Westinghouse Overheating and high limit cycling

Furnace short cycles: starts, runs for a few minutes, then shuts off before reaching thermostat setpoint, repeating frequently.

Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

Possible Causes

Dirty or restrictive air filter, Undersized or blocked return air ducts, Oversized furnace for duct system, Failing blower motor not moving enough air

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety: Turn off power before removing panels.

Steps:

Replace the furnace filter with a clean, properly sized filter of appropriate MERV rating (do not oversize filtration restriction).
Ensure all supply and return registers are open and unblocked.
Inspect the blower wheel for dust buildup and clean if accessible.
Observe blower operation; if it starts late, runs slowly, or stops intermittently, have the blower motor and capacitor tested and replaced if needed.
If short cycling persists, a professional should evaluate duct sizing and furnace capacity.

Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Blower Motor Assembly

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