Goodman Ultra-Low Nox Furnace California | 80000 BTU 80% Efficient Gas Furnace Multi-Speed ECM | Upflow / Horizontal | R32 (GR9S800804BU)
Check current price on AC Direct →
Key features
- 80,000 BTU heating capacity, upflow and horizontal installation configurations
- 80% AFUE efficiency with California Ultra-Low NOx compliance (meets SCAQMD and CARB requirements)
- Multi-speed ECM blower motor for quieter operation and lower blower electricity draw
- R-32 refrigerant-compatible coil labeling for pairing with matched cooling equipment
- Designed for California garage, closet, and attic horizontal installations
- Goodman's 20-year heat exchanger limited warranty and 5-year parts limited warranty (registration required)
About this system
The Goodman GR9S800804BU is an 80,000 BTU, 80% AFUE gas furnace built specifically for the California market, where the state’s strict Ultra-Low NOx (ULN) air quality rules apply. It produces no more than 14 nanograms of NOx per joule of heat output, meeting South Coast AQMD and CARB standards that ban standard furnaces in many California districts. If you live in Southern California or the Bay Area and your old furnace has finally given out, this unit is likely the compliant replacement your installer will recommend at the value end of the price spectrum.
The upflow and horizontal configuration suits the most common California installation scenarios: a garage closet, a hallway mechanical room, or an attic horizontal application. The multi-speed ECM blower motor is a meaningful upgrade over a basic PSC motor, moving air more quietly, ramping up gradually rather than blasting at full speed, and drawing significantly less electricity during the blower-only mode used for air circulation and filtration. The R-32 refrigerant designation on this furnace refers to coil compatibility labeling rather than a refrigerant charge in the furnace itself, a detail your installer will sort out when pairing it with an air handler or coil. At 80% AFUE, roughly one dollar in five of your gas spend goes up the flue, which is acceptable but not exceptional; homeowners who run the heat heavily through a cold inland winter may find the upgrade math toward a 96% AFUE unit worth running.
The GR9S800804BU does exactly what a budget-tier California-compliant furnace needs to do: it meets ULN rules, includes a capable ECM blower, and comes in meaningfully cheaper than Trane, Carrier, or Lennox equivalents. The trade-off is a brand reliability record that trails the premium names, and at 80% AFUE it will cost more to operate annually than a high-efficiency alternative. For a rental property, a modest home where heating loads are light, or a budget-constrained replacement job, it is a practical choice with eyes open.
Overall score is the average of the five ratings above.
What we like
- Meets California Ultra-Low NOx requirements, making it a legal drop-in replacement across most California air districts
- ECM multi-speed blower reduces electricity consumption and softens on-off cycling noise compared to single-speed motors
- Priced roughly 15 to 25 percent below comparable Trane, Lennox, and Carrier ULN models
- 20-year heat exchanger limited warranty provides long-term protection on the most expensive-to-replace component
- Upflow and horizontal flexibility covers the majority of California residential installation configurations
Trade-offs
- 80% AFUE means higher annual gas bills versus 95 to 96% AFUE alternatives, a real cost over a 10 to 15 year lifespan in colder climates
- Goodman's documented failure modes include dual-run capacitor failures and evaporator coil leaks, and consumer review scores average around 2.5 on ConsumerAffairs after year 7
- Brand performance is heavily install-dependent; a rushed or under-qualified installation correlates directly with early service calls
- Parts warranty is only 5 years (registration required), shorter than premium brands that often offer 10-year coverage
What homeowners and pros say about Goodman
Homeowners who shop Goodman on platforms like Google dealer pages find a brand that scores around 3.8 out of 5 across dealer locations, where the most consistent praise is straightforward: the price made a stressful replacement job manageable. On ConsumerAffairs, the picture is less flattering, averaging about 2.5 out of 5 on a channel where dissatisfied owners are more likely to post, and the recurring pattern in those reviews is repair costs climbing after roughly year seven. Neither number tells the whole story, but together they sketch a brand that delivers on upfront value and tends to sort owners into two camps: those who have an easy decade and those who start accumulating service bills.
HVAC technicians are fairly consistent in how they frame Goodman: the equipment is functional and competitively priced, but install quality is the single biggest variable in how long it performs. The documented failure modes they flag most often are dual-run capacitor failures, a low-cost fix in the 300 to 600 dollar range that is genuinely common across many brands, and evaporator coil leaks that show up more frequently in Goodman owner reviews than in premium brand comparisons. Compressor longevity on the cooling side of Goodman systems tends to average 10 to 14 years versus 15 to 20 for Trane or Carrier, a gap worth factoring in if you plan to stay in the home long-term. For the GR9S800804BU specifically, the ULN compliance removes the usual objection about California legality, and the ECM motor raises the product above the bare-minimum tier, making it a reasonable pick when budget is the constraint and expectations are calibrated accordingly.
Sources: ConsumerAffairs Goodman owner reviews, AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance, U.S. DOE appliance and equipment efficiency standards, Goodman product specification sheets.
How it compares
| Brand | Comparable model | SEER2 | Stage | Price position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodman | GR9S800804BU | N/A (furnace only) | Multi-speed | Value pick |
| Carrier | Performance 80 Ultra-Low NOx (58ULN) | N/A (furnace only) | Single-stage | Roughly 20 to 30 percent more than this Goodman |
| Trane | S8X1 Ultra-Low NOx | N/A (furnace only) | Single-stage | Roughly 20 to 30 percent more than this Goodman |
| Lennox | ML180UH Ultra-Low NOx | N/A (furnace only) | Single-stage | Roughly 25 to 35 percent more than this Goodman |
Competitor rows are comparable single-stage units at similar efficiency; price is relative position, not a quote.
Questions about this system
Is this furnace actually compliant for my city in Southern California or the Bay Area?
Yes, the GR9S800804BU meets the Ultra-Low NOx standard required by the South Coast AQMD and CARB, which restricts NOx output to 14 ng/J or less. That covers most California air districts where standard furnaces can no longer be sold or installed. Confirm with your installer which specific district rules apply to your address before purchase.
What does the R-32 designation mean on a furnace?
On this furnace, R-32 refers to compatibility labeling for the evaporator coil or air handler you pair with it, not a refrigerant charge inside the furnace itself. Gas furnaces do not contain refrigerant. Your installer will match the correct R-32 rated coil when configuring your system.
How does the ECM blower motor change day-to-day comfort compared to a standard motor?
An ECM motor ramps up and down gradually rather than switching between full speed and off, which reduces the blast of cold air at startup and lowers the blower noise level noticeably. It also draws considerably less electricity during circulation-only cycles, which adds up over a full season.
What are the most common repairs I should expect to budget for over the life of this unit?
Across Goodman owner reviews, dual-run capacitor failures are the most frequently reported issue and typically run 300 to 600 dollars to repair. Evaporator coil leaks show up in a meaningful share of reviews as the system ages. Keeping your filter changed on schedule and having a technician inspect the unit annually reduces the risk of catching either problem late.
Does the 20-year heat exchanger warranty require anything from me to stay valid?
Yes. Goodman requires product registration within a specific window after installation to activate the full 20-year heat exchanger and 5-year parts limited warranties. Without registration, coverage defaults to shorter unregistered terms. Register the unit online as soon as it is commissioned, and keep your installation paperwork.
Specifications
| Furnace output | 80000 BTU |
| Configuration | Upflow |
| Refrigerant | R-32 |
| Model | GR9S800804BU |