Microwave Oven is a popularly used kitchen appliance these days. Like any other home appliance a Microwave  fails and breaks in its lifetime.

Here are the common faults with your microwave and their possible solutions:

1. Microwave is Dead

   If the microwave appears dead, this could indicate a problem with the Line Fuse, which will blow if excess current is being used by the microwave components.

   While this fuse is easily replaceable, there may be other issues that are causing the appliance to over-draw power.

   There might also be a problem within the High voltage circuit of the microwave, in particular with components such as the diode, magnetron, high voltage capacitor, or transformer. 

2. Microwave Does Not Heat

   Microwave not heating is a common problem. The most popular reason behind this issue is magnetron failure. A magnetron uses high voltage to produce microwave frequency to cook food. If the microwave is turned on when it is empty, this causes the magnetron to burn out. A burned magnetron has to be replaced as it cannot be repaired.

   Most microwave ovens will include a high voltage diode that is responsible for converting the A/C power output delivered by the transformer to D/C. During this process, the voltage reaches its peak capacity of 5000 volts. This generates enough power so that the magnetron is able to provide the cooking energy within the oven. A failure in the diode will result in a lower A/C voltage reaching the magnetron, which may not be sufficient for heating the food. Diode failure is often accompanied by visible signs of a burnout. If the diode appears to be unaffected, it may be tested with the aid of a volt-Ohm meter that has the capacity for handling diodes.

3. The Microwave Runs and then Stops Suddenly

   In most cases, this problem is caused by a defective door switch that fails intermittently. These switches should be inspected for any signs of arcing, overheating, or burning.

   Possible causes of this issue are a faulty door switch, failed transformer, defective touchpad and faulty fan motor.

   A tripped thermoprotector or defective thermostat may also result in the microwave running intermittently.

4. Microwave  Plate Does Not Spin

   In a microwave, there is a rotating motor below the plate which is responsible for the rotation of the spinning plate. Lack of movement in the turntable is a sign that the turntable motor has been worn out or has burned out. This type of problem can occur fairly often and this part is easily replaced.

   However, if the motor is still functional this could indicate a defect in the main control board or User Control and Display Board.

   If the microwave oven has a button on the touchpad responsible for switching the turntable on and off, then this could indicate a problem with the Touchpad and Control Panel.

5. Microwave Light-bulb Does Not Turn On

   There is a small bulb inside your microwave located behind the grill, which lights when the microwave runs. If the bulb does not work then it may have fused.

   Other possible reasons are faulty bulb socket and bad wiring. If the bulb, socket, and wiring are fine then check the main control board.  The control board may have gone bad and fails to send voltage to the bulb socket.

6. Microwave Buttons Do Not Work

   If the microwave buttons do not work it indicates that the touch-pad or the control panel is defective or have been damaged (Excessive cleaning of the touchpad can cause this.) Certain microwave models require that the door is shut before the touchpad is activated. Another issue with machines like this is that they tend to go into ‘sleep’ mode quickly. Simply opening and closing the door once should be enough to re-activate the oven. A ‘confused’ controller may also be responsible for this type of situation. You can unplug the device for 1-2 minutes to let it reset.

7. Microwave Display Does Not Function

   Usually, this type of problem is related to the functioning of the microwave Display Board. A complete failure in the display would indicate a problem with the main board or display board.

   However, if part of the display is available, there is clearly a malfunction in the display board. You might also be dealing with a display panel that is physically broken and will need to be replaced. Sometimes, this type of problem may be resolved by resetting the microwave.

8. Microwave Starts by Itself

   This problem indicates a faulty triac or relay or could point to a problem with the controller. You can try resetting the machine to see if the situation corrects itself. If this does not work, it could indicate problems with the power supply or defects in the touchpad.

9. The Microwave is Arcing (Sparking)

   Sparking inside the microwave is common and does not indicate that your microwave has gone bad. It requires you to immediately switch off your microwave and perform the necessary inspection. Possible reasons behind this problem are damaged wave guide cover, diode burn, damaged rack support or worn out paint from the inside walls.

   Sparking can cause damage to the microwave cavity and any damaged areas should be repaired. 

   If there is sparking along the side walls of the microwave oven, this could indicate that the paint on the side walls has been chipped. This type of problem can be fixed by covering up any exposed metal spots in the oven with a microwave-safe paint. This type of sparking may also be seen near rack supports, where the paint has worn away leaving exposed bare metal within the oven.

10. Microwave Door Does Not Open

    If the oven door is stuck and does not open, there is every possibility that the Open Lever has broken, and will need to be replaced. There might also be an issue with the Door Spring located within the door. This spring is responsible for exerting a downward force to the door hook.

    This type of problem might also indicate the presence of a broken door latch. This latch is mounted on the inside surface of the oven and engages with the door hook to ensure the oven door remains closed when it is switched on. A broken door latch or actuator will prevent the door from being opened.

I suggest you book a professional Microwave Repair Service, as it can be dangerous to fix it yourself.

The post Microwave Oven – 10 Microwave Problems and their Solutions appeared first on UrbanHands.