York TL9E Review

York is a popular furnace brand for Canadians on a budget who want a reliable and efficient heating system, and the TL9E checks all those boxes.

It has a more basic single-stage burner, but it also has some additional design features that enable it to achieve a high-efficiency AFUE rating.

We’ll review the TL9E’s features, specifications, and warranty terms, and compare it to some other York models to help you decide if this furnace is right for your needs.

About the York TL9E

Average Price (with installation): $3,600 to $4,200

Top Features

• High-efficiency AFUE rating
• ENERGY STAR® certification means great performance and eligibility for certain rebates
• Secondary heat exchanger for less fuel waste and heat loss
• Affordable and durable
• Ultra-low nitrogen oxide emissions
• Stainless steel heat exchangers for excellent heat transfer
• Superior hot surface ignition compared to a furnace with a pilot light
• Compact and space-saving
• Designed for easy installation
• Self-diagnostics
• More advanced ECM blower motor
• Insulated blower compartment makes for quiet operation

The Bottom Line

York’s TL9E pairs a less advanced single-stage burner with some technologies that improve efficiency, including a secondary heat exchanger and five-speed ECM blower motor. In other words, even though it has the most basic burner style, this model still achieves an ENERGY STAR qualifying AFUE rating and delivers reliable and even heat.

A few of the top selling features of the TL9E include its reliability, efficiency, affordability, and great warranty. Along with being one of the more affordable furnaces on the market, it also has one of the best warranties, so you know you're making a sound investment.

Furthermore, the TL9E has a special burner design that allows it to produce ultra-low NOx emissions, making it a more environmentally friendly choice.

Finally, the TL9E is compact and has been designed for easy cleaning and maintenance. In the end, this model is affordable to buy, cheaper to operate, and can have lower labour and service costs when it needs maintenance and repairs.

In Depth Review

York TL9E Product Specifications

• AFUE: 95 percent
• ENERGY STAR certified: Yes
• Burner type: Single-stage
• Blower type: Five-speed ECM
• Heating output: 57,000, 76,000, and 95,000 Btus

Features Overview

York built the TL9E to provide lasting and reliable winter comfort for many years, and that’s why it’s equipped with a dependable hot surface ignition. This is a more reliable electronic burner that doesn’t waste fuel, unlike a pilot light, which is always burning and can go out, preventing the furnace from producing heat.

Something else that’s great about the TL9E is the design of the primary and secondary heat exchangers. These are made with stainless steel to prevent corrosion, and their tubular design means they can withstand high heat and high pressure, and they're easy to maintain.  

Beyond that, the TL9E has also been engineered for easy installation, peak performance, excellent energy efficiency, low emissions, and reduced air leakage.

Other Key Features

• Can be installed in upflow or horizontal applications
• Easy installation in a basement, small room, closet, attic, or garage
• Venting through the side wall or roof increases installation versatility
• Has easy access to the controls for faster installation and maintenance
• Fault code display makes troubleshooting and diagnostics easier during maintenance
• Main gas valve shut-off increases safe operation
• Blower assembly is accessible for easy cleaning and maintenance  
• Was awarded the 2020 AHR Expo Innovation Award for heating
• Unit is factory-tested for safety and performance

Warranty Information

The TL9E has a slightly shorter heat exchanger warranty than other York furnaces, but the coverage is still among the best in the business. When you buy a TL9E, the warranty it comes with includes:

• A 20-year heat exchanger warranty (compared to a lifetime warranty with the other models)
• A 10-year parts warranty
• A five-year Complete Assurance warranty

The Complete Assurance warranty is what some brands call a unit replacement warranty, and it means that York will replace the entire furnace in the event that the heat exchanger fails during the coverage period.

York used to offer a one-year labour warranty as well, but that was recently replaced by an optional extended labour warranty that you have to purchase separately.

To be eligible for the warranty terms mentioned, you must register your TL9E within 90 days of installation. Should you fail to register the unit, you will only be eligible for the base warranty, which means parts will only be covered for five years, and you'll lose the Complete Assurance warranty altogether.

Comparable Models by York

Model Comparison by Price: York TL9E versus York TM9V

The TL9E is in a similar price range as the TM9V, but the TM9V is more sophisticated and will tend to fall into the higher end of the price range.

The two units are similar in many ways, but there are some important differences, and each model has its own advantages.

One of the main differences is the TM9V has a more advanced two-stage burner and variable-speed ECM motor. This means the gas valve and blower motor can operate at a lower speed most of the time to maintain the temperature while also reducing fuel costs, saving energy, and controlling humidity better. As a result, the TM9V has a slightly higher 96 percent AFUE rating.

The TM9V also has a longer lifetime heat exchanger warranty. It also has a special technology called ClimaTrak, which allows the installer to set the blower to the right speed so that it’s customized for your climate.

Finally, the TM9V is compatible with York’s Hx3 Communicating Zoning System smart thermostat, whereas the TL9E is only compatible with conventional controls.

One thing that the TM9V doesn’t have, however, is the ultra-low NOx emissions rating that the TL9E boasts.

Model Comparison by Features: York TL9E versus York YP9C

Whereas the TL9E is a mid-range model in terms of specifications and price, the YP9C is York’s top-of-the-line furnace. It generally falls into the $4,500 to $5,100 price range, and while it is more expensive, it does have some benefits over the TL9E.

First and foremost, the YP9C is a modulating, variable-speed furnace, meaning it can make incremental adjustments to the heating output to offer optimal temperature maintenance and consistency throughout the house, the quietest operation, the best humidity control, and the most efficient performance. It also has the highest AFUE that York offers, 98 percent.

The YP9C also has the ClimaTrak technology for customized blower operation depending on whether you live in a dry, humid, or temperate environment. It also has the longer lifetime heat exchanger warranty, and is compatible with the Hx3 Communicating Zoning System smart thermostat.

Model Comparison by Tier: York TL9E versus York TM9E

The TM9E is the most similar to the TL9E in terms of price and specifications. It falls into the same price range as the TL9E, has a single-stage burner and a five-speed ECM blower motor, is ENERGY STAR certified, has a secondary heat exchanger, and has self-diagnostics and the hot surface ignition.

The one real difference between the two models is that the TM9E isn't rated for ultra-low NOx emissions.