Carrier · Comfort 96 (59SC6A) · Model
Carrier Comfort 96 59SC6A 040M17–12
The 59SC6A 040M17–12 is the 40,000 BTU/h, 17.5-inch-wide Comfort 96: 39,000 BTU/h output on a single gas rate, 96.5% AFUE upflow, with a 1/2 HP multi-speed ECM blower. It is the entry-tier size most often discussed for compact detached houses and larger suites in the Lower Mainland.
Rating plate
- Model
- 59SC6A 040M17–12
- Input
- undefined – 40,000 BTU/h
- Output
- undefined – 39,000 BTU/h
- AFUE
- 96.5% upflow · 95% down/horiz
- Burner
- Single-stage
- Blower
- ECM, constant torque (variable-speed)
- Fuel
- Natural gas / Propane
- Cabinet
- 35 × 17.5 × 29.5 in
- Canada
- Available in Canada
Every call for heat runs this furnace at full fire: 40,000 BTU/h in, 39,000 BTU/h out, until the thermostat is satisfied. There is no low stage to linger in, which is the honest trade-off of the Comfort tier; the benefit is a simpler furnace at a lower first cost than Carrier's two-stage Performance 96.
The 17.5-inch cabinet holds three burners and a 1/2 HP MCT ECM blower that reaches 1,075 CFM for cooling. Carrier certifies 96.5% AFUE upflow and horizontal and 95% downflow for this size. The 14.2-inch-wide 040M14–10 sibling delivers the same heat at 96.0% upflow and is the 40,000 BTU/h size for narrow closets.
A 40,000 BTU/h input furnace serves many well-insulated Lower Mainland detached houses, but the size decision belongs to a heat-loss calculation. Carrier's product data warns that excessive oversizing can cause the furnace or vent to fail prematurely, and none of the family's sizes is certified for very low heating loads.
Specifications
From Carrier's published product data. Input and output are listed separately; AFUE depends on installation position.
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Input | ||
| Input | 40,000 BTU/h | |
| Output | ||
| Output capacity | 39,000 BTU/h | Carrier product data; DOE test procedure, position dependent. |
| Efficiency | ||
| AFUE, upflow / horizontal | 96.5 % | |
| AFUE, downflow | 95 % | |
| Airflow | ||
| Certified temperature rise range | 40 – 70 °F (22 – 39 °C) | |
| Airflow, heating @ rated ESP | 700 CFM | |
| Cooling airflow range | 160 – 1075 CFM | |
| Blower motor | Multi 18-speed, constant-torque (MCT) ECM | Not a communicating constant-airflow motor; speeds are installer-selectable. |
| Physical | ||
| Cabinet width | 17.5 in | 445 mm |
| Shipping weight | 130 lb | 59 kg |
| Cabinet height | 35 in | 889 mm |
| Cabinet depth | 29.5 in | 750 mm |
| Installation positions | Upflow, downflow, horizontal left, horizontal right | |
| Venting | ||
| Venting | Direct vent (2-pipe), single-pipe, or ventilated combustion air on sizes above 26,000 BTU/h; the 26,000 BTU/h size uses 2-pipe venting with outside combustion air and is not classed as direct-vent | |
| Electrical | ||
| Blower motor | 1/2 HP | |
| Maximum unit amps | 7.4 A | |
| Maximum fuse / breaker | 15 A | |
| Electrical supply | 115 V, 60 Hz, 1 phase (104 – 127 V) | |
| Controls | ||
| Burner staging | Single-stage (full fire on every call) | |
| Other | ||
| Burners | 3 | |
| Inducer | Single-speed | |
| Fuel | Natural gas; propane with gas conversion accessory kit | |
Variants
Sizes that share this model page. A variant gets its own page only when it has substantial independent value.
| Size | Input high | Input low | Output high | Output low | AFUE upflow | AFUE down/horiz | Width (in) | Ship wt (lb) | Cooling CFM | Motor HP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 040M17–12 | 40,000 | — | 39,000 | — | 96.5 | 95 | 17.5 | 130 | 160 – 1075 | 1/2 |
| 040M14–10 | 40,000 | — | 39,000 | — | 96 | 95 | 14.19 | 123 | 155 – 1000 | 1/2 |
Filters, serial numbers and service parts
Filter
- Field-supplied filter; certified watt data uses Carrier media filter 325531-40
Components this family's service documentation covers
- Hot-surface ignitor
- Flame sensor
- Pressure switches
- Inducer motor
- Condensate trap and drain components
- ECM blower motor
- Control board
Service-parts list source: Components documented for service in 59SC6A-01SI REV D.
Fault codes this model can show
Best for
- Compact detached houses and larger suites with modest verified design heat loss
- Budget-conscious replacements where single-stage operation and the lowest first cost matter most
- Homes with up to roughly 2.5 tons of cooling on the same ductwork
Compatible controls
- Standard 24 V thermostat terminals: G, C, W, Y, R
- On-board 3-digit status display with NFC setup via the Carrier service technician app
- EAC-1 (115 VAC), HUM (24 VAC) and 1-stage AC accessory connections
System integrations
- Air conditioner or heat pump (dual-fuel / Hybrid Heat) with a compatible thermostat
- Twinning of two furnaces with the accessory kit (selected sizes only)
- Manufactured (mobile) home applications with the MH accessory kit (selected sizes)
- Field-supplied filter or optional media filter cabinet
Manuals, codes and service
Documents
- 59SC6A Product Data — Comfort 96, Single-Stage, Multi 18-Speed ECM (59SC6A-01PD REV B)
- 59SC6A Installation, Start-up, Operating and Service and Maintenance Instructions (59SC6A-01SI REV D)
Fault codes that apply
- Code 23: pressure switch stuck closed
- Code 24: fuse fault
- Code 25: control program and configuration faults
- Code 27: super plug or control program fault
- Code 31: secondary pressure switch open or lockout
- Code 32: open main pressure switch (LPS)
- Code 33: a switch has opened in the main limit circuit
- Code 34: ignition fault or flame loss
- Code 45: control failure
- Code 46: momentary loss of power
- Code 10: rapid flash - L1 polarity fault
- Code 12: W on at power up
- Code 13: limit lockout or ignition lockout
- Code 14: flame-loss lockouts during a heat request
- Code 21: 24 VAC sensed on the gas valve when it shouldn't be
- Code 22: false flame
BC Wide service
This catalogue page is reference information for anywhere in Canada. On-site service for this model is available across Greater Vancouver from BC Wide's Burnaby base — see furnace service in Burnaby and all service areas.
Questions people ask
Why choose the single-stage Comfort 96 over the two-stage Performance 96?
The Comfort 96 costs less and is simpler. It runs at full fire on every call, so room temperatures move more than with a two-stage furnace. For a small, steady heat loss the difference is small; the trade-off is worth discussing at the assessment.
What is the difference between the 040M17–12 and the 040M14–10?
The same 40,000 BTU/h input and 39,000 BTU/h output. The 040M14–10 has the narrow 14.2-inch cabinet and slightly lower upflow AFUE (96.0% versus 96.5%), with a smaller cooling airflow range.
Considering the 59SC6A 040M17–12?
Get a published ballpark range for a supply-and-install, then a consultation to confirm sizing from a heat-loss assessment. Equipment-only pricing is not offered on this site.