York LX Series – TM9Y Review

Featuring a two-stage burner with a multi-speed ECM blower motor, the LX Series TM9Y is one of YORK’s many ENERGY STAR® certified economy furnaces. The unit has a high-efficiency AFUE rating of 96%, and it's backed by an excellent warranty.

The point of York furnace reviews is to help you decide if a particular model is a wise investment and good fit for your home. With that in mind, this guide will cover the TM9Y’s main features, burner and blower types, average cost in Canada, warranty coverage, efficiency, and more.

And so you can be sure this is the right York furnace for your home in Canada, the review will also compare the TM9Y to three others from the brand based on tier, features, and price.

About the LX TM9Y

Average Price (installed): $3,835 - $4,670

Top Features

• Made in the USA
• Compatible with conventional thermostats
• Backed by excellent warranty coverage
• High-efficiency, two-stage operation and ENERGY STAR certification
• Cost-saving AFUE
• High rebate eligibility
• Designed for fast and easy installation
• Features to reduce operational noise
• Compact cabinet is great for smaller spaces

The Bottom Line

The YORK LX Series TM9Y is an economy furnace that offers great value. It’s affordable, comes with some excellent standard design elements, and promises energy savings compared to your older furnace.

The high AFUE, two-stage operation, multi-speed blower motor, and ENERGY STAR certification mean it will likely be eligible for certain rebates. This unit also promises consistent, reliable performance and even comfort for your entire home.

Another great thing about the TM9Y is that it’s compact and space-saving. With a height of just 33 inches, this unit will fit in just about any home, and can even be installed in closets, attics, and crawl spaces.

In-Depth Review

YORK LX Series TM9Y Specifications

• AFUE: 96 percent
• Burner type: Two-stage
• Blower type: Multi-speed ECM
• ENERGY STAR certified: Yes
• Heating input: 40,000 to 120,000 BTUs

Features Overview

To make York furnace troubleshooting easier, the brand equips their models with a self-diagnostic module that makes maintenance and repairs faster and more accurate. This can potentially make labour more affordable and help extend the life of your heating system.

What's more, each York high-efficiency furnace has a secondary heat exchanger, and that means the TM9Y can produce more heat with the same amount of fuel compared to a non-condensing furnace.

Further, the TM9Y’s reinforced cabinets and gasketed doors promise that warm air goes where it needs to go, both quietly and efficiently. All told, this is an excellent option for most Canadian homes.

Other Key Features

• An insulated blower compartment improves heat transfer and reduces noise
• Adjustable delay timer allows for two-stage operation with a single-stage thermostat
• Can be converted to propane
• Internal condensation trap design provides optimal condensation management
• Tubular aluminized steel heat exchanger is corrosion-resistant
• Two-stage inducer motor
• Multi-position installation
• Has a continuous fan setting
• Equipped with auto-staging technology
• Has a fuel-saving hot surface ignition system
• Main gas valve shut-off for enhanced safety
• Air leakage is less than 1 percent
• Has external air filters for better indoor air quality

Warranty Information

York furnaces are covered by an excellent warranty. The TM9Y is protected by a lifetime heat exchanger warranty, a 10-year parts warranty, a five-year Complete Assurance warranty, and a one-year labour warranty. York is one of the only HVAC manufacturers to offer any sort of labour warranty.

With the Complete Assurance warranty, that means that if the heat exchanger fails in the first five years, then York will offer to replace the entire furnace.

Be aware that to be eligible for these full warranty terms, you do have to register the TM9Y within 90 days of installation. Plus, you'll have to have this York furnace installed by a licensed HVAC professional.

Comparable Models by YORK

Model Comparison by Price: York TM9Y versus YP9C

The Affinity YP9C is York’s premium model, and it typically costs between $4,500 and $5,100, meaning you could potentially save around $1,000 by opting for the more affordable TM9Y.

However, there are some benefits to buying the pricier YP9C. For one thing, it’s a modulating furnace with a variable-speed blower motor, so it’s quieter, more efficient, better at managing humidity, and promises even better temperature consistency through the house.

It also has an AFUE rating of 98 percent, and York’s ClimaTrak technology, which allows the installer to customize the blower settings to your climate. Finally, the premium model is compatible with communicating thermostats like York’s Hx3, and this could potentially increase your energy-savings.

Model Comparison by Features: York TM9Y versus TM9E

The TM9E is one of the most affordable high-efficiency furnaces that York makes.

But there are some drawbacks that come with the cheaper price, including the single-stage burner, the standard-efficiency ECM motor, and the slightly lower 95 percent AFUE rating.

Because of these less advanced specifications, the TM9E will be noisier, less capable of managing humidity, and less equipped to heat your house evenly through the winter, unless you live somewhere that experiences very mild winters.

In fact, single-stage furnaces in Canada are only recommended for spaces with lower heating demands, such as smaller homes and places with milder winters.

Model Comparison by Tier: York TM9Y versus TM9V

The LX Series TM9V is the most comparable to the TM9Y in terms of price and specifications, but the TM9V has a few additional features and will cost a bit more.

For one thing, it has a variable-speed ECM motor, which means it will use less electricity, operate more quietly, and provide more consistent heat distribution.

Furthermore, the TM9V has the ClimaTrak technology so that it can be customized to your winters, whether they're dry, humid, or temperate. It’s also compatible with communicating thermostats like York’s Hx3, and smart thermostats can reduce energy bills.

In the end, the TM9Y will produce similar energy savings and cost less, so it could be a wiser investment for Canadians who don’t need variable-speed capacity, smart thermostat compatibility, and ClimaTrak technology.