On Lennox variable-speed furnaces such as the SL280V family, the seven-segment display and the iComfort thermostat report faults as three-digit codes beginning with E (E201, E292 and so on). The blower codes are E201, E202, E291, E292 and E295, and they decide whether you are buying a motor or chasing an airflow or setup problem. Read those first, then the ignition, pressure switch and limit codes.
Key Takeaways
- E201 (lost communication) and E292 (unable to start) are the two codes where the blower motor or its wiring is the usual cause.
- E202 is a motor and unit-size mismatch: wrong horsepower or a wrong unit size code, not a failed motor.
- E295 means the motor tripped its internal over-temperature protector. High duct static is a common reason, so check airflow before replacing it.
- E270 to E276, E290, E291 and E292 start a one-hour soft lockout or Watchguard condition. Fix the cause, because power cycling alone will not hold.
- Older SureLight boards use LED flash patterns, not E-codes. Confirm which control your furnace has.
How Lennox Furnaces Show Codes
Communicating-enabled variable-speed models such as the SL280DFNV carry a seven-segment diagnostic LED. Lennox service literature (document 100027, 04/2024) lists the E-codes in a table, and the iComfort S30 installation manual uses the same numbers as alert codes without the E. Holding the diagnostic push button opens an error-code recall mode that stores the last 10 codes. Selecting "c" in that menu and pressing again clears them. Older SureLight boards, such as those in service literature 0222-L7, flash a red LED in two-part patterns and show no E-codes. Codes can differ by control generation, so use the table for your model.
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Blower Codes First
E201: Indoor Blower Communication Failure
The control cannot communicate with the blower motor. Lennox lists power outage, motor not powered and loose wiring as possible causes, and notes the problem may be on the control or motor side. Five-minute check: reseat the motor harness and verify line voltage at the motor. A dead motor or module is a possible cause, but a loose connector is the cheaper first test. See how to test an ECM blower motor for the power and signal sequence.
E202: Indoor Blower Motor Mismatch
The motor horsepower does not match the unit capacity code. Lennox attributes this to an incorrect appliance capacity code and says to check the unit size codes in the configuration guide, removing the thermostat while applying power and reprogramming. The motor is not the cause here. After a replacement, confirm the horsepower matches the original OEM part number.
E292: Indoor Blower Motor Unable to Start
The motor cannot start because of an obstructed wheel or seized bearings. Lennox calls for replacing the motor or wheel if the assembly does not operate or meet performance standards, and the code triggers a one-hour soft lockout that clears once the circulator starts. Five-minute check: power off, spin the wheel by hand and look for rubbing or a seized shaft. Yes, the motor is a likely cause.
E295: Indoor Blower Motor Temperature Too High
The motor tripped on its internal protector. Lennox says to check motor bearings and amps, replace the motor if necessary, and (in the iComfort alert table) check for high duct static. Clean filters and open registers before ordering. The motor is a cause only if airflow is clean.
E291, E311 and E312: Airflow Codes
E291 is heat airflow restricted below the minimum, with a one-hour soft lockout. E311 reduces the firing rate to match restricted airflow, and E312 flags reduced airflow in cooling or continuous fan mode. Lennox lists E311 and E312 as warnings. Check the filter and duct system first; the motor is rarely at fault.
Ignition, Pressure Switch and Limit Codes
| Code | Meaning (Lennox) | Blower Motor the Cause? |
|---|---|---|
| E200 | Hard lockout, rollout circuit open | No |
| E223 / E224 | Low pressure switch failed open / closed | No |
| E225 / E226 | High pressure switch failed open / closed | No |
| E227 / E228 / E229 | Low switch open in trial or run / inducer calibration failure / ignition on high fire (no action) | No |
| E240 / E241 | Low flame current in run mode / flame sensed out of sequence | No |
| E250 | Limit circuit open, 1-hour soft lockout if open more than 3 minutes | Yes, via airflow or a failed motor |
| E252 | Discharge air temperature too high | Yes, via airflow |
| E270 / E271 / E272 | Soft lockout: no flame / pressure switch opened / pressure switch cycle limit | No |
| E290 | Ignitor circuit fault, 1-hour soft lockout | No |
| E310 | Discharge air temperature sensor failure | No |
E250: Limit Switch Circuit Open
Lennox says to check the firing rate, blockage and airflow. If the limit does not close within 3 minutes, the furnace enters a one-hour soft lockout. A dirty filter or a motor running below speed are both possible causes.
E270 to E272: Soft Lockouts
E270 means the retry limit was reached with no flame current, E271 means the last retry failed on the pressure switch opening, and E272 means the retry limit was reached on a pressure switch cycle. They clear when a heat call finishes successfully. Check gas flow, the ignitor, flame sensor current and the vent.
How to Reset a Lennox Furnace
Most E-codes clear themselves once the fault is recovered or a heat call finishes. Soft lockouts last one hour. To clear stored codes, use the diagnostic button menu described above. If a code returns after a reset, the cause is still present.
Which Motor Your Lennox Furnace Uses
Lennox OEM numbers are available on several Genteq families, depending on the furnace, including ECM 3.0 and EON. Match the OEM part number on the motor, not the furnace model. Start at the Lennox replacement blower motors page. A wrong horsepower produces E202.
When to Call a Pro
Call a licensed technician for E241, E290, any gas valve work, repeat E200 rollout trips and repeat lockouts. Other brands are covered by the HVAC fault code lookup, and Trane owners can use the Trane and American Standard error codes guide.
FAQs
What does E201 mean on a Lennox furnace?
The control lost communication with the indoor blower motor. Check motor power, the harness connections and the control, then the motor.
What does E202 mean?
The blower motor horsepower does not match the unit capacity code. Verify the unit size code and the motor horsepower.
Is E292 always a bad motor?
No. It means the motor could not start, which can come from a stuck wheel, obstruction or seized bearings as well as a failed motor.
How long does a Lennox soft lockout last?
One hour for the soft lockouts in the table above. The furnace restarts if the fault has cleared.
Do iComfort thermostats show the same codes?
The iComfort alert numbers match the furnace E-codes for the codes covered here, shown without the E.
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