York Furnace Review

This in-depth York furnace review and buying guide for 2021 & 2022 has all the information you need about the brand’s top models, including energy efficiency ratings, feature breakdown, warranty details and analysis, and more.

Updated: September 2021

Article Contents

• At a Glance:
  • Strong Points
  • Room for Improvement
  • Bottom Line
• Price Range
• Model Tiers
  • Basic
  • Better
  • Best
• Model Breakdown and Comparison
• Exclusive Features
  • Affinity™ Wi-Fi Residential Communication Control
  • ClimaTrak™ Technology
• Warranty
• About the Company

This York furnace review will help you decide if a York furnace is a good fit for your home.

We will evaluate the York brand, look at how they stack up against the competitors, compare the different York furnace models, go into an in-depth discussion about their features and warranty terms, and tell you what the experts and other customers have to say about the brand and their products.

Buying a new furnace is a big investment that could potentially impact your heating bills for the next 20 years, so it’s important to make an informed decision when it comes time to upgrade your older model.

York furnaces are fairly common in Canada because of their affordability. We’ll use information, videos, quizzes, and expert opinions to give you a better idea if York is the right brand for your new furnace.

Also Read: The Best Furnaces for Canadians

YORK, at a glance

Strong Points

York has an incredibly long history in the HVAC business, so it’s no wonder that commercial and residential customers around the world trust them with their heating and cooling comfort.

The brand has an okay selection of high-efficiency furnaces that all have an AFUE of 95 percent or higher, and all of their high-efficiency models are ENERGY STAR® certified. Plus, all of their models have secondary heat exchangers for improved efficiency, less heat loss, and lower fuel waste.

Another thing that Canadians love about York is the price point. York is an economy brand, so you'll pay less for a quality-made furnace that’s also reliable, durable, and backed by an excellent warranty. In fact, York offers one of the best furnace warranties in the business thanks to their lifetime heat exchanger warranty.

Room For Improvement

York has something for just about every homeowner, including single-stage, two-stage, and modulating furnaces.

However, they don’t actually have a great deal of selection when it comes to high-efficiency furnace models. Once you eliminate their 80-percent AFUE furnaces—which simply aren't efficient enough for Canadian winters—the brand only has five models to choose from.

Something else that’s important to know about York is that their focus is on economy, efficiency, quality, and dependability, so they don’t offer much in terms of innovative technologies.

While some HVAC manufacturers are striving to improve the function, efficiency, and convenience of their furnaces with cutting-edge features and technologies, York doesn’t put as much emphasis on such things.

There has also been some reports of York furnace models having reliability issues in some cases, including from publications like Consumer Reports.

These are typically based on surveys so it may be wise to take these ratings with a grain of salt, but it is something to consider and something that York could focus on improving.

The Bottom Line

York offers a moderate range of furnace models that appeal to the average homeowner. Even though they don’t have a great selection, York has something to suit just about every home, as long as you're not dead set on getting the latest and most advanced furnace tech.

Furthermore, there have been some consumer reported issues with the reliability of York furnaces, but improper installation and maintenance can often account for these problems. Plus, if anything does happen to your York furnace, then you'll be eligible for a repair or replacement through the comprehensive warranty.

If you want to get the most out of a York furnace, make sure to have it installed and regularly serviced by a trained and licensed HVAC professional.

While certainly not our top recommended brand, York may be worth considering if you're looking for a simple and relatively affordable furnace that should get the job done.

Just be sure not to skimp on maintenance and look for a contractor that offers a good labour warranty in case of needed servicing or repairs.

➤ Get the BEST Prices on YORK furnaces: Fill out a free quote request here

YORK Average Price Range

$3,000 – $5,500 (including installation)

It’s difficult to set an exact price as manufacturers often promote deals on certain units throughout the year, and you can save plenty by looking for government, utility company, HVAC manufacturer, and HVAC distributor rebates.

Also, the final cost of the unit will vary based on where you live, how many HVAC experts there are in your city or town, the model you choose, your home size and the unit’s installation.

Furnace tier is another thing that will determine the cost of your furnace.

• Entry-level models: $3,000 – $3,835
• Mid-range models: $3,835 – $4,670
• Top-tier models: $4,670 – $5,500

YORK Furnace Model Comparison

Affinity Series YP9C

YThe Affinity™ Series YP9C boasts one of the highest energy efficiency ratings of all the furnaces on the market. With a 98 percent AFUE rating, it was easily awarded ENERGY STAR certification.

This is the only modulating furnace York has available in Canada, and that means it offers the best temperature consistency while also saving you the most money.

With ClimaTrak™ technology, this furnace promises to work best for your particular climate, regardless of whether you experience dry or humid winters. Further, the variable-speed ECM fan provides seamless circulation, quiet operation, better temperature consistency, improved efficiency, and an incredible amount of humidity control.

Finally, the Affinity YP9C comes with an integrated self-diagnostics control, and it’s compatible with York’s smart thermostat, the Hx™3 Communicating Zoning System.

Here are the important details for the YP9C to help you decide if it's the right model for your home:

• AFUE: 98 percent
• Furnace type: Modulating
• ENERGY STAR rated? Yes
• Tier: Top of the Line
• Average Price Range (installed): $4500 - $5000

Ideal for: Canadians who have a slightly larger budget and who are equally interested in value, energy efficiency, and temperature consistency. This model is York’s priciest furnace, but it’s still more affordable than a lot of the other top-of-the-line modulating furnaces from competitor brands, and it’s supported by some decent technology.

LX Series TM9V

With an ENERGY STAR qualifying efficiency of up to 96 percent AFUE, the LX Series TM9V is an impressive mid-range option.

Its two-stage burner promises a high level of comfort while also achieving quiet and capable circulation thanks to the variable-speed ECM fan motor, which also boosts humidity control, reduces the need for maintenance, and improves the air quality inside your home.

The compact design makes installation easier while the self-diagnostic control module makes maintenance faster, so this model could also help you save on installation and service costs.

Like York’s premium model, the TM9V also has the ClimaTrak technology for customized climate control, and it’s compatible with the Hx™3 Communicating Zoning System.

Let’s look at the key details for the TM9V:

• AFUE: 96%
• Furnace type: Two-Stage
• ENERGY STAR rated? Yes
• Tier – Midrange
• Average Price Range (installed): $3750 - $4250

Ideal for: Homeowners with a more moderate budget who still want a furnace that promises efficiency, cost-savings, and comfort. This model is slightly less advanced than York’s premium furnace, but offers many of the same features and perks.

LX Series TL9E

95% AFUE Single Stage Ultra Low NOx Furnace

The TL9E is a single-stage furnace with a great efficiency rating, and it’s the only high-efficiency York furnace that boasts ultra-low nitrogen oxide emissions.

Even though this furnace is only equipped with a single-stage burner, it also has a high-efficiency ECM motor, so it can still provide dependable and even airflow.

Like York’s other furnaces, the TL9E is also compact, space-saving, and insulated for quieter operation. Furthermore, this model guarantees warmth and comfort when you need it because the hot-surface ignition ensures you'll never have to worry about a pilot light going out.

Let’s look at the important specifications for the TL9E:

• AFUE: 95%
• Furnace type: Single-stage
• ENERGY STAR rated? Yes
• Tier – Midrange
• Average Price Range (installed): $3250 - $3750

Ideal for: Environmentally friendly and budget-conscious Canadians who care about the planet as well as their comfort and bank accounts. This is a less advanced furnace than some of York’s other models, but it still promises great efficiency and ultra-low emissions while also delivering reliable and affordable comfort.

LX Series TM9E

The TM9E is York’s most entry-level furnace, and that’s because of its basic specifications and low price. This is an excellent furnace for any homeowner on a budget who still wants to upgrade to a cost-saving, energy-efficient furnace.

Although the TM9E only has a single-stage gas valve and standard-efficiency five-speed blower motor, it still promises excellent cost-savings and ENERGY STAR qualification.

It also has an insulated cabinet for quieter operation, a small cabinet designed for compact spaces, and a self-diagnostic control module to make installation easier.

These are the important details about the TM9E:

• AFUE: 95%
• Furnace type: Single-Stage
• ENERGY STAR rated? Yes
• Tier – Basic/Midrange
• Average Price Range (installed): $3000 - $3500

Ideal for: Canadians on a tighter budget who want a more efficient furnace that will cost less to operate and reduce energy bills. It’s also good for smaller homes and apartments because of its compact size and quiet operation.

Recently Discontinued York Furnace Models

Discontinued models are ones that the manufacturer has stopped making, often because the manufacturer has upgraded them slightly and changed the name. Because these models were discontinued recently, there may still be some available through your local HVAC distributor, or directly from York.

LX Series TM9T [Discontinued]

AFUE: 96%
Furnace type: Two-Stage
ENERGY STAR rated? No

Latitude™ TG9S [Discontinued]

AFUE: 95.5%
Furnace type: Single-Stage
ENERGY STAR rated? No

LX TM9M [Discontinued]

AFUE: 97%
Furnace type: Modulating
ENERGY STAR rated? No

YORK Furnace Feature Analysis

Hx™3 Communicating Zoning System

How York describes it: An innovative communicating system that delivers comfort and efficiency while allowing you to heat and cool different parts of your home independently, and you can control the system from your home or on the go.

What it is in plain English: The Hx3 Communicating Zoning System is a smart thermostat that’s compatible with zone control. While the device does let you heat and cool parts of your home individually, so do other zone-capable smart thermostats. One nice thing about the Hx3 is that it offers voice control, but you do have to pair it with Amazon Alexa or select Apple Watches to access this feature.

Is it more than just hype?

This is a proprietary device, but York, Luxaire, and Coleman all feature the same Hx3 Thermostat, and the Hx3 isn't the only smart thermostat on the market with these capabilities. Moreover, there are plenty of other HVAC brands that have their own proprietary smart thermostats, including:

• Comfort Sync from Armstrong
• Infinity System Control from York
• Ion System Control from Comfortmaker, Heil, Tempstar, and KeepRite
• Daikin One+ from Daikin
• ComfortNet from Goodman
• iComfort S30 from Lennox

ClimaTrak™ Technology

How York describes it: An integrated comfort system that tailors the operation of the furnace to the needs of your locale.

What it is in plain English: ClimaTrak refers to different settings available with the blower motor. When the furnace is being installed, the HVAC professional can set the blower motor to one of three settings depending on whether you live in a dry, temperate, or humid climate. The blower motor will then operate at the level that’s optimized for your climate.

Is it more than just hype?

Blower speed can impact the humidity levels in your home, so ClimaTrak technology can help to improve your winter comfort by operating at a level that’s been specifically chosen for your climate.

York is one of the few brands that offers this technology, but they aren't the only one. Coleman and Luxaire both use the ClimaTrak technology as well.

Lennox has their own version, called AirFlex, which allows the installer to set the blower settings based on your location and climate, the layout of your home, and your comfort requirements.

Furthermore, Bryant has something called Perfect Humidity, and Trane and American Standard use Comfort R Technology, and both of these features similarly use fan speed to control humidity.

Warranty

Most of York’s high-efficiency furnaces come with a lifetime heat exchanger warranty, a 10-year parts warranty, and a five- to 10-year Complete Assurance warranty, meaning York will replace the unit in case of a heat exchanger failure.

The exception to this is the TL9E, which has the same parts and Complete Assurance warranty terms, but a shorter 20-year heat exchanger warranty.

York used to offer a one-year labour warranty with all their residential products, but that has since been replaced with an extended labour warranty that you have to pay for.

Registration is required

To be eligible for York’s full warranty terms, you must register your new furnace within 90 days of installation.

Failure to register means you'll only be eligible for the base warranty, which still provides good coverage for your investment. The base terms include:

• Five to 10 years for the compressor
• 20 years for the heat exchanger
• Five years for parts

Conditions and restrictions

Aside from registering your York furnace when it’s installed, you have other obligations if you want to keep your warranty valid. Those include having the unit installed by a professional HVAC contractor and taking care of regular annual maintenance as outlined in the owner’s manual.

How the York warranty measures up to the competition

You might not expect an economy brand like York to offer one of the best furnace warranties in the business, but the fact is they do.

Even without the labour warranty they used to offer, York still provides excellent coverage for their products, and even some of the higher-end brands don’t offer the lifetime heat exchanger warranties or unit replacement warranties that York does.

Is a York Furnace Right for Me?

Is your budget big enough?

For many Canadians, the most important factor you'll have to consider when upgrading your furnace is the budget you have to work with.

York is an economy brand, and that means many of their models are more affordable than similar furnaces from other brands. At the same time, York does have a couple premium models that are more expensive, so you'll have to weigh your options.

At the same time, if you have a smaller budget but still want an efficient single- or two-stage furnace with ENERGY STAR certification, then York is among the best brands to consider.

Will you be there long enough to enjoy it?

Something else you'll want to consider when buying a new furnace is whether you have plans in the near future to move. If you are going to be moving, then you might not want to buy the best and most expensive model because you won’t be around to reap the reward of lower energy bills.

Moreover, expensive HVAC equipment doesn’t tend to increase the value of your home, so you won’t recoup the additional cost of a more expensive unit when you sell.

Does York have the AFUE rating you want?

Most places in Canada experience winters that are long and cold enough that a high AFUE is an extremely important feature with a furnace, and York’s YP9C modulating furnace is one of the most efficient on the market. However, there are a couple other furnaces from other brands that are even more efficient, including Lennox’s top-of-the-line model, which has an AFUE of 99 percent.

At the same time, if you live in a milder climate and don’t need the most efficient furnace, York also has a decent selection of 95 and 96 percent AFUE furnaces.

Furthermore, Every York furnace with an AFUE of 95 percent or higher has ENERGY STAR certification, which is especially important if you're going to be applying for rebates.

Does York have your ideal features?

New features are coming out for furnaces all the time, and some brands pay more attention to this than others.

York is one of the brands that doesn’t focus much on new technologies, so they might not be the right brand if you want features and perks such as:

• Advanced heat exchanger designs
• Special furnace filters, such as those that are available from Daikin and American Standard
• Dehumidification technology like what Carrier offers
• Filter monitor and maintenance reminders that Bryant has
• Quiet combustion technology from Armstrong
• Communicating technologies that talk to the furnace and thermostat
• Apps and designs that allow for faster and easier installation
• Special blower designs

Are you concerned with warranty coverage?

Warranties can be a big selling feature for people, so York is a great brand to consider if you want long-term protection for your investment.

Just remember that every brand will have similar terms and conditions on their warranties, and you will have to pay for annual maintenance to keep your coverage valid.

What's more important than brand?

Brand name is very important for some people, and even though York might not be the most prestigious name in HVAC, they have a long history in the business and an excellent reputation.

That being said, there are things that are more important than the name brand on your furnace, especially when you consider that most of the brands out there are manufactured by only a handful or parent companies.

So what’s more important than brand name? Well, the availability of parts, for one. York is a major name in Canadian HVAC, so it’s easy to get equipment and replacement parts when you need them. Similarly, any professional HVAC contractor will be familiar with York furnaces, which will make diagnostics, maintenance, and repairs faster and easier.

Something else that’s more important than brand is the HVAC dealer you buy your furnace from and hire to install it.

A good contractor won’t just sell you a furnace and install it: they’ll also make sure it’s sized properly, make sure it’s compatible with your existing HVAC equipment and infrastructure, test it and make sure it’s running at peak efficiency, and be available in the future when you need maintenance and repairs.

Get a free quote from a qualified local HVAC contractor today.

YORK - ABOUT THE COMPANY

YORK was founded in 1874 in York, Pennsylvania as a manufacturing company that produced ice machines to replace the shipping of ice from the Great Lakes. The company soon expanded its refrigeration expertise into other areas.

Their range of propane and natural gas furnaces utilize a variety of top-of-the-line features to ensure that they are up to any task. It also means that there will likely be a YORK furnace that matches your demands for both budget and home.

In 2006, YORK became a brand of Johnson Controls, a leader in world-class manufacturing. The alliance has led to an increase in high energy efficiency products with a wealth of other benefits. All YORK furnace products are designed, engineered, and assembled in North America.