It might be quite annoying when your Lennox system asks you to wait. Mainly because the unit won’t start operating until the message disappears.
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If your Lennox system says “waiting”, the first thing that you should do is wait for 5 minutes for the issue to resolve itself. In case that doesn’t happen, you can try resetting the system, changing the thermostat’s battery, reconnecting the device to your home’s Wi-Fi, and checking the voltage.
Why Does My Lennox Thermostat Say Waiting?
The majority of thermostats have a special display message that is used when a delay occurs. In the case of Lennox, the message would say ‘waiting’.
This delay is, basically, a safety feature that protects your HVAC system from short-cycling. The thermostat has compressor protection that stops the compressor from turning on too soon after shutting down.
After the compressor turns off, a timer gets activated. The thermostat will be able to turn the system on only once at least a few minutes pass.
Without such a safety feature, your heating and cooling equipment might have started to short-cycle which, in its turn, can lead to the following negative effects:
- Extremely high energy bills – the system uses the most power when it starts up. During short-cycling, this happens a lot more often than during normal operation which consequently makes your bills skyrocket.
- The unit can overheat and burn out – a lot of pressure would be placed on the compressor if your system is short-cycling. The unit will not only wear down a lot faster, but it might also overheat and break down.
Read: Lennox Furnace Problems You Need To Know
Lennox System Is Waiting Heat
In such a case, just give the system around 5 minutes. It has got its anti-short-cycling timer running and the heating system won’t be able to turn on until the timer runs out.
Why Does My AC System Says Wait?
If you are a proud owner of a Lennox air conditioner, then a ‘waiting’ indicator with a snowflake means that the next mode of operation will be cooling, but there is a compressor delay that is by default 5 minutes (you can’t adjust the waiting time).
Read: Why Lennox Furnace Is Not Staying ON
What Does Waiting for Equipment Mean?
No matter what kind of thermostat you have, the ‘waiting for equipment’ message means the same thing as ‘waiting’.
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The thermostat is simply waiting for a few minutes to pass before turning on the heating and cooling system. This is done to prevent short cycling and to give the compressor a bit more time.
If the system gets turned on too fast, the components might not be able to deal with the pressure and will get damaged.
Lennox System Says “Waiting”, How to Fix?
If a few minutes have already passed, but you’re still waiting for the system to turn on, then there might be something wrong with the voltage to the thermostat. Give the unit 15 minutes, and if the system doesn’t turn on, you can start troubleshooting the equipment.
Read: Lennox Furnace Problems
Change the thermostat’s battery
If you have a battery-operated device, then the thermostat might simply not have enough power to activate the HVAC system. Replace the old batteries and see if it helps.
Reset the system
At times, simply resetting the heating and cooling system might resolve the issue. You can use the reset button or switch the equipment off at the breaker.
Do not rush and give the system at least 30-60 seconds before turning it back on.
Re-connect to Wi-Fi
The thermostats that connect to your home’s Wi-Fi can start to malfunction if they lose connection. You can try restarting the Wi-Fi router, restarting the thermostat, and updating the Wi-Fi settings on the thermostat (you may need to update the software as well).
Check the voltage
An electrical problem might be to blame. This includes blown fuses, damaged or disconnected wires, and inconsistent voltage.
You are going to need a multimeter or voltmeter to check the voltage. Attempt doing that only if you feel confident working with electricity.
Read: Lennox Furnace Not Staying On
How Do I Reset My Lennox Air Conditioner?
One of the easiest ways to get rid of the ‘waiting’ message is to reset the air conditioner (but only after you have given the system enough time to restart and nothing happened).
- Turn off the thermostat.
- Find the breaker box and locate the breaker that is responsible for the air conditioner.
- Reset the circuit breaker.
- Wait for at least 30 seconds before flipping the breaker back.
- Turn off the thermostat and give the system around 30 minutes to get back to normal operation.
How Do You Reset a Lennox Furnace?
- Turn off the furnace.
- Remove the unit’s front panel.
- Locate the reset button.
- Push and hold the reset button for about 15 seconds.
- Turn the power back on.
Does Lennox Have a Reset Button?
You’ll usually find your furnace’s reset button on the ignition control panel. The button can look like a raised switch or an ordinary button on the side of the control panel.
You can always refer to the user’s manual which will tell you exactly where the button is located.
A lot of units might have no reset button at all. So, in these cases, you would have to head directly to the circuit breaker box.
Lennox iComfort Thermostat Problems
Your thermostat will be showing ‘waiting’ for far too long if there is an issue with the actual device.
Make sure that the thermostat’s batteries are fresh, that the breaker hadn’t tripped, and that your HVAC system had not tripped the safety switch. If the problem is not with one of these things, then the chances are high that your iComfort thermostat cannot connect to Wi-Fi.
In such a case, you can try rebooting the router.
Hint: sometimes, the thermostat might end up getting connected to the wrong network.
Why Is My Lennox Thermostat Not Working?
Another common issue with thermostats is faulty wiring. You would have to make sure that the wires are not damaged and that all of them are connected to the right port.
How to Reset Lennox Thermostat
One of the ways to reset your thermostat is to turn the device off, turn off the HVAC system at the circuit breaker, and then turn everything back on.
The thermostat’s screen will go blank for a few seconds and then the device will reboot itself.
How Do I Reset My Lennox iComfort Thermostat?
- Touch and hold the Lennox logo on the home screen for around 5 seconds.
- Once a message appears, touch ‘reset’.
- The device will reset itself.
Do Lennox Thermostats Have Batteries?
Not all Lennox thermostats require batteries. For example, Lennox Comfort S30, ComfortSense 5500, and iComfort will get connected to your home’s power supply.
Simply check the device’s manual to find out if your thermostat needs batteries.
How Do I Reset My Lennox Blower Motor?
Some furnaces have a reset button in the blower compartment.
- Turn off the power to the unit.
- Remove the blower compartment’s cover.
- Wait for the blower to completely cool off.
- Find the reset button (it’s usually located on the back or the side of the blower motor).
- Push the button back in and turn the unit on.
How Do I Get My Lennox Furnace Out of Idle Mode?
This might be because the furnace is not getting a signal from the thermostat. You should check the wiring and replace the thermostat if it’s faulty.
The unit might also not be getting enough power. Usually, changing the wire leading to the unit would fix the issue or you might have to call an expert to run a new powerline to the furnace.
Read: Lennox Furnace Error Codes – Troubleshooting Guide
How Long Does Lennox AC Last?
According to Lennox, their air conditioners typically last for 10-12 years. However, you should remember that the climate you live in and previous maintenance will affect the system’s lifespan.