Amana Furnaces

[yankswin]

What is the quality of the Amana AMH8 80% Furance?

My deciding between Amana or York Affinty system......

[DE J-man04]

I hate to sat it again but 90% of the problem with units are not because of the name on the side its improper install HO don t go with your cheapest bid remember you get what you pay for.

[BaldLoonie]

While I would normally say Amana is the best of the 2, namely the heat exchanger, this model has the new 2 stage control which many of us think cripples the benefits of having a 2 stage furnace. This board doesn't allow a 2 stage thermostat. It uses a timer that decides on its own when to switch to high fire. It could be from 1 to 12 minutes after a call for heat starts.

In your car once it warms up, do you constantly adjust the heater between low, full blast and off? Of course not, you find a nice gentle, low setting and leave it alone and you are comfy. Most 2 stage furnaces with 2 stage stats are that way. Amana/Goodman for whatever reason, won't allow a 2 stage stat meaning in cold weather, the furnace is constantly cycling between low, high & off. Why spend the money on a 2 stage just to have that. I want a furnace that on a bitter cold morning runs & runs on low. I am more comfy with steady warmth than constant cycling. I put my 2 stage in during a bitter cold snap and had it on a single stage stat for a few days til the new one came in. That's what it did.

[jkish]

While I would normally say Amana is the best of the 2, namely the heat exchanger, this model has the new 2 stage control which many of us think cripples the benefits of having a 2 stage furnace. This board doesn't allow a 2 stage thermostat. It uses a timer that decides on its own when to switch to high fire. It could be from 1 to 12 minutes after a call for heat starts.

In your car once it warms up, do you constantly adjust the heater between low, full blast and off? Of course not, you find a nice gentle, low setting and leave it alone and you are comfy. Most 2 stage furnaces with 2 stage stats are that way. Amana/Goodman for whatever reason, won't allow a 2 stage stat meaning in cold weather, the furnace is constantly cycling between low, high & off. Why spend the money on a 2 stage just to have that. I want a furnace that on a bitter cold morning runs & runs on low. I am more comfy with steady warmth than constant cycling. I put my 2 stage in during a bitter cold snap and had it on a single stage stat for a few days til the new one came in. That's what it did.

This isn't a problem if you use the AMV80 instead of the AMH80, right?

[BaldLoonie]

The spec sheets for the AMV8 tell you to use a 2 stage stat. "Much tighter control of the temperature..."

[yankswin]

Bald....

What that be the same for the York Affinty 8T 2 stage 80% furnace?? I was
told you dont need a 2 stage stat for this furance either! Im wondering which
one, Amana or York, would be the better choice?

[BaldLoonie]

The Yorkie will allow a 2 stage stat to be used for best comfort. You don't hvae to but you kill the big benefit of the 2 stage furnace: long gentle run cycles on low in cold weather and much reduced cycles.

As far as I know, the Amana & Goodman new units are the only models that will not allow for 2 stage stat operation. To me, that's a real disappointment to an otherwise nice furnace.

To many of us, a dealer who has you use a single stage stat on a 2 stage furnace is doing you a disservice.

[RoBoTeq]

I have to disagree with baldys opinion on the hybrid two stage controls. With the thermostat controlling stages, there will always be a larger degree of temperature between low and high fire on two stage furnaces. With the algorythmic two stage control on the hybrid furnaces, the furnace calculates the degree of high/low fire needs and adjusts the time for each accordingly.

With the algorythmic hybrid controls, you eliminate the furnace operating strictly on low fire during mild days which can adversely affect the furnace. A two stage furnace that operates only on low fire for continuous periods of time is subject to damaging condensing flue gas issues. The two stage hybrid control forces the furnace into high fire periodically no matter what the conditions to eliminate condensated flue gases.

While baldy condemns the new two stage hybrid control, he thinks the Rheem/Ruud mod furnace to be the best on the market. The mod furnace operates from an algorythmic thermostat control that works primarily the same as the hybrid furnaces algorythmic control boards do.

As far as which brand is best; which brand has a "zero" failure rate for its patented heat exchanger under normal conditions since 1989? Which furnace has a lifetime replacement warranty in the event its heat exchanger ever does fail? Which brand has had a recall on furnaces within the past ten years due to heat exchanger failures?

[BaldLoonie]

If someone else came out with a furnace that didn't use a 2 stage stat, Robo would be condemning it, not defending it. But the way you defend your employer's products, I expected your response :D

So if 2 stage stats are hard on the furnace and give less control, why does the spec sheet for YOUR 2 stage variable speed models RECOMMEND it. Gee, a fixed 10 or 12 minute timer is that much different than a 1-12 minute variable timer. They both give you constant cycling in bitter weather. If it is better for comfort & the furnace, the top models shouldn't recommending a 2 stage stat and be recommending the timer instead.

Why does every other furnace on the market allow 2 stage stats?

Why do most pros on here recommend 2 stage stats?

The Mod has a stat on the wall reading the temp in the space. Why? If everything is computer controlled by algorithms, why not just use a T87 like York does with their Mod? Maybe Rheem thinks basing firing on actual conditions in the house is important.

Even human logic says long run cycles on gentle, quiet, low fire is more comfortable than constantly cycling between low, high & off in cold weather. I used a car as an example. How comfortable would you be if you had to constantly switch between low, high & off driving to work? You wouldn't. Isn't it much more comfy picking a nice medium setting and having constant gentle warmth?

Oh, I guess my Trane heat exchanger should be ruined by now. It's oversized so I lock it on low fire except warming the house up after I've been gone a while. I should have all kinds of condensation damage in the HX and b-vent. I don't. And the thing hasn't been touched in 13 years. Not even wiping off the flame rod.

I don't know, which brand has had a recall for heat exchangers in the last 10 years? Consolidated, York 80s & ICP gas packs according to the CPSC. Goodman sure should have for that fine GMP product from YOUR employer. We've changed more of them in the last 10 years than every other brand combined!

[farupnorth]

Hmm! You can go with the Amana and stock up ignitors or go with the York and pray to the "Swirlwind Gods" for good draft inducer health! ;)

[farupnorth]

The Yorkie will allow a 2 stage stat to be used for best comfort. You don't hvae to but you kill the big benefit of the 2 stage furnace: long gentle run cycles on low in cold weather and much reduced cycles.

As far as I know, the Amana & Goodman new units are the only models that will not allow for 2 stage stat operation. To me, that's a real disappointment to an otherwise nice furnace.

To many of us, a dealer who has you use a single stage stat on a 2 stage furnace is doing you a disservice.

True!
But sometimes you cannot convince the customer to pony up for a 2 stage stat so they are left with the 10 minute 1st stage cycle! :confused:

[ddp1267]

so your saying you have changed out the gmp's huh, is it the clam heatexchanger?