I purchased a Bryant +90 in Dec. of 2000. Since then they have replaced the inducer 3 times, the igniter once, and made other service calls for problems (all under 5 yr warranty). At least 3 times this winter/spring I have called them because the furnace fails to come on. Of course there's always a bill to be paid. I don't mind a bill as long as the problem is fixed. So, furnace is now acting up again, not coming on even tho' thermostat is set for it to come on. (Fortunately, it's now April in MN, not Dec or Jan like previously.) Today the service man said: replace circuit board... 650 dollars installed.

Is it time to cut my losses, look at something else? The govt offers a tax credit of 1/3 of installed price. I would be 'saving' the 650 on this bill (and who knows when the furnace will develop problem again?)

Final question: Are all 'high tech' furnaces like this? Is there another brand that has a better record? My AC is a Lennox, wondering about that brand? Someone said Carrier and Bryant are the same.

It is true that Bryant and Carrier are the same in different cabinets. It is unusual for you to have that much trouble with a Bryant furnace but things do happen. But I really do question about the inducer, they do not give much trouble at all.

I would sure get some bids for a new furnace, with the tax credit and the $650 that you would save would go a long way on the purchase of a new furnace. If you do go that way I would ask about a 10 year parts and labor warranty.

All of the high efficiency furnaces have their little quirks and I an not sure that you ever get to the point that you are saving money by installing one of them. The 80% furnace is a better buy in my mind but I live in Texas and the weather is much different.

A Lennox,, is the last furnace I would look into, the parts are high and hard to find,even the lennox dealers have to wait for the parts to get shipped in,, a few days later, is a few days you are without heat

York has the highest effenciant furnace on the market. Carrier and bryant are the same unit.
And as statyed abouve lennox are very hard to get parts for. $650 for a contol board seams way over priced. What state are you in? You can by that board for around $295 so the are charging you almost $400 to install it.

I'm from Minnesota, so a reliable furnace is a must. This problem occurred during the month of January - had to go without heat one night... used gas fireplace and a fan to keep warm. So, I really want this problem 'solved'
One of their 'attempts' at fixing the problem in January was to change the way the vents stick out of my house. They said that since it vented towards the north (into north winds) it should be reconfigured. I pointed out that the back of my house also faced north when they originally installed the venting. Of course they still charged me 107 bucks for the 'change'

Any opinions about trane furnaces?

Trane, and american standard are the same. You can get info on them at home depot.