Carl E. Edwards, Jr., Esq.
             Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
                            Lennox International Inc.
                              2140 Lake Park Blvd.
                             Richardson, Texas 75080

                                                               December 18, 2000


Lennox International Inc.
2140 Lake Park Blvd.
Richardson, Texas 75080

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     As set forth in the Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (the  "Registration
Statement")  to be filed by Lennox  International  Inc., a Delaware  corporation
(the  "Company"),   with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  under  the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the  "Securities  Act"),  relating to the
offering  of up to  2,938,135  additional  shares (the  "Shares")  of the common
stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"),  of the Company,  pursuant to
the 1998 Incentive Plan of Lennox International Inc. (the "Plan"), certain legal
matters in  connection  with the Shares are being passed upon for the Company by
me. At the Company's request, this opinion is being furnished to the Company for
filing as Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement.

     In my  capacity  as counsel to the  Company  in the  connection  referenced
above, I have examined the Company's  Restated  Certificate of Incorporation and
Amended and Restated  Bylaws,  each as amended to date,  and the Plan,  and have
examined  the  originals,  or  copies  certified  or  otherwise  identified,  of
corporate  records  of the  Company,  including  minute  books  of the  Company,
certificates of public officials and of representatives of the Company, statutes
and other  instruments  and  documents as a basis for the  opinions  hereinafter
expressed.

     I have  assumed that all  signatures  on all  documents  examined by me are
genuine, that all documents submitted to me as originals are authentic, that all
documents submitted to me as copies are true and correct copies of the originals
thereof and that all information submitted to me was accurate and complete.

     Based upon my  examination  as aforesaid,  and subject to the  assumptions,
qualifications, limitations and exceptions herein set forth, I am of the opinion
that:

     1. The Company is a corporation  duly  incorporated and validly existing in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

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     2. When issued and sold from time to time in accordance with the provisions
of the Plan (and any applicable agreements pertaining to awards granted or to be
granted  under the Plan)  pursuant to awards  granted by, and for  consideration
fixed by, the  Committee of the Board of  Directors of the Company  charged with
administering  the Plan,  the Shares will be duly  authorized  by all  necessary
corporate  action on the part of the  Company,  validly  issued,  fully paid and
nonassessable.

     The opinions set forth above are limited to the General  Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, and no opinion is expressed herein as to matters governed
by the law of any other jurisdiction.

     I hereby  consent  to the  filing  of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration Statement.

                                                  Very truly yours,

                                                  /s/ Carl E. Edwards, Jr.
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Carl E. Edwards, Jr.


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