Lennox Air-conditioner 442 Error Code — Meaning & Repair Cost (2026)
Compressor top cap switch has opened five times within one hour and the outdoor unit is locked out. Below: the most likely causes, and what the matching repair costs — Estimated national ranges with a metro localizer. Reviewed July 2026.
What 442 means
Compressor top cap switch has opened five times within one hour and the outdoor unit is locked out.
Likely causes, most common first
- Compressor thermal protection repeatedly tripping
- Condenser airflow or refrigeration fault overheating the compressor
Base: 1 published national repair-cost guide (retrieved 2026-07) · full source registry on the methodology page · Code meaning & causes · Reviewed July 2026
What it usually costs to fix Estimated
442 on a Lennox air-conditioner resolves to the central air conditioning compressor replacement problem. Lennox parts typically run ×1.35 against the mainstream baseline (Lennox 'uses proprietary parts that only Lennox dealers can source.' A direct brand comparison found a blower-motor replacement running $2,400-$2,500 installed on Lennox vs $600-$1,200 on Carrier, with Lennox parts needing to be special-ordered direct from the factory (2-4 week wait) versus same-day local-supplier availability for Carrier parts.), and the ranges below already include it.
$155–$3,535 national estimate to fix the fault behind 442 (Lennox parts ×1.35). Enter a ZIP to localize.
| Most common repair | Typical total | DIY? |
|---|---|---|
| Central air / home AC compressor replacement (installed) | $2,045–$3,535 | Pro recommended |
| Hard-start kit install (cheaper stopgap, not a true compressor fix) | $155–$325 | DIY possible |
Plus a typical service-call / diagnostic fee of $75–$150, often credited toward the repair.
Pick a quality tier for a class-typical estimate, or a specific brand to override it (brand adjusts the parts portion only). Enter a ZIP or Canadian postal code to localize to your metro's labor costs. Everything updates without a page reload; no data leaves your browser except the shard lookup.
Base: 2 published national repair-cost guides (retrieved 2026-07) · full source registry on the methodology page · National base range (BLS OEWS May 2025 + BEA RPP 2024) · Reviewed July 2026 · Estimated
Codes are universal — your location changes the repair price, never the code's meaning. See the methodology for the exact localization formula and sources.
Reviewed by a Red Seal–certified appliance technician who also holds a Technical Safety BC gas ticket (Gas-C) and an ODS/halocarbon refrigerant ticket (CFC/HCFC/HFC).