Amana ACEC96 Review

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.

A two-stage, multi-speed gas furnace, the Amana ACEC96 is a unit that comes with a tubular stainless-steel heat exchanger and promises high-efficiency performance. It also comes with a lifetime warranty protection plan as well as a ten-year warranty on parts.

The goal of this Amana ACEC96 model review is to help you decide if it’s the right furnace for your home.

To help you determine this, we’ll talk about the ACEC96’s features, price range, warranty details, specifications, and technologies, and then we’ll compare it with three other Amana furnaces based on features, price, and tier.

About the ACEC96

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

Top Features

• A sound-isolated blower assembly and heavy-gauge steel cabinet means it operates very quietly, letting you enjoy comfortable, noise-free heating
• Offers a lifetime warranty
• A multi-speed ECM motor that adjusts airflow during moderate demand and reduces energy consumption
• A secondary heat exchanger for better efficiency and reduced fuel waste

The Bottom Line

As a mid-range unit, the ACEC96 comes with a great warranty and useful features at a good price. Its ENERGY STAR® certification means you’ll be saving money in the long run and reducing your ecological footprint.

This unit could potentially be eligible for rebates because of the two-stage operation, high AFUE, and ENERGY STAR certification, which could help make it more affordable for families with moderate budgets who still want a reliable, efficient, and high-performing furnace.

In Depth Review

Product specifications:

• AFUE: 96 percent
• Burner type: Two-stage
• Blower type: Multi-speed
• ENERGY STAR certified: Yes
• BTU input: 40,000 - 100,000
• BTU output: 38,400 - 96,000
• Sub-models available: 0403BNA, 0603BNA, 0803BNA, 1005CNA

Features Overview

The ACEC96’s high AFUE means 96 cents of every energy dollar will be converted into heat for your home. That means you could potentially save a great deal on your monthly energy bills over the years, especially if you're upgrading from an older furnace with a lower efficiency rating.

Part of the ACEC96’s efficiency comes from the two-stage operation and multi-speed blower, which allow the furnace to operate at a lower speed most of the time. This maintains the temperature of your home without wasting energy. At the same time, the ACEC96 can kick into the higher stage when necessary to combat drops in temperature and still keep your house warm.

Other Key Features

• The ACEC96 has a self-diagnostic control board that monitors operation continuously, ensuring reliable operation for years to come
• Should a problem arise, the unit will give you feedback through a flashing LED
• The silicon nitride igniter means the furnace doesn’t rely on a pilot light that can waste fuel and increase maintenance demands
• Highly durable protection from the heavy-gauge steel cabinet, which is resistant to corrosion and will safeguard the essential components of your unit
• The thermally insulated cabinet means that your unit can maximize heat transfer efficiency and reduce air leaks while lowering blower noise

Warranty Information

Should the heat exchanger ever fail, Amana will provide you with a new furnace at no cost through the lifetime unit replacement warranty. You also get another layer of protection from the lifetime heat exchanger warranty.

The ten-year limited warranty applies to all other parts of the furnace, so should any part stop functioning, you can receive a repair or replacement. Extended service plans are also available.

To receive the lifetime unit replacement and 10-year parts warranties, you have to register the furnace with Amana within 60 days of installation. An unregistered ACEC96 will still be covered under a warranty, but it will expire sooner.

Comparable Models

Amana is a trusted brand with lots of high-quality furnaces to choose from. Be sure to check out our website for details on other Amana models. If you’re looking for comparable models to look at, here are some.

Model Comparison by Price: AM9S92

The AM9S92 is an entry-level Amana furnace, so it’s going to cost less, coming in around $3,000 to $5,000 with installation. But there are quite a few trade-offs with the lower price, including that the AM9S92 only has a single-stage burner.

That means it will be noisier and less efficient, so you'll save less year over year on heating bills. The AM9S92’s single-stage burner also isn't as good at keeping larger homes warm or at getting rid of hot/cold spots.

Another important thing to know about the AM9S92 is that it doesn’t meet the Canadian government’s new efficiency minimum of 95 percent. Unless you can find a model that was manufactured before July 2019, then this Amana furnace might not be an option.

Model Comparison by Features: ACVM97

If you’re considering spending more and venturing into the premium range tier of furnaces from Amana, then the ACVM97 is a good option to consider.

With an excellent 97% AFUE rating, you’ll be saving more money and getting a higher efficiency. The ACVM97 also features Amana’s ComfortBridge and CoolCloud technology, so the unit can provide you with comfortable heating and quick diagnostics should any issues arise.

The ACVM97 also has an even more advanced modulating burner, which means instead of having just two heating stages, it can modulate its heating output incrementally for even bigger energy savings and more comfort.

Model Comparison by Tier: ACVC96

With a 96% AFUE rating and similar features, the ACVC96 is a solid and reliable unit.

The added bonus it has over the ACEC96 is its integration with Amana’s ComfortBridge and CoolCloud technology. These two features give the unit a technological edge in gathering data to make automatic adjustments and enabling qualified technicians to diagnose the system quickly and accurately.

It also has a superior variable-speed blower for improved airflow, temperature consistency, and energy savings.