Lennox Air Conditioner Troubleshooting Guide
Did you experience a moment of panic this morning when you walked into the office, thinking you’d made a mistake and walked into a sauna instead? If your Lennox AC is not blowing air, turning on, running or otherwise working, we can help.
In our Lennox air conditioner troubleshooting guide, we’ll provide you with some potential culprits and common problems afflicting HVAC units.
Why Is My Lennox AC Not Blowing Cold Air?
Here are some Lennox air conditioner troubleshooting tricks to try when there’s no cool air to be felt for miles around:
Thermostat is Set to “On”
If you have your thermostat fan set to “on'' instead of “auto”, your fan will be running even while it's in between cooling cycles. Before calling the HVAC technician, double-check that the thermostat is set to the right temperature and that it's switched to cooling. If none of these Lennox air conditioner troubleshooting tips work, don’t completely write off the thermostat just yet. A malfunctioning sensor or damaged wiring could be compromising your AC's ability to cool.
Dirty Air Filter
An air filter clogged with dirt, dust and debris is no longer permeable, meaning air can get through it as well. If this happens, you might be completely without cold air, but it’s one of the first things to check if you notice a reduction in your unit’s cooling capacity.
Obstructed Vents
Check in and around the vents. Is there something physically blocking the openings? If so, remove the blockage and enjoy the breeze.
Power Is Off
In some instances, troubleshooting power supply issues aren’t always as easy as ensuring the power cord is plugged in and the unit’s power is switched on – although it never hurts to double-check. Sometimes, a circuit breaker trip, a blown fuse, faulty wiring and other electrical issues could be at fault.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is the magic ingredient creating cold air on hot days. In any case, if there’s a refrigerant leak, your HVAC unit won’t be able to keep up with your building’s cooling needs. If you suspect a refrigerant leak, call an authorized HVAC technician right away, as it is extremely harmful to one’s health.
Dirty Condenser Coils
Another reason you might feel less cool air than normal is from a buildup of dirt, dust and debris along the condenser coils. Regular cleaning of these coils should be addressed on the HVAC technician’s fall and spring maintenance checklist. However, if you live in a climate with high humidity, dust, temperatures or air pollution, you may need to clean the condenser coils more often.
Broken Fan Motor
If cold air is not blowing, the problem might be as obvious as the fan itself. A variety of factors might cause the fan motor to fail, the most common of which is age. However, they’ve also seen their downfall in faulty wiring or electrical components, extreme weather conditions, overheating and lack of regular maintenance.
Bad Capacitor
If your Lennox air conditioner is not turning on, your capacitor might be out of juice. For this repair, you’ll need an HVAC technician to help you out, as they’ll need to check the voltage and diagnose any other issues that might be causing your ac not to run.
Lennox AC is Leaking Water
Unless you frequently walk the perimeter of your building or get up on the roof, you might not notice the indiscriminate puddle collecting around your unit, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other signs pointing towards a leak.
For example, if you notice unexplainable coffee-colored stains on the ceiling or floor or in the armpits of your shirt, you should call your favorite HVAC technician to come check out these Lennox troubleshooting issues right away:
- Condensate line – A crack, back up or an improperly installed condensate line could be the reason why the neighborhood geese have found a new watering hole.
- Refrigerant Leak – At first glance, a puddle near your Lennox air conditioner might look like water but be more nefarious in nature. That’s why if you ever suspect or see a leak, you should never attempt to clean it up yourself.
- Condensation – A little bit of water is okay and completely normal. After all, it’s a natural byproduct of condensing. However, if you’re seeing large quantities of the stuff, it’s a good idea to get the condensate line, pump and drain pan checked for damage or clogs.
Does Lennox have a Reset Button?
No, Lennox air conditioners do not have a reset button, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reset them using other means.
How Do I Reset My Outside Lennox Air Conditioner?
Resetting your Lennox air conditioner might help resolve issues with the thermostat, sensors, leaking water and other system malfunctions.
It’s easy to do and only takes a few minutes, so you might as well try this simple Lennox air conditioner troubleshooting trick before jumping on a call with an HVAC technician. Here’s one of two ways to reset your air conditioner:
- Circuit breaker – Locate the circuit that powers your AC and flip the switch. Wait about a minute before turning it back on.
- Pressure switch – You can also reset your air conditioner by flipping the pressure switch on and off. This requires you to take off the unit’s back panel to access the pressure switch, which is located near the bottom next to the fluid supply line.