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January 15th, 2024
If you’re looking for a furnace that can make your home more comfortable without breaking the bank, then you’re in luck! Trane’s XV80 furnace is a mid-range gas furnace that takes comfort seriously.
At Fire & Ice, the Trane XV80 furnace is one of our most popular models. Our customers appreciate that it can offer mid-range heating with boosted comfort. The XV80 also works well for many mid-sized budgets.
The owner of Fire & Ice, who has 27 years in the HVAC industry, chose the XV80 for his own home because it operates quietly and reliably. He highly recommends the XV80, especially if you can’t go with a high-efficiency furnace like the Trane S9V2.
In this article, we’ll dissect the XV80, looking at its main features and how they benefit you. We’ll also go over the cost of an XV80 and the types of air conditioners it pairs well with.
By the end of this article, you should know whether the XV80 is a good fit or not. Even though we stand by the XV80, we know that it isn’t always the best furnace for every homeowner, and we’ll talk about this. But if you’re still unsure, I can help with that too.
Overview of the Trane XV80 Furnace
In addition to standard mid-range features, the XV80 also has a few additional features that help to boost the comfort a mid-range typically offers. But even with these added features, the XV80 can still fit a mid-sized budget.
The Trane XV80 furnace was designed to:
- Evenly distribute heat throughout your home
- Create fewer temperature spikes
- Operate quietly
Features of the Trane XV80 Furnace
These are the components of the Trane XV80 furnace that help provide that comfort boost for your home. So let’s break it down.
The core features of the Trane XV80 furnace:
- Two-stage gas valve
- Variable-speed blower motor
- Large, insulated cabinet
Two-Stage Gas Valve
The main feature that makes the Trane XV80 a mid-range furnace is its two-stage gas valve.
A gas valve supplies fuel to your furnace.
A furnace’s staging refers to the number of capacity settings it has.
A furnace can be one of three types:
- Single-stage
- Two-stage
- Modulating
A single-stage furnace can operate at one capacity: 100%. In other words, when a furnace with a single-stage gas valve isn’t off, it’s running at full-blast.
A two-stage furnace can operate at two capacities: 100% and a lower capacity, usually around 60% - 70%.
Modulating furnaces can have up to a hundred or more stages, ranging from 40% - 100% capacity.
RELATED: Single-Stage, Two-Stage and Variable-Speed Furnaces: Differences and Benefits
Your furnace is sized for the coldest day of the year. When your system operates at 100% capacity, it’s using as much energy as it would on the coldest day.
But what about the rest of the year, when the weather is more mild but still chilly? That’s where multi-stage furnaces come in.
A multi-stage furnace can adjust its output and energy consumption to better meet your heating needs.
Operating at 100% capacity on a mild day, a single-stage furnace may create temperature spikes while trying to maintain a set temperature. But a two-stage furnace like the XV80 will operate at its lower capacity setting until you need its highest setting.
This lower capacity setting also means that the XV80 has a longer runtime. With multi-stage furnaces, a longer runtime is a good thing. Counterintuitive, right?
Don’t worry: a longer runtime doesn’t mean higher energy bills in this case. Because a multi-stage furnace like the XV80 can adjust its output, it can use less fuel to maintain the temperature in your home.
With a longer runtime at a lower capacity, you’ll experience fewer temperature spikes in your home. And when you pair a multi-stage gas valve with a variable-speed fan, which we’ll discuss next, you could even eliminate hot and cold spots throughout your home.
The XV80’s two-stage gas valve establishes it as a mid-range furnace. This means that the XV80 gives you more control over the temperature in your home than a single-stage furnace. But the XV80 has a lower initial cost than a modulating furnace. (We’ll discuss the cost of a Trane XV80 later in this article.)
Variable-Speed Blower Motor
While the XV80’s two-stage gas valve makes it a mid-range furnace, its variable-speed blower motor adds even more comfort.
A blower motor powers the fan that controls air circulation within your home.
A variable-speed blower motor operates like a modulating gas valve in a way: it can operate at a range of speeds.
A lot of people set their systems’ fans to “auto” because their fans can make them chilly. This is likely because your system’s blower motor isn’t variable speed. But with a variable-speed blower motor, you can set your fan at a lower speed and let it run as much as possible, if not constantly.
This is another case where you can benefit from a longer runtime. The longer your blower fan runs, the better the air circulates throughout your home. Better air circulation can help eliminate hot and cold spots throughout your home.
And since a variable-speed blower motor uses approximately the same amount of electricity as a single light bulb, it won’t cost you a ton of money, even if it runs constantly.
If you're considering one upgrade to your HVAC system, a variable-speed blower motor is one of the most valuable options. It provides more consistent temperatures, quieter operation, improved humidity control, and greater energy efficiency than a standard blower motor, making it a worthwhile investment for many homeowners.
Even though it’s located in your furnace, your blower motor runs year-round. Because the XV80 comes with a variable-speed blower motor, you’ll also experience additional comfort and better air circulation even when your furnace isn’t running.
Insulated Cabinet
If you value a quieter system, I have good news: the XV80’s insulated cabinet helps cut down on noise.
The XV80’s heavy steel, insulated cabinet also helps conserve heat.
But the insulated cabinet isn’t the only feature that helps make the XV80 a quieter furnace. The system’s two-stage gas valve and variable-speed blower motor also reduce its operating sound.
Because your furnace will likely run on its lower capacity setting for most of the heating season, it’ll run more quietly than a single-stage furnace.
The XV80’s variable-speed blower motor also means that its fan can operate more quietly.
Larger Cabinet
And speaking of cabinets, if space isn’t an issue, the Trane XV80’s larger cabinet has its benefits.
The XV80’s 40-inch-tall cabinet helps decrease static pressure.
Static pressure is resistance to airflow. Generally, clogged filters can create static pressure. But the size of a furnace’s cabinet can also contribute to static pressure.
Smaller cabinets can limit airflow. Larger furnace cabinets allow for better airflow within your system.
That doesn’t mean that furnaces with larger cabinets are the right choice for everyone, though. Sometimes you just don’t have enough space for a 40-inch furnace.
At a little over 3-feet-tall, the XV80 itself is the same height as the average 4-year-old. On its own, 40 inches isn’t that tall.
But your furnace rarely stands on its own. In most cases, an evaporator coil sits on top of your furnace. Then you have the supply duct, which sends conditioned air through your home’s ductwork.
If you have less than seven feet between the floor and ceiling for your system, we likely won’t be able to install a furnace the size of the XV80.
How Efficient Is the Trane XV80 Furnace?
The XV80 is a standard efficiency furnace with an efficiency rating of 80%. But what does it mean when a furnace is 80% efficient?
Manufacturers rate a furnace’s efficiency using an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. An AFUE rating is typically expressed as a percentage.
AFUE ratings describe how much of the fuel your furnace consumes actually goes towards heating your home.
For example, an 80% efficient furnace like the XV80 uses 80% of its fuel to heat your home. It exhausts the other 20% in the form of waste gases.
Furnaces can have an AFUE rating as high as 98%. But sometimes a high-efficiency furnace isn’t the best choice for your home.
If you don’t have a high gas bill with your current system, you probably wouldn’t notice a difference with a high-efficiency furnace.
But in many cases, even a standard efficiency furnace like the XV80 will be more efficient than an older furnace.
A high-efficiency furnace also requires a specific method of venting called direct venting. For this type of ventilation, your HVAC partner would likely need to run two new PVC pipes to properly vent your system. One of these pipes pulls fresh air into your system. The other exhausts waste gases.
Typically, these pipes exit out of the side of your home, not the roof. This involves cutting two holes up to 3 inches in diameter in the exterior of your home.
This is another reason the XV80 furnace appeals to some of our customers. If you want a quality furnace but changing your current ventilation system doesn’t appeal to you, a standard-efficiency furnace like the XV80 may be a better fit.
RELATED: SEER, AFUE and HSPF Ratings in HVAC: Why They Matter
Which Air Conditioner Can I Pair with the Trane XV80?
The Trane XV80 can work with any non-communicating air conditioner.
A communicating system uses the most sophisticated technology to “learn” how to best heat your home. (I won’t go too in-depth about communicating systems in this article. But if you’d like to learn about the benefits of a communicating system, you can read more here.)
The XV80 can boost even a basic system’s performance. Remember the variable-speed blower motor? Your air conditioner also uses your blower motor to circulate air during the cooling season. Even if you have a single-stage, lower efficiency air conditioner, you’ll notice a difference.
RELATED: One-Stage, Two-Stage & Variable-Speed ACs: Differences & Benefits
How Much Does the Trane XV80 Furnace Cost?
When we look at the price range for a specific model, the capacity you need determines the final price.
A furnace’s capacity, frequently referred to as “size,” determines how adequately your system can heat your home.
It’s kind of a Goldilocks situation. If your system is too powerful or isn’t powerful enough, you lose comfort.
If your system is too powerful for your home, it’ll kick on and off more than it should as it struggles not to overshoot the set temperature. This can result in temperature spikes throughout your home.
And when your furnace has a shorter runtime, you can lose comfort. The floors farthest away from your system likely won’t be as warm as the floor your thermostat is on.
If your system isn’t powerful enough for your home, it’ll run much longer than it should as it struggles to reach the set temperature. This can result in hot and cold spots.
And when your gas furnace runs longer than it should, it can dry out your home’s air.
To properly size your furnace, your HVAC partner must perform a load calculation.
A load calculation accounts for the size of your home and the amount of heat your home gains and loses.
Load calculations require more information than just the total square footage of your home. Factors like the size and number of windows your home has (and the direction these windows face) affect heat loss and heat gain.
Many contractors either don’t perform a load calculation or don’t perform it to the extent they should. To learn more about load calculations, check out this article on how your contractor should perform a load calculation for your home.
Comparing the Trane XV80 Furnace
See how the Trane XV80 Furnace stacks up to other comparable units.
| Product | XC80 | 59SP5 | XV80 | XB80 | S8X2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Trane | Carrier | Trane | Trane | Trane |
| Efficiency (AFUE) | 80 | up to 96.5 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| Blower Motor | Variable | ECM-Multi Speed | Variable | Multi-Speed | ECM Multi-Speed |
| Gas Valve | 2 Stage | 1 Stage | 2 Stage | 1 Stage | 2 Stage |
| Humidity Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Sound Insulated | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cabinet Air Leakage | < 2% | < 2% | > 2% | < 1% | |
| Communicating | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Outside Two-Stage Unit Compatible |
Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Who’s a Good Fit for the Trane XV80 Furnace?
Many homeowners could benefit from a Trane XV80 furnace. But you’ll likely appreciate it the most if your current system struggles to maintain even temperatures throughout your home.
Thanks to its two-stage gas valve and variable-speed blower motor, the XV80 has a longer runtime and better circulates the air. This helps the XV80 evenly heat your home.
Longer runtime and better circulation are vital in split-level homes and homes with two or more floors.
The XV80 can also be a good fit if you want a quiet furnace on a mid-sized budget.
Choosing the Right Furnace for You
If you’ve gotten this far, we hope you love the Trane XV80 furnace as much as we do.
But if you’re not convinced that the XV80 is the right furnace for you (or if you just want to see your other options), check out our guide to Trane gas furnaces. This guide breaks down the features and cost ranges for 12 Trane furnaces to give you a better idea of which furnace can best meet your needs.
Otherwise, meeting with your HVAC partner is the best way to figure out if the XV80 – or any furnace, for that matter – can address your heating needs.
If you’re looking for an honest, reliable HVAC contractor, we’d love to meet with you!
At Fire & Ice, we believe that the right furnace for you is the furnace that fits your home, your preferences, and your lifestyle.
As a Fire & Ice sales professional, I believe that the best way to help my customers is to present all the options without being pushy. Even if the XV80 doesn’t sound like the furnace for you, I’d love to talk through your heating needs and preferences so we can find the right solution for you.
To schedule a free in-home estimate, start by entering your zip code below to make sure you’re in our service area. I look forward to speaking with you!
