Bryant model numbers use a three-digit series code instead of Carrier's letters, but they encode the same things: efficiency, staging, capacity and cabinet size. Here is how to split one apart. This guide decodes Bryant furnace and air-conditioner model numbers position by position, using the key Bryant prints on its own product data sheets.
Bryant is built by Carrier. The equipment and the nomenclature logic are parallel, so a Bryant 926T is the sibling of a Carrier 59TP6. If your unit is a Carrier, use the Carrier model number guide.
Where to Find the Bryant Model Number
On a furnace, the rating plate is inside the front door or on the side of the cabinet, usually a foil or paper label with the model (M/N) and serial (S/N) side by side. On an outdoor AC or heat pump it is on the side of the condenser near the refrigerant line connections. Copy the model number exactly as printed, including dashes: the position of each character is what carries the meaning.
Bryant Furnace Model Number Format
A typical Bryant furnace model number looks like: 926TB48080V17. Use the table to split it up:
| Position | Characters | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency family | 9 | 9 = condensing 90%+ AFUE; 8 = 80% AFUE | 9 (90%+) |
| Tier | 2 | 1 = Legacy; 2 = Preferred; 8 = Evolution | 2 (Preferred) |
| AFUE last digit | 6 | Combined with the first digit: 926 = 96%, 915 = 95%, 986 = 96% Evolution, 987 = 97% | 96% AFUE |
| Heating stages | T | S = single-stage; T = two-stage; M = modulating | T (two-stage) |
| Major series | B | Design generation letter (A, B, C...) | B |
| Cooling airflow | 48 | Nominal cooling capacity the blower supports, thousands of BTU/h: 30, 36, 42, 48, 60, 66 | 48 = up to 4 tons |
| Heating input | 080 | Thousands of BTU/h: 040, 060, 080, 100, 120 | 80,000 BTU/h |
| Blower motor | V | V = variable-speed ECM (other families use other letters) | V |
| Cabinet width | 17 | 14 = 14.2 in.; 17 = 17.5 in.; 21 = 21 in.; 24 = 24.5 in. | 17.5 in. wide |
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Common Bryant Furnace Families
The first few characters identify the family, and the family tells you the tier, staging and blower before you read a single digit of capacity.
| Model prefix | Family | Stages | Blower | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 987M | Evolution 98 | Modulating | Variable-speed | Up to 98.3% AFUE |
| 986T | Evolution 96 | Two-stage | Variable-speed | 96% AFUE |
| 926T | Preferred 96 | Two-stage | Variable-speed | 96% AFUE |
| 915S | Preferred 95 | Single-stage | Multi-speed | 95% AFUE |
| 912S | Legacy 92 | Single-stage | Multi-speed | 92% AFUE |
| 820T / 810S | Preferred / Legacy 80 | Two- / single-stage | Varies | 80% AFUE |
Bryant AC and Heat Pump Model Numbers
Outdoor units use a different string. A typical Bryant air conditioner model number looks like: 126CNA036000.
| Position | Characters | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product family | 1 | 1 = air conditioner; 2 = heat pump | 1 (AC) |
| Tier | 2 | 1 = Legacy; 2 = Preferred; 8 = Evolution | 2 (Preferred) |
| SEER | 6 | Nominal SEER digit: 3 = 13, 4 = 14, 6 = 16, 8 = 18 | 16 SEER |
| Major series | C | C = Puron (R-410A) generation | C |
| Voltage | N | N = 208/230 V single-phase | 208/230-1 |
| Variations | A | A = standard | A |
| Cooling capacity | 036 | Thousands of BTU/h; divide by 12 for tons | 36,000 BTU/h = 3 tons |
| Open / minor series | 000 | Not defined; final letter (A, B) = minor design revision | 000 |
Bryant Tonnage by Model Number
Every Bryant outdoor unit carries its cooling capacity as a two- or three-digit BTU code. Divide by 12 to get tons (1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h). Furnace numbers carry the gas input instead, so a "080" on a furnace means 80,000 BTU/h of heating, not 80,000 BTU/h of cooling.
| Model code | Size | Cooling capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 018 | 1.5 ton | 18,000 BTU/h |
| 024 | 2 ton | 24,000 BTU/h |
| 030 | 2.5 ton | 30,000 BTU/h |
| 036 | 3 ton | 36,000 BTU/h |
| 042 | 3.5 ton | 42,000 BTU/h |
| 048 | 4 ton | 48,000 BTU/h |
| 060 | 5 ton | 60,000 BTU/h |
Common Bryant outdoor families and where they sit:
| Model prefix | Family | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| 126C | Preferred 16 | 16 SEER |
| 116B / 123A | Legacy 16 / 13 | 13-16 SEER |
| 180B | Evolution 18 two-stage | 18 SEER |
| 226A / 288B | Preferred / Evolution heat pumps | 16-18 SEER |
What the Bryant Model Number Does Not Tell You
The model number says nothing about the unit's age. That is in the serial number, and Bryant has changed its serial date format more than once. Use the Bryant serial number lookup to turn a serial into a manufacture date, or the HVAC serial number decoder hub for any other brand. The model number also does not tell you whether the unit was installed and charged correctly, which matters as much as the SEER digit for what it actually costs to run.
Decoded Your Bryant? Here Is What to Do With It
If the unit is under 10 years old and the model number shows a mid- or high-efficiency family, it is usually worth repairing. If the serial dates it past 12 to 15 years for an AC or 15 to 20 years for a furnace, the capacity and cabinet width you just decoded are exactly what you need to size a replacement. A new system at the same tonnage and input will drop straight into the same duct and gas connections.
Related: Goodman vs Bryant AC comparison · how to read any furnace data label · Goodman model number decoder.
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