Amana AMVC960803BN Error Code EE1: Low Stage Pressure Switch Stuck Closed

What Does Code EE1 Mean?

On the AMVC960803BN, the integrated control module performs a safety self-check at the very start of each heating cycle. Before the induced-draft blower spins up, the low-stage pressure switch contacts are supposed to be OPEN. Code EE1 is set when the control instead sees that circuit already CLOSED at rest — the switch is reporting draft that cannot physically exist yet, so the control refuses to open the gas valve and the furnace fails to operate.

This is a two-stage, variable-speed condensing furnace, so Amana uses a separate pressure switch for each firing rate: a low-stage switch and a high-stage switch, each proving that the inducer is pulling enough negative pressure to vent that stage's combustion gases safely. EE1 is specifically the low-stage switch failing its at-rest check. The most common reasons are pressure-switch contacts that are physically sticking closed or a short in the pressure-switch wiring that fakes a closed circuit.

EE1 is the mirror image of code EE2 (Low Stage Pressure Switch Open), where the same low-stage switch will not close to confirm draft once the inducer is running. It is also the low-stage counterpart of EE8 (High Stage Pressure Switch Stuck Closed). Unlike the high-stage codes EE8/EE9 — which only disable high-fire and let the furnace keep heating on low stage — EE1 blocks the low stage the furnace normally starts on, so you get no heat at all until it is resolved.

What You'll Notice

• No heat at all — the furnace will not light even though the thermostat is calling
• The dual 7-segment display reads EE1
• The inducer may not start its normal pre-purge, or the sequence stops immediately at startup
• The blower and burners never come on; only the control and display appear active
• The code can appear intermittently and then lock the furnace out after repeated attempts

Common Causes

How This Is Diagnosed

A technician first confirms the reading is real rather than a wiring fault: with no call for heat and the inducer off, the low-stage pressure switch should read open. They meter across the switch contacts and along the pressure-switch harness back to the control board, looking for a short or a pinched wire that would make the circuit appear closed.

If the wiring is sound, attention moves to the switch itself. The technician checks whether the low-stage switch contacts are physically sticking closed and compares the switch's rated set point to the model's specification. A switch that will not open at rest is replaced with the correct Amana part; a wiring short is repaired. This work involves the venting-safety circuit and is not a homeowner task.

When to Call a Professional

This code involves components that are not homeowner-serviceable, so have a licensed HVAC technician diagnose and repair it. Keep in mind:

• The display shows EE1 and the furnace produces no heat
• EE1 clears after a power reset but returns on the next cycle
• The code appears alongside other pressure-switch codes such as EE2, EE8, or EE9
• You suspect rodent-chewed or pinched wiring near the pressure switch or inducer

✓ Verified against manufacturer service manual — March 2026