ApplianceAdvisor Appliance Report AMANA

The New Appliance Report from ApplianceAdvisor.com

AMANA (a division of Maytag/Whirlpool and or a brand name licensed for use by Haier!!)
800-843-0304
Maytag's brand of upper middle-end refrigerators and some other stuff by Haier

2006 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Bye Bye American
We learned that the Amana brand was licensed by Maytag to Haier for refrigerators of 13' cu ft or less and, in fact, Haier would have been renting space secretly within the Maytag KBIS booth if not for Maytag's KBIS cancellation Maytag's agreements with Daewoo and Haier, which were effectively lies to the consuming public, convince us that their takeover by Whirlpool, comes not a moment too soon.
The "Haier" Amana products are marked by cheap imported apartment fridges and wine coolers.
-Higher end features on apartment size units. Spill saver, textured shelves.
-Built-in Wine Cooler with 50 bottle capacity for around $1000.
-44 bottle $550 black glass
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006amana2.jpg
http://www.applianceadvisor.com/2006Appliancephotos/2006amana3.jpg

2005 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
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2004 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
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2003 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
New Free Standing Gas and Electric Ranges
Jointly launched by Amana and Maytag, these new freestanding 30" ranges replace Amana's "Big Oven" line of ranges. They feature a 5.22 cu ft oven, a U-shaped upper rack for easy lower rack access, a favorite cycle programmable pre-set, and self-clean. Electric tops feature warming zone, while bottom warming drawer is an option
MSRP from $450 to $1050, about $100 to $200 less than the "Big Oven". To be available September, 2003
http://63.111.60.134/images/amana_gas_range_set_lo.jpg

Common Cents Reduction
The very silly Messenger refrigerator is "launched" again, but the MSRP is reduced $200 - $400 to a new MSRP of $1700 - $1800. We hope our 2002 rant had something to do with it.

Amana Expands Easy Reach Line
They have added a 25 cu ft version of the Easy Reach bottom mount refrigerator line which includes several interesting freezer features and a silly and energy wasteful water dispenser located inside. MSRP $1400 - $2000
http://www.amana.com/images/US%20English/Refrigeration/arb2517cw-cob-open-370.jpg

Prototype Wall Ovens
Amana showed a prototype 30" wall oven which is expected to be available in the Fall. The unit features a warming program which kicks in when the cooking is complete, a favorites button for owner programming, and an automatic convection calculator, which converts standard cooking times to convection cooking times. These units sound very similar to the Jenn-Air ovens launched this year

2002 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
Amana Acquired by Maytag
They are both in Iowa, Maytag needs fridges, Amana needed investment.......why didn't we think of this before? This is a bright day for the Amana brand.

The Big Oven in a 30" Range
Amana claims that no one has an oven larger than the Big Oven in its 30" range. Available in ( 5) electric and ( 2) gas options, the oven measures up to 5.1 cu ft.. Amana claims that the Big Oven features electronic controls, largest oven window in a 30" range, new door hinges, sealed burners and a simmer system for gas models. Some gas units have full surface grates. Electric units have hidden bake elements, ceramic glass tops, some come with a 100W warming zone. All have self-clean and some have convection. Retails from $700 - $1250.
http://www.amana.com/cooking/gasrange.html
http://www.amana.com/cooking/elecrange.html

Downdraft Cooktop
This new cooktop with downdraft venting is specially designed to allow installation over a 30" oven. Typically this is an impossible installation as you can't have downddraft ducts and ovens in the same place. The Amana cooktop can be vented in various directions while still providing enough space for the oven.
http://www.amana.com/cooking/acc3660a.html
http://www.amana.com/cooking/eleccooktops.html

Fridge with Open Door Water Dispenser
Why would Amana's new Easy Reach Refrigerator place a water dispenser that requires opening the ENTIRE refrigerator door in order to dispense water? Is it possible that it is more energy efficient to place the dispenser inside instead of through the door as in every other water dispenser in America? We would guess that energy efficiency would be greater on the Amana product only if it were never used. Amana claims that the dispenser is good for glasses and pitchers....but then why not just leave the pitcher in the fridge? Also includes a water filter. Retails at $1499 to $2249 depending upon size.
http://www.amana.com/refrigerators/ARB2259C.html This site shows one of the many models with this feature.

Many Dumb Ideas all in One Refrigerator
The new Amana "Messenger Refrigerator Features Practical Technology" they say, but we wonder. Here's what it does:
-Leave voice messages for other household members. Please!
-Time to change water and air filter warning: This is a good idea, but poorly conceived. Filter warning is based on time not filter dirt. Is all US water the same?
-Electrical Outage Indicator: Sounds good, but actually it is pretty silly. It tells you the length of time of the outage "so you don't have to guess whether the food is safe to eat". Isn't the important information the temperature reached inside the fridge? We recommend that you buy a plug in clock instead.
Messenger refrigerators are 26 cu ft, with Energy Star Rating, and retails from $1900 to $2200. All of these features must cost only a wee bit more than a talking greeting card, but the fridge is suspiciously similar to the KidZone fridge below which sells for $1400. Is this a $500 feature?
http://www.amana.com/refrigerators/ARS2667B.html

KidZone Refrigerator
The KidZone Refrigerator features a couple of cute low level shelves for kiddy access to juice boxes. Does it rate naming the fridge? Why is this a separate SKU at all, why not a simple accessory kit? The features and the 26 cu ft size tell us that this is nearly the same as the Messenger fridge, but without the Messenger dopiness. Retails for $1400. Check those features closely before you spend.
http://www.amana.com/refrigerators/ARS266KB.html

2001 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
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2000 Kitchen & Bath Show Introductions
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