The Trane XR80 Furnace – Options

Every year at Fireplace & Ice, we work with lots of of Central Ohio residents to customise their HVAC techniques.

On this article, we’ll look at the Trane XR80, its most important options. We’ll additionally contemplate what upkeep must be carried out on it, and repairs which will crop up.

Trane has ceased manufacturing of this furnace. So for those who’re studying this, chances are you’ll simply need details about your present unit. At Fireplace & Ice, we’ve put in 1000’s of those items, so we are able to supply assurance about its high quality and buyer satisfaction.

And for those who’re seeking to change your present XR80 with a comparable furnace, we now have solutions.

Why the Trane XR80 Isn’t Being Manufactured Anymore

An article written for Underwriter Laboratories spelled out the change: “The U.S. Division of Power (DOE) established new guidelines efficient in January, 2021, for motors utilized in residential furnaces and necessities outlined in AFUE rankings. Usually, it’s going to require a change from a everlasting cut up capacitor (PSC) motor to an electronically commutated motor (ECM). Motor producers have tried to fulfill this problem by designing increased effectivity choices which might be direct replacements for present PSC motors.”

The Trane XR80 makes use of the PSC motor, which is now largely out of date. The PSC motor doesn’t have a lot computing potential. It doesn’t understand how a lot air is being circulated, and it might’t sense how a lot vitality it’s utilizing. Extra superior motors, such because the PSC, are going to maneuver much more air as a result of they will sense if the strain is dropping within the system. They then can enhance the blower motor a notch to compensate.

The outdated PSC motors additionally use a number of vitality, they usually don’t ship as a lot airflow as newer items.

Is Your XR80 Nonetheless Good?

In a phrase, sure. It’s positive. It’s not practically as subtle because the higher-end furnaces, however that doesn’t imply the XR80 is a low-quality furnace. In actual fact, Trane places the entire gear it makes by way of rigorous checks again and again to make sure that it’s going to proceed to carry out for you and your loved ones.

Producers rating furnace effectivity with Annual Gas Utilization Effectivity (AFUE) rankings. AFUE rankings describe the proportion of gas {that a} furnace makes use of to supply heating. For instance, a furnace that has an AFUE score of as much as 80%, just like the XR80, makes use of as much as 80% of the gas it consumes to warmth your private home. The system then exhausts the opposite roughly 20% as waste gases.

We are able to additionally take a look at this when it comes to cash. For each greenback spent on gas, as much as 80 cents goes in the direction of heating your private home, with the remaining 20 cents being exhausted out of your flue.

The four-speed blower motor has ample airflow for many heating necessities. Examine this to a fixed-speed blower, which works at full capability to succeed in the thermostat setting after which powers off. That is an inefficient strategy to heat your private home. The furnace consumes extra vitality in an effort to take care of the specified temperature.

Fairly than working on the all-or-nothing precept, multi-speed blowers run at completely different velocities. This expertise delivers higher vitality effectivity and decrease utility payments.

Extra Options of the Trane XR80

• Single-stage gasoline furnace
• Self-diagnostic microelectronic controller
• Silicon nitride igniter
• Sizes from 32,000 to 111,000 BTU output
• Suitable with single-stage and two-stage air conditioners and warmth pumps
• These furnaces come 40” excessive and 28” deep and may be put in horizontally or vertically
• The gear is housed in an insulated, pre-painted galvanized metal cupboard for sturdiness and quiet operation

Heavy-gauge metal and “wrap-around” cupboard development is used within the cupboard. The warmth exchanger part of the cupboard is totally lined with fiberglass insulation. This ends in quiet and environment friendly operation because of the glorious acoustical and insulating qualities of fiberglass.

The Trane XR80’s heavy metal insulated cupboard has two advantages:

• Holds in additional of the warmth that you just pay for
• Decreases working noise

Due to its heavy metal insulated cupboard, the XR80 can expertise as little as 1% of air leakage. This helps the XR80 preserve extra of the warmth it produces.

And whereas a quiet furnace isn’t a high precedence for everybody, it actually could be a perk. Between its insulated cupboard and its four-speed blower, the XR80 can lower down on the noise it makes whereas it’s working.

Its sturdy, cycle-tested, heavy-gauge aluminized metal warmth exchanger shortly transfers warmth to supply heat, conditioned air.

Execs And Cons of the Trane XR80

If you happen to had been on the lookout for a dependable furnace with a low preliminary funding, then the Trane XR80 furnace was an amazing choice. It provides easy heating to maintain you heat all winter lengthy.

However the Trane XR80 shouldn’t be excellent for householders who’re hoping to scale back their utility payments with a high-efficiency furnace.

You’ll have been higher off with a high-efficiency furnace that may present extra even temperatures with two-stage heating. The preliminary price of the unit would have been far higher, however, particularly for those who had been planning on staying in your own home for ten years or so, you’d have seen a big discount in your gas payments.

Excessive-efficiency furnaces can have an AFUE score of 96% and up. The XR80 can’t match that.

And if in case you have a variable-speed air conditioner or warmth pump, this furnace shouldn’t be suitable. You would wish a higher-end furnace that may talk or “fee” with these types of items.

Upkeep for the Trane XR80

You possibly can assist make sure the XR80 can have a protracted life by way of routine upkeep. If its noise ranges enhance, it’s time to name an HVAC technician. Ditto for the ductwork; a rise of sound might imply that there’s a leak or there’s an obstruction.

However the largest favor you are able to do to your furnace is to change the filter as usually as essential. That would imply as usually as month-to-month, to yearly.

A grimy filter will decelerate the fan. Mud, pet hair, and different junk within the air might be pulled from the saturated filter into the motor, and finally trigger it to fail. Or it’s going to get onto the blower wheel, which will be unable to maneuver as a lot air. Filth can acquire extra on one facet of the blower wheel than the opposite facet, which can provide the blower a little bit little bit of a wobble. The bearings can put on out.

Moreover, a unclean filter will lower down on the airflow from the return ducts. While you’re not shifting the airflow you’re speculated to be shifting, the system isn’t transferring warmth that means that it must be, whether or not it’s heating or cooling.

In heating mode, the primary factor it’s going to harm is the warmth exchanger. You lose effectivity, as a result of the blower doesn’t work as properly as a result of it might’t transfer the warmth as successfully.

Widespread Repairs on the XR80

The blower motors on the extra superior fashions don’t fail practically as usually as these run by the PSC motors. They’ve a pleasant, sluggish begin, whereas the PSC motors kick on at 100%. It’s straight away. A sluggish begin is way simpler on the motor, so they have a tendency to last more.

On a routine upkeep go to, we test and alter air movement in order that they’re precisely the place they need to be, and it’s not essentially going to be the beneficial quantity that comes from the producer. A furnace goes to have the ability to deal with a certain quantity of airflow as rated in tonnage. So if it’s rated for 3 tons, and the skin air conditioner is a two-ton unit, it is advisable scale back the within airflow in order that it matches.

Different upkeep duties embody guaranteeing the gasoline strain is right, that it’s combusting accurately, checking for airway obstructions, and cleansing the flame sensor as a result of it might get carbon buildup on it.

We additionally take a look at the temperature vary. Because it’s going by way of the exhaust, the temperature of the air must be round 320-360 levels.

One of many byproducts goes to be water, which is within the type of vapor. We have to test that the moisture isn’t condensing.

Furnace Equipment

As with all HVAC system, you possibly can at all times add equipment to your XR80 to deal with the air, along with simply warming or cooling it. And we wouldn’t suggest them in the event that they didn’t stay as much as their guarantees.

Merchandise embody:

• Entire-house-humidifier
• Entire-house dehumidifier
• Reme Halo Air Air purifier
• Aprilaire CleanEffects Air Cleaner

Low humidity ranges can create a number of issues for houses, which a whole-home humidifier can help with. There are three differing types, and the costs vary from $600 to $2500.

Excessive moisture ranges create excellent circumstances for mould progress, allergens, and musty odors. A properly-sized whole-house dehumidifier could be a useful product to manage dangerous excessive humidity points. It begins at $2100 and may price as a lot as round $2700.

The Reme Halo Air Air purifier is a whole-home resolution to enhance your air high quality. It will probably assist those that endure from allergy symptoms, residence odors or mould, and people seeking to cease the unfold of sickness. There are two varieties of Reme Halo techniques: one which makes use of UV mild and one other that makes use of LED mild. The price – which incorporates labor prices for set up and all taxes or charges – ranges from $1200 – $1500.

The Trane CleanEffects Air Cleaner is an HVAC accent that captures allergens and different particles as small as .1 micron. It’s eight occasions simpler than even the perfect HEPA room filters, and as much as 100 occasions simpler than a normal 1-inch filter. It usually prices about $2,100  – $2,500 put in.

How A lot Does the Trane XR80 Value To Exchange?

There are a number of elements that may have an effect on the worth of a brand new furnace set up, equivalent to the dimensions of the house, filters or different indoor air high quality merchandise, the placement of the system, and any adjustments that could be wanted throughout set up. For comparability, a brand new furnace alternative can vary between $3,000 to $7,600.

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a alternative in the identical worth vary and that has roughly the identical options, the S8X1 is one shut match. It has the identical combustion course of, nevertheless it has a a lot better fan.

The S8X1 furnace has an AFUE score of as much as 80% (similar because the XR80), is single-stage (ditto), and is priced $3,500 – $3,900.

Subsequent Steps

If you happen to’ve gotten this far, you’ve realized a lot of what you must know in regards to the Trane XR80 furnace.

If you happen to’re available in the market for a alternative furnace, take a look at our information to Trane gasoline furnaces. This information breaks down the options and value ranges of greater than 10 Trane furnaces that can assist you determine which furnace is best for you.

If you happen to stay in Central Ohio and also you’d favor to talk with a consultant to find out all of your choices, we’d love to fulfill with you.

At Fireplace & Ice, we focus in your consolation considerations. We take the time to know your wants so we are able to customise your system. In spite of everything, once you make investments your hard-earned cash in your HVAC system, you deserve a system that matches your wants.

To schedule your free in-home estimate with certainly one of our consolation specialists, enter your zipcode beneath. We sit up for talking with you.