ACiQ 60000 BTU 97% AFUE Gas Furnace | Variable Speed Modulating Multi-Positional | R454B Compliant (G97CMN0602120B)
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Key features
- 97% AFUE modulating gas valve for top-tier efficiency and precise heat output
- Variable-speed ECM blower motor for quieter operation and lower electricity use
- Multi-positional cabinet supports upflow, downflow, and horizontal installs
- 60,000 BTU capacity suited to homes roughly 1,200 to 1,800 sq ft depending on climate and insulation
- R-454B compliant system pairing for future-ready split-system builds
- Ships with a 12-year parts warranty included, no dealer registration markup
About this system
The ACiQ G97CMN0602120B is a 60,000 BTU, 97% AFUE modulating gas furnace designed for smaller-to-mid-size homes that need serious efficiency without the premium-brand price tag. At 97% AFUE, virtually all of the gas burned converts to usable heat, which puts it at the top tier of residential furnace efficiency alongside condensing units from Carrier, Trane, and Lennox. The variable-speed blower motor and modulating gas valve work together to adjust output in small increments rather than simply cycling on and off at full blast, which keeps temperatures more consistent and reduces the short-cycling noise that plagues single-stage units.
The multi-positional cabinet means the unit can be installed upflow, downflow, or horizontal, which gives contractors flexibility in basements, closets, and attic applications without ordering a dedicated configuration. The R-454B refrigerant compliance note is relevant only if this furnace is paired with a new A/C system, since the furnace itself does not use refrigerant. This is a direct-sold unit, meaning no dealer markup inflates the price, but it also means you will need to source installation and service through an independent HVAC contractor rather than a factory-authorized dealer network. That trade-off is central to understanding who this product suits best.
The ACiQ G97CMN0602120B delivers genuine top-tier furnace efficiency and variable-speed comfort features at a price that undercuts comparable name-brand units by a meaningful margin. The catch is that ACiQ is a newer brand without long-term reliability data, and the direct-sale model means your service experience depends heavily on whichever independent contractor you hire. For cost-conscious buyers who do their homework on local service providers, it is a strong option; for buyers who want the reassurance of a decades-long track record, the uncertainty is real.
Overall score is the average of the five ratings above.
What we like
- 97% AFUE puts heating costs at or near the ceiling of what residential gas furnaces can achieve
- Modulating gas valve and variable-speed blower produce noticeably steadier temperatures and quieter operation than staged units
- Multi-positional design reduces installation constraints and potentially labor costs
- 12-year parts warranty ships with the unit and does not require dealer registration to activate
- Direct pricing undercuts name-brand equivalents by a significant margin for the same efficiency tier
Trade-offs
- ACiQ is relatively new and Consumer Reports has not yet assigned a reliability ranking due to insufficient long-term data
- The undisclosed manufacturer makes it harder for technicians to cross-reference parts history or service bulletins
- No factory-authorized dealer network means service quality is entirely dependent on the independent contractor you find
- Resale and insurance documentation may be less straightforward than with an established brand name on the nameplate
What homeowners and pros say about ACiQ
Early owners of ACiQ equipment consistently highlight quiet operation and responsive customer support from AC Direct as standout positives, and those themes hold for modulating furnaces where the variable-speed blower is a big part of the day-to-day experience. Because ACiQ is a newer brand, Consumer Reports has not yet assigned it a reliability score, which means there is no independent long-term data to lean on the way there is for Carrier or Trane. What does exist is a growing body of early owner feedback that skews positive, but two or three years of ownership is not the same as the decade-plus track record that earns a Consumer Reports recommendation.
HVAC contractors who have installed ACiQ units generally report that the equipment itself performs as specified, but some flag the undisclosed manufacturer as a practical headache: without knowing whether a unit shares lineage with a known brand, cross-referencing parts, technical service bulletins, or failure patterns requires more guesswork than usual. The direct-sale model also means there is no factory-authorized service channel to fall back on, so the quality of your ongoing service relationship comes down entirely to the independent contractor you choose. For a high-efficiency modulating furnace at this price point, the value proposition is real, but those service-side uncertainties are worth factoring into the decision rather than setting aside.
Sources: Consumer Reports heat pump ratings, HVACDirect on the ACiQ brand, AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance, U.S. DOE appliance and equipment efficiency standards.
How it compares
| Brand | Comparable model | SEER2 | Stage | Price position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACiQ | G97CMN0602120B | N/A (furnace only) | Modulating variable-speed | Value pick |
| Carrier | Infinity 98 (59MN7) | N/A (furnace only) | Modulating variable-speed | Significantly higher than ACiQ |
| Trane | XV95 (S9V2) | N/A (furnace only) | Modulating variable-speed | Significantly higher than ACiQ |
| Lennox | SLP99V | N/A (furnace only) | Modulating variable-speed | Significantly higher than ACiQ |
Competitor rows are comparable single-stage units at similar efficiency; price is relative position, not a quote.
Questions about this system
Who actually manufactures this furnace, and does it matter for parts availability?
ACiQ is AC Direct's house brand and the actual manufacturing source is not publicly disclosed, though forum discussion points to the ICP and Carrier family without confirmation. In practice this means a technician cannot easily cross-reference service bulletins or parts interchangeability the way they can with a clearly labeled Carrier or Heil unit, so it is worth asking your installer whether they are comfortable working with ACiQ equipment before you buy.
Is the 12-year warranty as strong as what I would get from a Carrier or Lennox dealer?
The 12-year parts warranty is competitive with or better than most name-brand warranties, which often require dealer registration within 60 to 90 days to reach the same coverage period. The difference is that name-brand warranties are backed by large, established networks while ACiQ warranty claims go through AC Direct directly, so the support experience is less tested over time.
Can any licensed HVAC contractor install this, or does it need a specialist?
Any licensed HVAC contractor can install this furnace, and the multi-positional cabinet makes their job more straightforward. Because there is no authorized dealer network, you simply hire a qualified independent contractor, but you should confirm they are familiar with modulating furnaces since the variable-speed and modulating components require proper setup for the efficiency and comfort benefits to fully materialize.
Why does this furnace mention R-454B if furnaces do not use refrigerant?
The R-454B compliance note signals that this furnace is designed and certified to be paired with new air conditioning or heat pump systems that use R-454B refrigerant, which is replacing R-410A under updated EPA regulations. The furnace itself uses no refrigerant, but the note matters if you are building or replacing a whole split system at the same time.
Is 60,000 BTU the right size for my home?
A proper Manual J load calculation by your installer is the only reliable way to answer that, since the right size depends on your square footage, insulation levels, window area, climate zone, and ceiling height. As a rough reference, 60,000 BTU often suits homes in the 1,200 to 1,800 square foot range in colder climates, but oversizing a modulating furnace is less harmful than oversizing a single-stage unit because it can modulate down, while undersizing will leave you short on capacity during peak cold.
Specifications
| Furnace output | 60000 BTU |
| Furnace efficiency | 97% AFUE |
| Refrigerant | R-454B |