Limited inventory: Please note, this model has been marked as having limited inventory by the manufacturer, although it may still be available for purchase through distributors and contractors for some time.

The AMES96 from Amana is a single-stage furnace that’s paired with a few more sophisticated design features, including a secondary heat exchanger and multi-speed ECM blower motor. 

Although it has a more basic burner, the additional features allow it to achieve a high-efficiency AFUE rating of 96 percent, meaning $0.96 of every dollar you spend on heating bills actually goes to heating your home. 

This Amana AMES96 model review will cover all the important details about the furnace, including its specifications, design and technological features, warranty terms, and price range. To help you decide if it’s a good choice for an upgrade, we’ll also compare it to three other Amana furnace models.

About the Amana AMES96

Average Price (with installation): $4,800 to $5,400

Top Features

• Backed by an excellent warranty
• Has a secondary heat exchanger and ECM blower for improved efficiency
• Wastes less fuel and loses less heat than a non-condensing furnace
• ECM blower needs less maintenance and operates more quietly than standard blower motors
• Equipped with self-diagnostics to make maintenance and repairs faster and easier
• LED fault code display facilitates troubleshooting and diagnostics
• ENERGY STAR® qualifying high-efficiency performance
• Provides continuous circulation and filtration of air 

The Bottom Line

The AMES96 is a mid-range furnace with a high-efficiency rating, but it’s not the most powerful furnace out there. In fact, the single-stage burner makes this model better suited to smaller homes or slightly milder climates. 

Nonetheless, the AMES96 will likely save you plenty on annual heating bills compared to a less efficient older furnace, and the ENERGY STAR certification means you can trust that this furnace delivers reliable and efficient performance. 

Plus, Amana provides their own assurances about the reliability and durability through their industry-leading warranty that protects your investment for the entire lifetime of the furnace. 

In Depth Review

Amana AMES96 Product Specifications

• AFUE: 96%
• Burner type: Single-stage
• Blower type: Multi-speed ECM
• ENERGY STAR rated? Yes
• Heating capacity: 38,440 to 115,320 BTUs

Features Overview

The AMES96 doesn’t have some of the extra technological features that other mid-range and premium Amana furnaces have. Those features include the communicating ComfortBridge technology and the CoolCloud HVAC app. 

However, the AMES96 does have all the design features that make Amana furnaces reliable, durable, efficient, and quiet.

Other Key Features

• Quieter operation thanks to the insulated cabinet and sound-isolated blower assembly
• Insulated cabinet also reduces air leaks and heat loss
• Heavy-gauge steel cabinet dampens noise and protects important internal components
• Cabinet and components are further protected by the durable finish 
• Reliable silicon nitride igniter eliminates maintenance problems and fuel waste associated with pilot lights 
• Has a special tubular heat exchanger that increases durability 
• Has an induced-draft blower that’s quieter and more efficient than natural draft furnaces

Warranty Information

Amana has one of the best warranties in the HVAC business, and the AMES96 is protected by three separate warranties:

• A 10-year parts warranty
• A lifetime heat exchanger warranty
• A lifetime unit replacement warranty

The unit replacement warranty means Amana will offer to replace the entire furnace with a new one if the heat exchanger ever fails. 

Amana requires registration before they’ll provide this full warranty coverage. Once the AMES96 is installed, you have 60 days to register it online with Amana, otherwise you’ll lose some of the warranty coverage. 

Comparable Models by Amana

Model Comparison by Price: AMES96 versus ACVC96

The ACVC96 is a more advanced mid-range model than the AMES96, so it’s also more expensive, running between $5,000 and $5,600. But for the extra money, you do get some additional design and technological features that could be well worth the price. 

The ACVC96 is a two-stage furnace, so it can run at a lower speed most of the time to maintain the temperature in your home, and kick into the higher gear when those cold snaps hit. In other words, this furnace will be much more capable of keeping a larger home warmer through colder winters. 

This furnace also has Amana’s ComfortBridge technology and CoolCloud HVAC app. The ComfortBridge technology improves efficiency and operation by allowing components to communicate with the thermostat, and the app is for contractors, and it makes maintenance and installation easier. 

Finally, the ACVC96 also has a more powerful variable-speed blower motor. Like the two-stage burner, this means the motor can operate at incremental speeds to provide consistent heat and circulation without wasting energy. 

Thanks to the two-stage burner and variable-speed blower, the ACVC96 will be quieter and more efficient than the AMES96. It could also save you more money over time on energy bills, and it will be better at managing humidity in your house. 

Model Comparison by Features: AMES96 versus AMVM97

Amana’s AMVM97 is their most advanced, efficient, and sophisticated furnace. It has a modulating burner, variable-speed blower motor, 98 percent AFUE, and ENERGY STAR certification.

Plus, it comes with all the same great design features as the AMES96 (secondary heat exchanger, self-diagnostics, sound reducing features, etc.) as well as Amana’s premium features: ComfortBridge, CoolCloud, and compatibility with the ComfortNet smart thermostat.

Model Comparison by Tier: AMES96 versus AM9S96-U

The AM9S96-U is in the same tier and price range as the AMES96, but it has one important feature that the AMES96 lacks: it has a special premix burner and is certified as an ultra-low nitrogen oxide emissions furnace. This means it’s a more environmentally friendly choice that could help to reduce your home’s carbon footprint.

Beyond that, the two furnaces are virtually identical. They have the same burner and blower type, AFUE rating, ENERGY STAR certification, warranties, and other specifications and features.

Something else to keep in mind is that the AM9S96-U hasn’t been discontinued like the AMES96, so it’s a great alternative if you can’t find stock for the limited inventory furnace.

The AMES96-U is one of Amana’s mid-range furnaces. Although it only has a single-stage burner, it does have a special burner design that’s better for the environment because it emits ultra-low levels of nitrogen oxide. 

It also has a secondary heat exchanger and multi-speed ECM blower motor that give it an ENERGY STAR® qualified 96 percent AFUE. 

In this Amana AMES96-U model review, we’ll discuss all the features, specifications, technologies, and warranties that this furnace has to offer. We’ll also compare it to three other Amana furnaces to give you a good idea of how the AMES96-U stands up to others in terms of price and features. 

About the Amana AMES96-U 

Average Price (with installation): $4,800 to $5,400

Top Features

• Quiet operation
• Excellent warranty 
• Ultra-low NOx emissions
• Secondary heat exchanger 
• ECM blower motor
• Durable and reliable components
• High-efficiency operation
• Provides continuous air circulation

The Bottom Line

This is a great furnace for any Canadian homeowner who wants to do more to help the environment. It meets strict air quality regulations because of the ultra-low NOx emissions, and it will also save you money on energy bills because of the high-efficiency 96 percent AFUE. 

The AMES96-U isn’t the most sophisticated furnace because it has a less powerful single-stage burner, and this means it might not be equipped to heat a large home in parts of Canada that experience long, cold winters. 

However, it does have some great features, like the condensing operation and the multi-speed ECM blower motor, that make it a little more advanced than just a basic furnace.  

In Depth Review

Amana AMES96-U Product Specifications

• AFUE: 96%
• Burner type: Single-stage
• Blower type: Multi-speed ECM
• ENERGY STAR rated? Yes
• Heating capacity: 38,400 to 76,800 BTUs

Features Overview

There are lots of things to love about the AMES96-U, including the quiet operation. This is thanks to things like the insulated, heavy-gauge cabinet, the quieter ECM blower motor, the sound-isolated blower assembly, and the quiet induced-draft blower.

It has also been designed to provide lasting and reliable performance thanks to quality components that have been tested for years. 

For example, this furnace is equipped with a secondary heat exchanger made of a special metal, super-ferritic stainless-steel, that’s better at withstanding high temperatures and resisting corrosion. Similarly, the primary heat exchanger is made with a durable design and heavy-duty stainless steel.

Other Key Features

• The cabinet has a durable finish to protect major components for years
• The silicon nitride igniter doesn’t waste fuel the way a pilot light does, and it’s more reliable
• Has a self-diagnostic control board that monitors for problems
• LED fault code display makes troubleshooting and repairs easier
• The thermally insulated cabinet reduces air leaks and heat loss
• Versatile installation applications 
• Equipped with a premix burner that reduces emissions

Warranty Information

The AMES96-U is backed by the longest warranty Amana offers, and that includes a:

• Lifetime heat exchanger warranty
• Lifetime unit replacement warranty
• 10-year parts warranty

The parts warranty will cover functional components that aren’t the heat exchanger, and the unit replacement warranty means that Amana will offer you a brand new AMES96-U if the heat exchanger fails during the life of the furnace. 

If the warranty is important to you, then make sure you register the furnace within 60 days of installation to get these full terms. Otherwise, the warranty coverage will be shorter. 

Similarly, be sure to have the AMES96-U installed by a professional, and take care of annual maintenance to avoid invalidating your warranty. 

Comparable Models by Amana

Model Comparison by Price: AMES96-U versus AMVM97

The AMVM97 is the most expensive model in Amana’s line, so compared to the AMES96-U, you do have to have a larger budget. On average, it costs about $5,500 to $6,100 to buy and install the AMVM97.

There are several reasons why you might want to invest in the more expensive model, including the modulating burner and variable-speed blower motor. This means the furnace can operate at very low speeds and make incremental adjustments to the heating output as necessary to keep your home at the perfect temperature while using as little energy as possible. 

Modulating furnaces are the most efficient, provide the most consistent temperatures, and are the quietest. Plus, this model comes with all of Amana’s special technologies.

The AMVM97 has an AFUE of 98 percent, it’s ENERGY STAR certified, and the high-efficiency rating and modulating operation mean it will likely be eligible for any rebate out there. Not only can you save on the purchase price through rebates, but you can also save more on annual heating bills thanks to the more efficient operation compared to the AMVM97.

Model Comparison by Features: AMES96-U versus ACVM97

The ACVM97 isn’t Amana’s top-of-the-line furnace, but it is a top-tier model and on par with the premium furnace in most ways. 

The ACVM97 is a modulating, variable-speed furnace with an AFUE of 97 percent and ENERGY STAR certification. It will be eligible for all the same rebates as the top-of-the-line model, and has many of the same things to offer, like humidity control, temperature consistency, lower heating bills, and quieter operation. 

The ACVM97 also has the ComfortBridge technology and CoolCloud HVAC app. The former improves efficiency and operation by allowing the thermostat to communicate with major components, and the app helps contractors with maintenance and installation.

Model Comparison by Tier: AMES96-U versus AMEC96

The AMEC96 is in the same mid-range tier as the AMES96-U, but it has some things to offer that the AMES96-U doesn’t, and vice versa.

Namely, the AMEC96 has a more efficient two-stage gas valve, which can cost less to operate. Moreover, these types of furnaces are better equipped at warming larger homes, even in colder climates. They also operate quieter than single-stage furnaces, they provide more consistent temperatures, and they deal with humidity better. 

However, the AMEC96 doesn’t have some things that the AMES96-U has, including the ultra-low NOx emissions rating and the heat exchanger warranty.