Bryant gas furnaces review

Bryant Gas Furnaces are a popular choice and here we review the more economical models to furnaces at a higher-end price point.

Bryant gas furnaces review
(Image: © Bryant)

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

Bryant offers a great range of gas furnaces, with plenty of options for buyers at a variety of price points, most with ENERGY STAR® certification.

Pros

  • +

    Competitively priced

  • +

    Most models ENERGY STAR® certified

  • +

    Quiet

Cons

  • -

    No extended warranty options

Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Bryant gas furnaces do come at a range of price points, but overall, they’re one of the more affordable brands with more models sitting in the mid-range price-wise with few premium models.

Bryant offers a standard warranty across its range with little in the way of options to extend them or unit replacement guarantees, even for the more expensive models. However, they’re a great mid-range option and still offer some of the best gas furnaces on the market right now. 

Bryant gas furnaces: Pricing and value 

Bryant gas furnaces are affordable and offer great value for money, offering comparatively high AFUE ratings at a mid-range price point. You’ll find more in the way of budget models compared to rival models from brands such as Trane, but fewer high-end features. Bryant’s diverse range of models fall within three series, Evolution, Preferred, and Legacy. 

The Legacy Series comprises entry-level models targeted at new homeowners and those looking for a budget-friendly option. These models are still ENERGY STAR® certified and offer a 10-year warranty on parts, so they can help keep energy costs low and still heat your home for a long time.

The Preferred Series comes with more useful features than the Legacy Series, such as self-diagnosis and humidity control, balancing the basic good quality of the budget series with some of the features of Bryant’s premium gas furnace models, which means this range offers great value for money. 

The best Bryant gas furnace models can be found in its Evolution Series. Unsurprisingly, these models are a bit pricier than those in the Legacy and Preferred Series, but they’re still more budget-friendly than the premium models of competitor gas furnace brands. The Evolution Series models come complete with innovative features that give you more accurate control of your home’s heating.

Prices for Bryant gas furnaces vary between about $2,300 and $4,300 including installation or between $800 and $2,500 for the unit alone.

Bryant gas furnaces: Models and choice 

Bryant offers a good range of gas furnaces, with desirable features across its budget, mid-range, and higher-end ranges. The Evolution Series models don’t quite measure up to the premium offerings of competitor brands, but they’re still full of great features that warrant a higher price point than the Preferred and Legacy Series models.

There are four models In Bryant’s Evolution Series of gas furnaces, the 987M, 986T, 880TA, and 830CA. These models vary in gas valve type, from single and two-stage to modulating, and feature AFUE ratings between 80% and an impressive 98.3% for the 987M. A gas furnace has a great AFUE rating if it’s rated at 90% or above, while below 70% is considered a low rating.

Bryant gas furnaces review

(Image credit: Bryant)

Bryant’s Preferred Series of gas furnaces features three models, the 926T, 820SA, and 820TA. As the mid-range series, these models are a good balance of extra features and moderate price points, making them great value for money. There may only be three models in this range, but between them, they offer a choice of gas valve types, good to great AFUE ratings, and enhanced summer humidity control.

The Legacy Series is Bryant’s entry level range of gas furnace heaters, offering a more limited range of features but at a more budget-friendly price point. It’s the Series with the most models, including the 915S, 912S, 830SA, 810SA, 800SA, and 935SA.

Bryant gas furnaces: Features

Overall, Bryant gas furnaces feature good to great AFUE ratings and most are ENERGY STAR® certified, making them energy efficient and helping lower energy bills. 

The Evolution Series provides the most feature-packed models, from variable speed airflow to Perfect Heat® Plus technology to help keep your home comfortable year-round. The 987M features a modulating gas valve type, while the 986T and 880TA both use two-stage gas valves and the 830CA uses a one-stage gas valve. Furnaces with one-stage gas valves operate on a simple on/off system, while two-stage systems can switch between high flame, low flame, or off. Modulating systems tend to be more energy-efficient and they have variable flame levels, enabling them to keep your home’s temperature within a degree or two of the thermostat target.

The Preferred Series features a mix of models featuring one or two-stage gas valve type models, while the Legacy Series models all use a one-stage gas valve type.

The Preferred Series also offers enhanced summer humidity control, as well as models with insulated cabinets for quieter operation. Perfect Heat™ technology means these models can adjust system operation to changing conditions, while Fan On Plus™ technology allows you to choose the speed of continuous fan operation.

Should you buy a Bryant gas furnace?

If you’re looking to splash out on a premium gas furnace, then a Bryant model may not offer enough in the way of features for you. But if you have a more modest budget and are looking for great value, then there are plenty of Bryant gas furnace models that will fit the bill. Across all three series, you’ll find plenty of different options, which means there will be a Bryant gas furnace that fits your home’s needs.

Stevie Keen
Contributor

Stevie is a freelance digital consultant, copywriter and photographer. She's worked for brands like the Radio Times and Wallpaper*, and has also written for Amateur Photographer, Clash Magazine and Flash Pack, amongst others. Stevie's bylines cover all things related to the home - from air conditioning units to refrigerators to gas grills (and everything in between).