Amana ACSS92 Review

DISCONTINUED: Please note, this model appears to have been discontinued by the manufacturer, although it may still be available for purchase through distributors and contractors for some time.

The ACSS92 is an entry-level furnace from Amana. It’s a single-stage, multi-speed furnace with an AFUE rating of 92 percent. It’s a fairly standard furnace and also one of Amana’s most affordable, but it does have some design features that the most basic furnaces don’t have.

This review of Amana’s ACSS92 furnace will tell you all the important things you need to know about this model. We’ll cover important features, design specifications, AFUE ratings, warranty terms, and more. 

Finally, we’ll compare the ACSS92 to three other Amana models to give you a good idea of what it does and doesn’t offer in terms of pricing and features. 

About the Amana ACSS92

Average Price (with installation): $4,200 to $4,800

Top Features

• Multi-speed motor offers improved efficiency and more consistent temperatures
• Multi-speed motors are quieter than single-speed motors
• Secondary heat exchanger improves efficiency and reduces heat loss and fuel waste
• Continuously circulates air through the filter and keeps air moving through your house

The Bottom Line

The ACSS92 is one of Amana’s most affordable furnaces because it only has a single-stage burner, an AFUE of 92 percent, and no ENERGY STAR® certification. 

Because of these basic specifications, this model is better suited for more temperate climates or smaller homes. If you have a larger home or live in a colder part of Canada, then you might want to look instead at a two-stage or modulating furnace, which would have an easier time keeping a larger home warm during a deep freeze. 

Even though the ACSS92 is quite basic, it does still have a secondary heat exchanger for improved efficiency, a multi-speed blower motor for more consistent temperatures, and a high-efficiency AFUE rating. 

In the end, the ACSS92 could save you more on annual energy bills compared to an older furnace that isn't high-efficiency. 

In Depth Review

Amana ACSS92 Product Specifications

• AFUE: 92 percent
• Burner type: Single-stage
• Blower type: Multi-speed
• ENERGY STAR rated? No
• Heating capacity: 36,800 to 110,400 BTUs

Features Overview

The ACSS92 doesn’t have any of the special features that Amana offers, like the ComfortBridge technology or CoolCloud HVAC app.

However, it is built with the same quality components that Amana has been perfecting and testing for years, and it has been designed to provide lasting and reliable performance for many years. 

Many of the components have been engineered specifically for durability, quiet operation, and dependability, so you know the ACSS92 will keep your home warm for many winters. 

Other Key Features 

• Has an insulated, heavy-gauge cabinet for quieter performance
• The painted steel cabinet is corrosion-resistant to protect important internal components for years
• Downflow and horizontal installation options
• Tubular heat exchanger design is more durable than a regular heat exchanger 
• Silicon nitride igniter wastes less fuel and is more reliable than a pilot light ignition system
• Equipped with a diagnostic control board
• Has an LED fault code display to make maintenance and troubleshooting easier

Warranty Information

The ACSS92 may be an entry-level furnace, but it’s nonetheless protected by an excellent warranty, including a lifetime heat exchanger and 10-year parts warranty. 

It lacks the unit replacement warranty that Amana offers for other furnaces, but the lifetime heat exchanger warranty could save you from having to buy a new furnace prematurely. 

To be eligible for the full warranty terms, you must register the ACSS92 within 60 days of it being installed. You also have to get it installed by a licensed HVAC professional to keep the warranty intact, and take care of the annual maintenance laid out in the owner’s manual. 

Comparable Models by Amana

Model Comparison by Price: ACSS92 versus AMVC96

The ACSS92 is one of Amana’s cheapest furnaces, but even if budget is the most important thing you're considering, there are still some financial advantages to looking at a slightly more expensive furnace. 

The AMVC96 is one of Amana’s more expensive models, typically costing between $5,000 and $5,600 to buy and install. But let’s look at what you get in exchange for the higher price:

• Two-stage burner 
• Variable-speed blower motor
• 96 percent AFUE
• Better energy efficiency and more cost savings on heating bills
• Improved humidity management
• Quieter operation
• Improved temperature consistency 
• Communicating ComfortBridge technology for better performance 
• CoolCloud HVAC app for faster service and maintenance 
• ENERGY STAR certification
• Potential eligibility for rebates that could offset the higher purchase price

Model Comparison by Features: ACSS92 versus AMVM97 

Just for fun, let’s compare one of Amana’s most basic furnaces, the ACSS92, with their top-of-the-line model. 

The AMVM97 is a modulating furnace with a variable-speed blower motor, meaning it can make incremental adjustments to the heating output to maximize energy efficiency, reduce fuel waste, and make sure your home is always at the ideal temperature. These types of furnaces are also better at managing humidity, and they're among the quietest furnaces on the market. 

The AMVM97 has an AFUE of 98 percent, offering some of the highest energy savings out there. It also has ENERGY STAR certification, and is most likely eligible for any rebate available. 

Finally, the AMVM97 has all the special features that Amana offers, including the ComfortBridge technology, the CoolCloud HVAC app, and an additional lifetime unit replacement warranty. This means if the heat exchanger ever fails, then Amana will offer to replace the entire furnace.

Model Comparison by Tier: ACSS92 versus AMES92

The ACSS92 and AMES92 are very similar furnaces in Amana’s entry-level tier. They fall into the same price range and have almost identical specifications and features. Here are the things both furnaces have in common:

• AFUE of 92 percent
• Single-stage operation
• Multi-speed blower motor
• Lifetime heat exchanger warranty and 10-year parts warranty
• Secondary heat exchanger 
• Silicon nitride ignitor
• Diagnostic control board and LED fault code display

There are two important differences between these furnaces, however. The first is that the AMES92 has an ECM blower motor, and these are more efficient, quieter, require less maintenance, and provide more consistent temperatures. The second is that the AMES92 also has an additional two-year unit replacement warranty.