This Bryant furnace guide is a detailed overview of one of the industry’s top-selling brands. Bryant furnace pros and cons assist you in deciding if this is the right brand for your home. Also, efficiency ratings and performance specifications will point you to the best furnace for your needs.
We’ve completed guides on other top brands including Bryant’s parent-brand, Carrier, and Rheem, Trane and Goodman furnaces.
Bryant Furnace Overview
The company was started in 1904 by Charles Bryant. It was an independent company for decades before being bought by Carrier Corporation. Both brands are now part of United Technologies.
Bryant’s most affordable furnaces are single-stage heating models with basic-to-good efficiency. The next step is Bryant furnace models with two-stage gas valves for quieter, more comfortable heating and excellent efficiency. The top of the line Bryant furnace series features a variable-capacity gas valve and variable-speed blower to combine for precise, balanced heating and improved comfort when the system is in air conditioning mode. In short, you’ve got options to fit your budget, heating needs and performance preference. The details follow.
Bryant Furnace Technical Specifications
Bryant furnaces are made in good/better/best series, like many leading brands.
- Affordable Bryant Legacy Series furnaces are single-stage heating, two models with 80% efficiency, a 92% model and the top pick in this series, the Bryant Legacy 915S furnace with 95% AFUE (annualized fuel utilization efficiency).
- The five Bryant Preferred Series furnaces range in efficiency from 80% to 96.5%, and the top-pick 926T Bryant Preferred furnace is the only two-stage model in the series.
- There are three furnaces in the top line, Bryant Evolution, with two-stage models at 80% and 96.5% and the top-pick Bryant 987M furnace with a modulating gas valve and 98.3% efficiency.
- The Fan On Plus technology in top Bryant furnace models gives you four speeds of continuous-fan mode to maximize comfort. It also facilitates better dehumidification when the blower is assisting with air conditioning.
- Bryant makes a large lineup of thermostats to be compatible with its various furnace series. But they can also be operated by universal thermostats like White-Rodgers and Nest.
- Most Bryant furnace models are built in sizes from about 50,000 BTU to more than 150,000 BTU to serve homes of various sizes.
- Most Bryant Preferred and Evolution furnaces are equipped for dual fuel systems. So they can be installed in a split system with a heat pump instead of an air conditioner.
Pros and Cons of Bryant Gas Furnaces
Here are reasons to choose a Bryant furnace and things to consider before you do.
Bryant Furnace Pros
- The 12 different models include 80% furnaces ideal for warm climates and part-time use locations such as a vacation home and very efficient 90+ furnaces for green heating in cold regions.
- Energy Star furnaces in the Preferred and Evolution Series might be eligible for utility rebates where you live.
- Variable-speed blowers in the Evolution furnaces match the speed of the blower fan with the gas valve for quieter operation than fixed-speed motors offer and the elimination of cold blasts at the start or end of the cycle.
- Energy-saving ECM motors on Bryant Evolution models reduce electricity use compared with standard PSC blower motors.
- Bryant makes furnaces in most models in upflow, downflow and horizontal-flow profiles for installation on any level of your home.
- Bryant makes a complete line of air conditioners, heat pumps, ventilation components and thermostats. So you can assemble a complete system that will work better together than components of different brands.
- Bryant replacement oil furnaces are available where home heating oil is the preferred fuel.
- Warranties on most Preferred Series and Evolution Series furnaces cover the heat exchanger for the life of the furnace.
- Bryant is a national brand, so repair parts are readily available. Therefore, you can have your furnace repaired in any service and by any HVAC technician, not just a Bryant specialist.
- The service record for Bryant furnace models, especially in the better series, is in the top third of brands. So a Bryant furnace will last 20+ years when properly maintained.
- The Bryant furnace lineup is almost identical to the Carrier lineup, though prices are slightly lower.
Bryant Furnace Cons
- Bryant, despite being slightly more affordable than Carrier furnaces, are still more expensive than most.
- Several brands including Goodman, Amana, Maytag, Westinghouse and Heil offer better general parts warranties than Bryant’s 5-year and 10-year warranties. Some of those include entire furnace replacement for major mechanical failures.
- Bryant doesn’t allow you to know the cost of its furnaces without a sales presentation and an estimate that involves both the furnace and installation. So there is no DIY installation option for Bryant furnaces.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Bryant Furnace
While an 80% efficient Bryant furnace is affordable, it will produce higher-than-necessary heating bills where winters are cold. So buying a more expensive but more efficient furnace would be a cost-effective choice.
Unless you prefer a very efficient furnace because you’re committed to heating with less energy, then consider how long you plan to be in your home. The longer you’ll be there, the more a very efficient furnace is a cost-effective choice.
If you’re sensitive to temperature fluctuations, then a two-stage Bryant furnace will significantly reduce them. Furthermore, the modulating Bryant Evolution furnace will nearly eliminate them. Two-stage and modulating furnaces also remove more humidity from your home in summer while the AC is running. So they are a good choice in humid climates.
Here is a summary of the top Bryant furnace models by efficiency and performance:
- 80% single stage: Bryant Preferred 313A;
- 80% two stage: Bryant Evolution 315A;
- 90% and higher, single stage: 96.2% Bryant Preferred 925S and 95% Bryant Legacy 915S;
- 90% and higher, two stage: 96.5% Bryant Performance 926T;
- Modulating: 98.3% Bryant Evolution 987M.
Is a Bryant Furnace the Best Choice for You?
If you’re willing to pay 10 to 15 percent more to get one of the more reliable brands available, a Bryant furnace is a good choice. Use the information in this guide to select the model that fits your needs. Then, discuss them with a Bryant dealer and don’t forget to see the links above to compare Bryant furnace models to other top brands.
We trust this Bryant furnace buying guide has answered your questions. Please consider sharing it with friends who might be ready decide on a gas furnace. They might use this information prepared by professionals.
