This Amana furnace buyers guide is a comprehensive review you can use to compare this brand with the other furnace lines we’ve reviewed including Goodman, Trane, and Rheem.
Started in 1934 in Amana, Iowa by George Foerstner to manufacture beverage coolers, Amana quickly became one of America’s most innovative companies. After decades as an independent producer of HVAC equipment, appliances and other household goods, Amana was purchased by the Goodman Company in 1997. This was to change Goodman’s reputation as a manufacturer of cheap, unreliable goods. Then, in 2014, HVAC giant Daikin purchased Goodman and its Amana brand. Today, Amana and Goodman product lineups are very similar, as these product pages for Amana and Goodman show. The chief difference is that top Amana furnaces come with premium parts.
Amana Furnace Brand Overview
HVAC professionals generally agree that Amana is among the top ten furnace brands for quality and dependability. Like the catalogs of all the best gas furnace brands, Amana furnaces can be categorized with two approaches:
- Efficiency: 80% AFUE furnaces and 90%-plus AFUE furnaces;
- Performance: Single-stage, two-stage and modulating/variable-capacity furnaces.
Note: AFUE is the annualized fuel utilization efficiency rating. This means the percentage of heat that the burner creates and passes through into the home’s ductwork. The broad spectrum of furnace options allows you to choose the right model for cost-effective heating in your climate and/or the level of comfort control you expect.
Amana Furnace Technical Specifications
Let’s dig deeper into the Amana furnace product lineup:
- The seven Amana 80% AFUE gas furnaces waste 20% of the heat created. But this is because they have a single heat exchanger;
- These 80% furnaces are available in single-stage and two-stage models. The top pick is the two-stage Amana AMVC8/ADVC8 with a multispeed blower fan;
- Single-stage furnaces run at full capacity whenever heating. So they are loud and have the tendency to heat past the thermostat set point;
- Two-stage models like top pick AMVC96 run on low capacity most of the time to heat more quietly with evener temperatures. But they can run at 100% capacity when you want a quick rise in temperatures;
- The eight Amana furnace models with 90% AFUE efficiency and higher, including top pick AMVM97, have a secondary heat exchanger. This one transfers more heat out of the combustion gases as they are vented;
- In addition to single-stage and two-stage models, Amana makes high-efficiency furnaces with modulating gas valves. These vary the heat created in increments of about 1%. This is to deliver precise and efficient heating;
- Blower options include multi-speed fans and variable-speed fans. The fans sync with the gas valve to improve heating comfort;
- Amana furnaces are made in a wide range of capacity models. They range from about 40,000 Btu/hour to about 140,000 Btu/hour;
- Amana furnace models are available in upflow/horizontal and downflow/horizontal configuration to meet your installation requirements.
Pros and Cons of Amana Furnaces
These Amana furnace advantages and disadvantages can be compared with those from the other brands we’ve reviewed. Meanwhile, you can consider the best choice for your home or light-commercial setting.
Amana Furnace PROs:
- Amana consistently ranks among the top furnace lines for reliability in a group that includes American Standard, Trane, Carrier, Bryant, Lennox, Rheem and Ruud;
- The tubular stainless steel primary heat exchanger on the AMVM97, ACVM97, AMVC96, AMEH8 and other top models is known for its durability;
- Continuous fan mode on most models offers better air circulation and filtration and increased de-humidification when the system is in air conditioning mode;
- The ComfortNet Communications system and thermostat available with top Amana HVAC systems is designed to coordinate components to deliver the most comfortable and efficient heating and cooling;
- The 16 Amana furnace models give you good options for your climate, budget and heating needs;
- Amana makes complete HVAC systems including furnaces, heat pumps, ACs and thermostats;
- Any brand of thermostat can be used to control an Amana furnace;
- The Amana warranty on top models is one of the best in the industry. It has a heat exchanger coverage that provides for an entire new furnace if the heat exchanger fails and 10-year general parts coverage;
- Amana’s five Energy Star certified gas furnaces qualify homeowners for utility credits and/or rebates from many energy providers;
- Amana is a national brand. So, installation, maintenance and repair are available across the US. Moreover, you can easily obtain repair parts;
- While using a certified Amana repair technician ensures proper maintenance and repair, any HVAC technician can repair Amana furnace models;
- Registering an Amana furnace online to ensure full warranty coverage takes just a few minutes.
Amana Furnace CONs:
- You must register your furnace with Amana within 60 days to get full warranty coverage;
- The ComfortNet Communications system costs an extra $400+;
- Most Amana furnaces are sold through the brand’s network of dealers with costs that include installation. So comparing prices without getting in-home written estimates is difficult;
- The most affordable Amana furnace models have a lifetime heat exchanger replacement warranty. But it doesn’t cover labor costs, which can be as much as a new furnace.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing an Amana Furnace
Amana is a top-tier brand in terms of quality and durability, and its prices are higher than bargain brands. If long-term durability is important, an Amana furnace is a good choice. For lower costs for a short-term furnace, consider brands like Goodman, Payne, and Aire-Flo.
Your climate is a consideration for cost-effective equipment and heating. In short, the colder your climate is, the more it makes sense to spend the extra money on an efficient furnace. So the additional cost will recoup through lower energy bills in three to ten years, depending on your climate and the furnace. If your goal is green heating, then choosing the most efficient furnace you can afford makes sense in a cold climate. But in a warm climate, a heat pump is a more efficient way to heat than a furnace.
Make sure your furnace contractor properly sizes your furnace. If your home’s insulation now requires more or if you installed more efficient windows since you've purchased the last furnace, your new furnace should be a smaller unit because your home doesn’t require as much heat.
Final Thoughts on Amana Furnaces
To ensure the best pricing for your new furnace, get estimates in writing from several HVAC companies that understand they are competing for the sale. The quality of the installation is so important. Therefore, also check the level of training and experience the installers have before hiring a company.
Have you owned an Amana furnace? If so, do you recommend this brand? Feel free to share your comments for the benefit of other readers. And if this Amana furnace review guide has been helpful, perhaps your friends and followers on social media would appreciate it too.
Image: depositphotos.com.
