Although the primary cooking appliances in your kitchen may be the oven and stove top, no home is complete without having a microwave. Microwaves provide additional convenience to your kitchen by allowing you to prepare meals quickly in a short period of time. It gives you the flexibility of either cooking fresh ingredients or heating pre-prepared meals, saving you a lot of time. The microwave may look like a simple and straightforward cooking appliance, but just like all other kitchen appliances, it will require repairs and maintenance at some point. There are a wide variety of microwave problems you may encounter during the entire lifetime. To assist you in troubleshooting some of the issues with your microwave, we will discuss some of the most commonly seen microwave problems and how to resolve them.
Microwave Will Not Run
If your appliance is a countertop microwave, it is important to first ensure that the unit is being plugged into an electrical outlet. Next, you should also test if the outlet is providing electricity by testing another device with the same outlet. If the outlet is currently not supplying electricity, you will need to get an electrician to repair it.
In addition, a door switch that is malfunctioning can lead to such problems in both built-in and countertop microwaves. There will be a signal by the door switch when the unit can start cooking and when the microwave door is closed tight. Any faults or defects in the interlock system of your door switch will prevent your appliance from functioning properly. A broken ceramic or thermal fuse could also be one likely cause.
Non-Responsive Touchpad Microwave Problems
The touchpad of the microwave allows you to program and set a number of different cooking functions simply with a touch of the button. If the touchpad is not responding, you will not be able to use your appliance. An unresponsive touchpad could be due to a faulty control board or membrane switch.
Microwave Tray Not Turning
Most of the microwaves will feature a tray that turns steadily while in use, ensuring that heat is evenly distributed to the microwaved dishes. Having a tray that will not turn could lead to poorly cooked food, and hence definitely needs repairs. One common cause is having a broken drive motor. The drive motor provides a constant rotating motion that is required for the tray to spin, and replacing the motor will most likely fix the issue. You may also want to consider replacing the drive motor coupler. If you encounter any difficulties replacing the parts, you will have to engage a professional appliance repair technician.
Noisy Microwave Problems
It is normal for the microwave to make some noises while running, but if there is excessive noise, it could be a sign of more complicated issues. A noisy microwave could be due to many different problems, such as having a faulty cooling fan, drive motor, magnetron, or roller guide. To accurately diagnose this issue, you will most likely need to first disassemble your unit to carefully examine the internal parts. Ultimately, it is suggested to get support from an expert microwave repairman to fix the issue.
Microwave Exhaust Fan Not Working
Over-the-range microwaves are usually installed on top of the cooking range, and include an exhaust fan at the bottom. This design provides excellent convenience to users, but will also come along with its own set of problems. If the exhaust fan is faulty, there could be an issue with the grease filter or charcoal filter. These filters will absorb grease and airborne pollutants produced when cooking, and could become clogged in the long term. A clogged filter will affect your fan and cause it to malfunction.
Are You Facing Other Microwave Problems?
If you are experiencing other issues and can’t find a solution here, do not hesitate to contact Woodcocks today.
