Napoleon NT Series 13 Model Review

This entry-level unit has a SEER rating of 13, making it a mid-efficiency air conditioner that’s affordable and that will work to keep your home cool during warm Canadian summers. The air conditioning unit is a taupe colour and comes with a decent warranty that will protect you against mechanical failures.

Because of the single-stage operation and mid-efficiency SEER, this unit won’t be right for every home. This model review of Napoleon’s NT Series 13 air conditioner will explain why that is and tell you what types of homes this model might be appropriate for.

The model review will also talk about the NT Series 13’s pricing, features, warranty, efficiency, and more, and it will compare it to the other air conditioners in Napoleon’s product line.

In a Nutshell

Average Price (with installation): $3000 - $5000

Top Features

• Swept fan blades for quiet operation
• Extruded side panels increase airflow and protect internal components
• Standard sound performance
• Equipped with Napoleon’s WHISPER QUIET™ features
• Microchannel coil technology
• Has an efficient Copeland scroll compressor
• Mid-efficiency SEER
• Uses an R-410A refrigerant that doesn’t deplete the ozone layer
• Cabinet is a greyish taupe colour designed to blend in with the landscape
• Protected by a decent warranty
• Has features to make service and maintenance faster and easier

The Bottom Line

The Napoleon NT Series 13 is a solidly-built air conditioner with a single-stage compressor. It has a mid-efficiency SEER of 13, which is the lowest efficiency rating an air conditioner in Canada is allowed to have according to federal guidelines.

However, the recommended SEER for Canada is generally between 16 and 18. Air conditioners in this efficiency range tend to offer the best balance between price, efficiency, and long-term operating costs.

As such, the NT Series 13 may likely work best in spaces with slightly lower cooling demands. That could include smaller homes, cottages, condos or apartments, or houses in milder parts of the country that don’t get long heat waves or extended periods of humidity.

A professional HVAC dealer will be able to perform a load calculation to make sure this model is powerful enough for your needs.

Because the NT Series 13 doesn’t have ENERGY STAR® certification, it may not qualify for some rebates. Furthermore, while it will save you on summer cooling bills compared to an older A/C with a standard-efficiency SEER, it won’t save you as much as a high-efficiency model.

In-Depth Review

Napoleon NT Series 13 Specifications:

• Compressor: Single-stage
• SEER: Up to 13
• ENERGY STAR certified: No
• Decibel rating: As low as 74
• Tonnage: 1.5 to 5 tons
• Cooling capacity: 18,800 to 53,500 Btus

Features Overview

Napoleon’s NT Series 13 offers excellent value for the investment because it’s made with quality components that have been designed for optimal performance. It cools your home reliably and circulates air effectively. If you’re looking for a durable air conditioner that will last you a long time with a little maintenance, then consider this unit.

One of the features of this air conditioner is WHISPER QUIET™ operation. That includes swept-wing aluminum fan blades that are contoured to reduce noise and increase airflow. It also includes a plated steel hub on the fan to reduce noise. Nonetheless, the NT Series 13 offers standard sound performance.

Another selling feature of the NT Series 13 is the microchannel coil technology. The all-aluminum coils are compact, so the air conditioner uses less refrigerant and has a smaller size than a standard A/C. The coils also have excellent heat transfer and are resistant to corrosion and leaks.

Other Key Features

• Powder-coated cabinet finish protects against rust
• High-quality filter drier removes moisture and extends the life of your air conditioner by preventing corrosion and refrigerant leaks
• The PSC fan motor stays lubricated
• The motor assembly can be removed through the top of the unit for easier service
• During service calls, the valves and refrigerant connections are all outside the cabinet for easy access
• Has a removable service panel for access to the electrical connections
• Has built-in safety features
• Equipped with a venturi to increase airflow

Warranty Information

Napoleon offers a consistent warranty across all models. It's a good warranty that covers the basics in the industry to provide you with peace of mind.

The warranty for the NT SERIES 13 includes a 10-year limited warranty for parts and a 10-year limited warranty for the compressor.

However, if you don’t register within 60 to 90 days of installation, then the warranty defaults to five years for the compressor and the parts.

Registration only takes a few minutes, and you can even ask your HVAC installer to complete the process for you. You just have to provide Napoleon with your name and address, the name of the HVAC installer, the air conditioner’s model and serial numbers, and the installation date.

Comparable Models by Napoleon

Model Comparison by Features and Price: NT Series 13 versus NT Series 14

The premium NT Series 16 has a lot of similarities to the NT Series 13, but one of the differences is the price. Because the NT Series has a high-efficiency SEER, it costs an average of $4,500 to $5,500 to buy and install in Canada.

And that brings us to the other important difference: the efficiency. The NT Series 16 has a higher SEER rating of 16, which is in the recommended range for Canada. It’s more efficient for summers that have very hot days, and it will save you more on energy bills over the years.

The high-efficiency model will also cool your home faster and more effectively, and it will be better at cooling larger spaces.

Both units are durable and have been designed to last a long time. The NT Series 16 has the powder-coated cabinet, a filter drier that traps and keeps out moisture, the WHISPER QUIET features, a Copeland scroll compressor, and all the same other features as the NT Series 13.

Model Comparison by Tier: NT Series 13 versus NT Series 16

The Napoleon air conditioner family is a small one, and the most similar unit to the NT SERIES 13 is the NT Series 14.

Though both units are almost identical, the NT Series 14 has a slightly higher SEER rating of 14. It still falls short of the recommended efficiency for Canada, but it will cost a little more and return marginally higher long-term energy savings.

Both units have the swept-wing fan design to reduce noise, the microchannel coil technology, the same warranty terms, and they both use aluminum coils and fans to increase longevity.