Hello World! Welcome Friends! The microwave is a very useful kitchen appliance that could save you a lot of time from defrosting to reheating and even using it for shortcuts to your cooking. But if it doesn’t work, it’s no use for anyone. Fortunately, many of the common microwave issues can also be solved at home (and some repaired by a pro).
If your microwave seems to be having issues, check how to fix it yourself here:
1. The Exhaust Fan Stopped Working
- Possible problem: Exhaust Fan or Air Filter
Not all microwave ovens come equipped with an exhaust fan, but if your model is an above-the-range kind, then this is used to shoo air above the stove. When the exhaust fan suddenly stops working, you can replace the air filter with a new one (or clean it to unblock it from grime).
If cleaning the filter still didn’t work, you may need to remove the moving parts and clean them one by one, put them back, and try again. If it still won’t work, you might need to have the exhaust fan or the air filter replaced.
2. Microwave Not Heating Food
- Possible problem: broken magnetron, door switch issues, voltage diode
This is probably one of the worst things that could happen to your microwave since one of its most-used functions is to reheat food. Check first if the door switch is loose (have it fixed if it is because it isn’t retaining heat inside).
If the microwave cannot heat your food but the door switch isn’t damaged, then your device might need to get its diode or magnetron replaced.
3. The Touchpad Isn’t Responding
- Possible problem: control board or membrane switch
You can’t make the microwave do anything if the touchpad isn’t responding. If only a single button is problematic, then your fix is to replace the membrane switch.
However, if all the areas of the touchpad don’t respond, this means it is dead and you would have to replace the entire microwave (this is the cheaper option) than to have the whole control board replaced.
4. The Glass Plate Isn’t Spinning
- Possible problem: plate, rollers under the plate, coupler, or drive motor
You’d think the microwave plate is there to just prettify things, but it’s actually a useful part of the kitchen appliance since it contains excess energy and distributes heat evenly.
Once the glass plate stops spinning, you could check the plate or rollers under it to see if the issue is superficial. If they look intact, your best bet is to check either the coupler or drive motor for damages.
5. Door Issues: Microwave Door Stuck Closed or Door Not Closing Properly
- Possible problem: hinges, or door latch assembly
Maybe you were a bit rough with closing and opening your microwave doors. Have you been using your elbows to shut it close? If so, this could’ve resulted in hinges coming loose (which you can fix by tightening them) or door latch assembly getting damaged.
This is the easier microwave problem that you can handle or replace without spending a lot of money.
6. Noisy Microwave Operation
- Possible problem: Magnetron, high-voltage diode, microwave glass plate, drive motor, exhaust fan, or cooling fan
To remove the annoying sound (such as scraping, humming, buzzing, and other weird noises) your microwave sends out to the world, there are several solutions you could try including:
- Replace faulty drive motor or magnetron (these parts cause the buzzing or humming sounds)
- Clean plate roller guide or drive coupler. (When these parts are dirty, it causes the rotating plate to make a noise as it rotates.
- Clean the exhaust fan or cooling fan. (When the fan is obstructed with dirt, it could cause loud noises when turned on).
7. The Lightbulb Stopped Working
- Possible problem: lightbulb or control board
You can have the light bulb (or the fuse) replaced. If this doesn’t work, you might have to ask a pro to check for faulty wiring. If both the lightbulb and wiring aren’t the culprit, it’s highly likely that the issue involves the control board.
8. Microwave Starts (but Stops) or Doesn’t Stop At All
- Possible problem: broken door seal or control board
If your microwave turns on, but then quickly stops, it might just be a broken door seal that’s causing the confusion. Your microwave might “sense” that it is still open due to the loose door. Fix the seal and everything should go back to normal.
However, if it turns on, but doesn’t shut off, your microwave could have a problematic control board, which is like the CPU or brain of your microwave.
If you’re familiar with microwave and its parts, feel free to troubleshoot your microwave issues yourself. But if you have zero background in basic electronics, it is best you leave it to the pros.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
6 Reasons To Have an Electrical Inspection
Guide to Buying Your Snow Blower
How to Upgrade Your Backyard to Impress Buyers
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Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
[…] with minimal work, your microwave can be clean […]