Lennox E207: hot surface ignitor sensed open

Furnace control display or LED

E207

“Hot surface ignitor sensed open”

Printed on 13 model series · 13 documents

SL280*V, SL280*NV, SL297*NV, SLP98*V, SLP99*V, EL296*V, EL296*E, EL297*V, EL297*E, EL280*E, ML296*V, ML297*V, G71MPP · 508559-01 p. 30; 508561-01 p. 37; 508585-02 p. 50; 506610-01 p. 62; 508589-02 p. 46; 1126-L5 p. 17; 1246-L10 p. 13; 508583-01 p. 53; 508577-02 p. 44; 1901-L1 p. 14; 508521-01 p. 43; 508907-01 p. 47; 506509-01 p. 65

Technician

What it means

The hot surface ignitor lights the burners on a call for heat; the owner’s manual describes it as an ignition device which automatically lights the burners 508590-01, p. 4. E207 means the control sensed the ignitor open. The action in the SL297UHNVK table is to measure the resistance of the hot surface ignitor and replace it if it is open or not within the specified range in the installation instructions; the furnace resumes normal operation after the fault clears 508585-02, p. 50. The SLP99DFVK table words it as “Measure resistance of Hot Surface Ignitor, replace if open or not within specification.” 508589-02, p. 46. The resistance range is a figure for the technician’s measurement, so these pages do not give it.

A second code in the same tables also concerns the ignitor: E290, “Ignitor circuit fault - Failed ignitor or triggering circuitry.”, with a 1-hour soft lockout that clears when flame has been proven stable 508585-02, p. 51. The K editions of the EL180, EL195, EL196, ML180, ML193 and ML196 have E290 in their tables and no E207 508569-01, pp. 44–46; 508575-02, pp. 45–47.

Lennox’s thermostat alert 207 is “GF HSI Sensed Open”, priority Service Urgent: the furnace hot surface igniter is open. It clears automatically after the issue is corrected 100017, p. 19. Lennox’s documents do not say that alert 207 and display code E207 report the same event.

Check these first

Lennox’s owner’s manuals have no code table and give no steps for E207. What they give is a general list for a unit that will not operate, to work through before calling a Lennox service technician. In the SLP99DFVK manual the order is:

Check that the electrical disconnect switches are ON 508590-01, p. 5.
Check the room thermostat for proper setting 508590-01, p. 5.
Replace any blown fuses or reset circuit breakers 508590-01, p. 5.
Check that the gas valve is ON 508590-01, p. 5. Its switch is behind the outer access panel; the manual’s gas valve steps set the thermostat to the lowest setting and turn off all electrical power to the unit before that panel comes off, and the switch is moved by hand only, never with tools 508590-01, p. 4.
Check that the air filter is not plugged, which would limit air flow 508590-01, p. 5. The SLP99DFVK manual says its filters are installed external to the unit, should be inspected monthly, and that a filter must be in place when the unit is operating 508590-01, p. 4. Before any service or maintenance, it says to turn the electrical power to the unit OFF at the disconnect switch 508590-01, p. 2.
Check that gas is turned on at the meter 508590-01, p. 5.
Check that the manual main shut-off valve is open 508590-01, p. 5.

Then record the model and serial number from the nameplate and call 508590-01, p. 5. The list is not tied to any code. More on it, and on how other Lennox manuals word it: owner checks before a service call.

The manual says not to try to light the burners by hand 508590-01, p. 4. Its Maintenance section says the maintenance procedures should only be conducted by a licensed professional service technician, and not to attempt to service the unit in any way 508590-01, p. 5.

When to call a licensed technician

Measuring the ignitor’s resistance and replacing it if it is open or out of range 508585-02, p. 50.
An E290 ignitor circuit fault 508585-02, p. 51.
Any work inside the furnace 508590-01, p. 5.
The furnace still will not run after the checklist 508590-01, p. 5.
E207 keeps coming back after it clears. The owner’s manuals give no step for that; these pages send it to the technician.

Notes for different models

Series or document	Code	Wording	Source
SL280V, SL280NV, SL297NV, EL280E, EL296V, EL296E, EL297V, EL297E, ML296V, ML297V	E207	“Hot surface ignitor sensed open” (some tables end it with a period)	508585-02, p. 50; 1126-L5, p. 17; 508577-02, p. 44; 508521-01, p. 43; 508907-01, p. 47
SLP98V, SLP99V, G71MPP	E207	“Hot surface ignitor sensed open - Refer to troubleshooting in installation instruction.” Action: “Measure resistance of Hot Surface Ignitor, replace if open or not within specification.”	508589-02, p. 46; 506610-01, p. 62; 506509-01, p. 65
SL280UHV, 2011 instructions	E207	“Hot surface ignitor sensed open - Refer to troubleshooting. See Page 68.”	506763-01, p. 62
EL297UHVK, compact table	E207	“HOT SURFACE IGNITOR (HSI) SENSED OPEN”, in the group “SOFT LOCKOUT FAULTS (60 MINUTES)”	508581-01, p. 52
K editions of the EL180, EL195, EL196, ML180, ML193, ML196	E290 (no E207)	“Ignitor circuit fault - Failed ignitor or triggering circuitry.”	508569-01, p. 46; 508575-02, p. 47
Lennox thermostat alert table	207	“GF HSI Sensed Open”, Service Urgent	100017, p. 19

The detailed SL297UHNVK table says the furnace resumes normal operation after the E207 fault is cleared 508585-02, p. 50; the compact EL297UHVK table, which has no action column, lists E207 among the 60-minute soft lockout faults 508581-01, p. 52.