trane’s premier technologies and features, including a special blower design, communicating abilities, compatibility with their top-of-the-line smart thermostat, advanced humidity control, and more.

As for the efficiency of this unit, you should know that only certain sizes/sub-models achieve the 97.3 percent AFUE. Depending on the size of the unit, others have AFUEs of 95, 96, or 97 percent.

In Depth Review

Trane XC95M Product Specifications

• AFUE: Up to 97.3 percent
• Burner type: Modulating
• Blower type: Variable-speed
• ENERGY STAR certified: Yes
• Heating capacity: 36,000 to 60,000 BTUs

Features Overview

The XC95M has a number of appealing features that make it more sophisticated than a standard furnace, including Trane’s Vortica II blower. It’s built with a special housing that makes it more efficient and quieter.

The blower also has the Comfort-R technology. This pairs the variable-speed operation with a slow ramp up and shut down based on the weather, and this can provide powerful dehumidification in summer when the air conditioner is running.

Another cool feature of the XC95M is the ComfortLink II communicating capability. It boasts automatic recalibration, automatic updates, a communicating user interface for easier installation and maintenance, self-diagnostics, and compatibility with the ComfortLink II smart thermostat.

And like all Trane furnaces, the XC95M is compatible with Trane’s CleanEffects® Whole Home Air Cleaner, a special filter that eliminates allergens, pathogens, and other contaminants from the air for improved indoor air quality.

Other Key Features

• Has a furnace filter that can be cleaned and reused
• Ready to be paired with an air cleaner, humidifier, or energy recovery ventilator
• Has a special burner design for a more efficient flame cone shape
• Equipped with a reliable and fuel-saving silicon nitride hot surface igniter
• Three-wire connection for easier installation
• High-quality components, including automotive-grade gaskets
• Blower compartment is fully insulated for quieter operation and better heat transfer
• Heat exchanger cabinet is also insulated for less noise and heat loss
• Cabinet is protected by a special powder paint
• Offers a 100% fresh air option that reduces corrosion and increases combustion airflow for safety
• Equipped with a variable-speed draft inducer

Warranty Information

The XC95M comes with a somewhat disappointing warranty package considering its price.

It’s covered by a lifetime heat exchanger warranty and a 10-year functional parts warranty, but Trane doesn’t offer a unit replacement warranty like some economy and mid-range brands.

Like other HVAC brands, Trane requires registration before they’ll provide the full warranty terms mentioned above. When you have the XC95M installed, you'll have to register it with Trane within 60 days, otherwise you'll lose some of the warranty coverage.

Further, make sure you have the unit installed by a licensed HVAC professional, otherwise the warranty will become invalid.

Comparable Models by Trane

Model Comparison by Price: XC95M versus S9X1

The XC95M is Trane’s most expensive furnace. By comparison, the S9X1 is one of their most affordable, costing an average of $4,500 to $5,600.

There are some trade-offs that come with the lower price, including that the S9X1 is a single-stage furnace with an AFUE of 96 percent. It has a less efficient constant torque ECM blower motor as well, so it doesn’t have variable-speed capacity or the Comfort-R technology.

One of the most important things to know about the S9X1 is that it will be best suited for smaller homes because of the single-stage burner. Like all Trane furnace models with single-stage operation, it will operate most effectively in bungalows, cottages, condos, and other smaller or single-storey homes.

Model Comparison by Features: XC95M versus S9X2

The S9X2 is a two-stage furnace with an AFUE of 96 percent, a constant torque ECM blower motor, and ENERGY STAR certification.

It’s not as powerful as the XC95M, but the S9X2 is a more affordable option that will still reduce your annual heating bills compared to an older furnace. What's more, the two-stage operation makes this furnace suitable for most homes in Canada.

It doesn’t have the same technological compatibilities as the XC95M either, but it does have some attractive design features, like a secondary heat exchanger, quiet operation, and a compact cabinet.

Model Comparison by Tier: XC95M versus S9V2-VS

The XC95M is Trane’s most sophisticated furnace, and also their only modulating unit. They also don’t have three clearly defined furnace tiers the way most other brands do.

Nonetheless, the S9V2-VS is the most comparable model to the XC95M.

One of the big differences is that the S9V2-VS has a two-stage burner, so it only has two heat outputs when it’s running: high and low. This is still superior to a single-stage furnace, but it’s not as powerful, sophisticated, or efficient as the XC95M’s modulating burner.

The S9V2-VS does have a marginally lower 97 percent AFUE, but the difference in energy savings will be nominal.

Finally, the S9V2-VS lacks the ComfortLink II communicating capabilities, but it does boast the Vortica II blower, Comfort-R technology, and compatibility with CleanEffects.