Lennox Merit Series AC prices and overview

The Lennox Merit Series is the brand's most economical air conditioner line. Start saving on your energy bills today.

Make a splash on your energy bills today with a Lennox Merit Series AC. Photo by AHMED on Flickr.In 1895, Dave Lennox, working out of his machine shop in Marshalltown, Iowa (a town about 60 miles west of Cedar Rapids) built and started marketing the first riveted-steel furnace. It revolutionized the heating industry for both commercial and residential applications. From those auspicious beginnings, the Lennox name has grown to be associated with a range of quality products providing reliable and affordable heating and cooling solutions for families and businesses around the globe. If you currently happen to be in the market for a new cooling solution for your home, the Lennox Merit Series is the company’s most economical air conditioner line.

Save on costs without sacrificing comfort

The Merit Series is the entry-level line of residential air conditioners sold by Lennox. While these units may be less expensive and a little less complex than models found in Lennox’s other residential line of AC systems (the Elite Series and the Dave Lennox Signature Series) you will still enjoy excellent efficiency and performance if you choose a model in the Merit line.

One important factor to focus on when comparing any central air conditioning system is its efficiency. The industry standard for measuring air conditioning efficiency is known as the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). This is a measurement of how much energy a unit needs to consume in order to cool the space it’s intended to. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit. The federal government requires that all new air conditioners sold in the U.S. meet a minimum SEER rating of 13.

In the Merit Series, Lennox offers two models: the Merit Series 13ACX air conditioner, and the Merit Series 14ACX air conditioner. Both are backed by Lennox standards for quality HVAC systems and both carry the Good Housekeeping Seal. While the primary difference between the two units is found in the numerical demarcation for each (a number reflecting each unit’s base SEER rating.) There are a few more details that separate each unit:

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Lennox 13ACX

lennox merit1The 13ACX air conditioner is built for easy maintenance and high durability. Some of its features include:

    • A SEER rating starting at 13 (or higher)
    • Highly efficient outdoor coil
    • Dependable scroll compressor
    • Designed to work with Humiditrol (a Lennox dehumidification system for the entire home)
    • Noise level that is as low as 76 dB
    • Direct-drive fan
    • Uses chlorine-free R-410A refrigerant (good for the environmemnt, good for you, and easy to refill/recharge)
    • PermaGuard cabinet features

Lennox 14ACX

lennox merit2The 14ACX air conditioner is easy on your budget and offers long-term savings due to its energy efficiency. The standard 14ACX unit features:

    • A SEER rating starting at 14 (and climbing)
    • Energy Star qualified
    • Highly efficient outdoor coil
    • Noise levels as low as 76 dB
    • Direct-drive fan
    • Works with Humiditrol
    • Scroll compressor
    • Uses chlorine-free R-410A refrigerant
    • PermaGuard cabinet

Lennox Merit Series features

Energy efficiency leads to lower utility bills throughout the life of the AC unit. It can also lead to added longevity as your unit won't be working as hard to give you the results you need. (You're also less likely to need to crank up a unit that is performing more efficiently.) Products that qualify for ENERGY STAR designation save you money while protecting the environment. While both models in the Merit Series meet or exceed the government's minimum SEER rating, the Merit Series 14ACX air conditioner is the only one in the series to earn ENERGY STAR designation.

Scroll compressors operate reliably and deliver efficiently (as do the outdoor coils) by transferring heat effectively and meeting low air resistance.

ACs that offer overall efficiency (such as both units in the Lennox Merit Series) cut usage costs even further while preserving the parts in the unit.

Direct-drive fans are balanced for long life and quiet operation. The PermaGuard cabinet fetuared in these Lennox units is highly durable. This type of housing is made of heavy-gauge, galvanized steel with a louver coil guard. For durability, there is a zinc-coated steel base and the cabinet has a baked-on, powder-finish render, which gives long-lasting protection from corrosion and rust.

Warranties

Extending the efficiency of your Lennox Merit Series air conditioning unit is the generous warranty that backs each one. Both the 13ACX and the 14ACX come with limited 5-year parts and compressor warranty and a 20-year heat exchanger warranty. For a mall extra charge, you can upgrade this warranty to increase coverage for 10 years on the compressor and 10 years for all other moving parts.

Lennox also offers its Complete Care Plus™ Extended Warranty program which is a convenient and affordable plan designed to cover service repairs on any air conditioning unit – regardless of brand – after the standard manufacturers’ warranties expire. Provisions of the plan include:

  • Coverage for all major HVAC brands
  • Prices starting at only pennies per day on average
  • Fully transferrable benefits
  • Coverage options that include 3-year, 5-year, 10-year or even 12-year parts and labor
  • All plans fully insured and protected in partnership with Service Net Solutions

(Prices for any Lennox Complete Care Plus plan will vary by product and length of coverage selected.)

Built for long life, the Lennox Merit Series saves you more money through its endurance, but these warranty opions give you peace of mind in the long run.

Pricing

lennox merit series acDetermining an exact price for what you will pay for any new or upgraded air conditioning unit is challenging. Each household will demand unique features from an air conditioner and installation costs will vary from city to city and from contractor to contractor. Manufacturers don’t make it any easier to compare because they rarely include the cost of units on any publicly accessible website.

While you can find Lennox products at many big-box, home improvement retailers (like Lowe’s or Home Depot), the retail prices you find there will have to be tempered with what you will ultimately pay to have the unit installed

This guide offers a rough price estimate for the Lennox Merit Series. Actual prices will vary according to a variety of factors. If you are in the market for a new or upgraded AC system, ask for free estimates from local HVAC contractors who are licensed to install air conditioner products. (If you are considering a Lennox unit, be sure your contractor is authorized by Lennox to handle installations. Otherwise, your warranties may not be properly activated or recognized.)

Our informal survey of some licensed and certified HVAC contractors found that the installation costs for the single-stage 13ACX unit fall in the range of $2,000 to $5,500. The cost of installation of the 14ACX model ranges from approximately $2,150 to $5,750. In addition, you will pay the contractor's wholesale purchase cost (listed below) of the unit:

13ACX (estimates only)

    • 3-ton: $1,150.
    • 4-ton: $1,350.
    • 5-ton: $1,650.

14ACX (estimates only)

    • 3-ton: $1,300.
    • 4-ton: $1,500.
    • 5-ton: $1,750.

Air conditioner prices for the Lennox Merit Series are fairly comparable to other high-quality brands. Get matched with contractors who can explain your options in detail and give you definitive quotes to install your air conditioner now.

Photo credit: AHMED via Compfight CC.

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