❄️Air Conditioner

ALERT 81

Lennox · XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner

Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner ALERT 81 Error Fix: High Limit Switch Open — Furnace

Furnace high-temperature limit switch has tripped. Equivalent to LED blink code 7 FLASHES. Same causes and remedies: check filter, airflow, blower operation. The thermostat displays additional information including furnace fault history.

critical2 fixes available

Quick Answer

Error ALERT 81 on the Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner means: High Limit Switch Open — Furnace. The top-ranked community fix is “Test and Replace the High Limit Switch” (medium difficulty, ~45 min, DIY cost: $10-$20). 2 community-ranked fixes available below.

Published February 2026 · 2 fixes · air conditioner

Content is based on manufacturer service documentation, community repair experience, and OEM technical bulletins. Always verify with your owner's manual.Learn about our editorial standards.

When to Call a Professional

While many air conditioner repairs can be done safely at home, consider hiring a qualified technician if:

The repair involves electrical wiring, gas lines, or refrigerant
You've tried the top-ranked fix and the error persists
You smell gas, see sparking, or notice water leaking
The repair requires specialized tools you don't have
Your appliance is still under manufacturer warranty

Average professional repair cost for this issue: $120-$200.

Other Lennox Models with Error ALERT 81

XC21 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 21 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner

air_conditioner · 2 fixes

XP21 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 20 SEER Heat Pump

heat_pump · 2 fixes

XP25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection Variable-Capacity Heat Pump

heat_pump · 2 fixes

Other Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner Error Codes

1 FLASH YELLOW

High Pressure Switch Open

2 fixes

2 FLASHES YELLOW

Low Pressure Switch Open

2 fixes

3 FLASHES YELLOW

Compressor Thermal Overload

2 fixes

4 FLASHES YELLOW

Short-Cycle Protection

2 fixes

ALERT 1

Communication Loss — Outdoor Unit

2 fixes

ALERT 11

High Pressure Protection — Outdoor Unit

2 fixes

ALERT 12

Low Pressure Protection — Outdoor Unit

2 fixes

ALERT 14

Compressor Discharge Temperature High

2 fixes

People Also Ask About Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner Error ALERT 81

What does error code ALERT 81 mean on a Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner?

Error code ALERT 81 on the Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner means: High Limit Switch Open — Furnace. Furnace high-temperature limit switch has tripped. Equivalent to LED blink code 7 FLASHES. Same causes and remedies: check filter, airflow, blower operation. The thermostat displays additional information including furnace fault history.

How do I fix error code ALERT 81 on my Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner?

The most successful fix is "Test and Replace the High Limit Switch" (medium difficulty, ~45 minutes). Estimated DIY cost: $10-$20. HomeMD has 2 community-ranked fixes for this error.

Is error code ALERT 81 on a Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner serious?

This error is rated critical severity. It is generally not urgent and can often be resolved with a simple DIY fix.

Can I fix Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner error ALERT 81 myself?

Yes — the top-ranked community fix ("Test and Replace the High Limit Switch") is rated medium difficulty and takes about 45 minutes. Tools needed: T20 Torx screwdriver, Multimeter, Non-contact voltage tester.

How much does it cost to repair Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner error ALERT 81?

DIY cost: $10-$20. Professional repair typically costs $120-$200. Many homeowners save money by trying the top-ranked community fix first.

What other error codes does the Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner have?

The Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner has 8 other known error codes, including: 1 FLASH YELLOW (High Pressure Switch Open), 2 FLASHES YELLOW (Low Pressure Switch Open), 3 FLASHES YELLOW (Compressor Thermal Overload), 4 FLASHES YELLOW (Short-Cycle Protection), ALERT 1 (Communication Loss — Outdoor Unit), and 3 more.

Which other Lennox models have the ALERT 81 error?

Error code ALERT 81 also appears on 3 other Lennox models: XC21 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 21 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner, XP21 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 20 SEER Heat Pump, XP25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection Variable-Capacity Heat Pump. The fix may vary by model, so check each model's specific page for tailored repair steps.

What other error codes does the Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner have?

The Lennox XC25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 26 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner has 8 other known error codes:

1 FLASH YELLOW — High Pressure Switch Open (2 fixes)
2 FLASHES YELLOW — Low Pressure Switch Open (2 fixes)
3 FLASHES YELLOW — Compressor Thermal Overload (2 fixes)
4 FLASHES YELLOW — Short-Cycle Protection (2 fixes)
ALERT 1 — Communication Loss — Outdoor Unit (2 fixes)
ALERT 11 — High Pressure Protection — Outdoor Unit (2 fixes)
ALERT 12 — Low Pressure Protection — Outdoor Unit (2 fixes)
ALERT 14 — Compressor Discharge Temperature High (2 fixes)

Which other Lennox models have the ALERT 81 error?

Error code ALERT 81 also appears on 3 other Lennox models:

XC21 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 21 SEER Variable-Capacity Air Conditioner (air conditioner) · 2 fixes
XP21 Dave Lennox Signature Collection 20 SEER Heat Pump (heat pump) · 2 fixes
XP25 Dave Lennox Signature Collection Variable-Capacity Heat Pump (heat pump) · 2 fixes

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