If you are someone who wants to fix your microwave by yourself, then you are in the right place. Generally repairing a microwave device is easy, manageable and beginners friendly.
But, to repair our microwave, we often end up calling mechanics or repairmen but repairing a microwave is not that challenging. Note, there are some fancy models that aren’t easy to open or fix, that I don’t cover in this article. Instead, I have focused on providing my insights on regular household microwaves.
Now, in this article, I am going to share my experience and guide you to DIY fix microwaves. First, I will talk about the problem identification process then the basics of repairing a microvawe.
You can restore a microwave just by sitting at home with the household tools that are usually available. And in this article, we will tell you how to repair a microwave easily at home.
How to Repair a Microwave
Microwave is a part of our daily life. A microwave is a common thing to have in almost every household. Since the microwave is a popular device, the cases of it being dysfunctioned or not working are also common issues.
Your microwave may not work correctly for various reasons before jumping into the process of repairing we need to find out what is the problem. Different problems of microwaves have different solutions to them. Here we will guide you to every step.
- How to identify the issues in the microwave
- What are the necessary tools to repair
- Then we will provide simple instructions for how to fix a microwave oven door
- The process of disassembling a microwave oven
- How to test a temperature examination
Warning: Don’t try to repair the magnetron in the microwave because it is hazardous.
1. Identify the Problem
- If the display is on, but the oven doesn’t cook properly then, examine the door switch of interlock, monitor the thermal cutout, and the fan, replace parts that did not pass the examination. You may also check the manual or appliance controls guide.
- If the fuses of the oven keep failing, then examine the monitor switch or a defective door interlock.
- If your microwave is not operating, ensure that power is on, you will have to test the electrical cord or the powerline connected with the power outlet. Examine the fuse and restore it if it is faulty. Check the door to make sure it seals correctly. Analyse and, if required, you can also replace the fan.
- If the carousel is not rotating, examine the plastic coupling below the plate. Check the rotating adjustment and make sure the placing of the dish is at the correct level on the rotating device.
- In case your microwave is still not working then you may have to take it to a repair centre.
2. Arranging Necessary tools
There are several tools that you require to fix your microwave oven and some more things that will protect you from accidents like being electrocuted.
- Screwdriver with rubber handle
- Needle-nose plier with rubber handle
- Rubber gloves
- Wrenches
- Multimeter
3. Taking Safety Mesure
At first, you will need to insolate yourself. Then you can think about dealing with the capacitor. Keep in mind that a microwave oven is strangely a critical device, not for the microwaves. Microwaves usually take a lot of electricity to operate.
Safety warnings
Do not go for discharging a microwave capacitor if you are not confident enough and know how to protect yourself adequately. We will guide you step by step. But our concern is in your safety; hence we recommend that a highly professional should deal with it unless you are confident and know how to keep yourself safe from being electrocuted.
Safety precautions
Wear rubber gloves, and you must wear rubber sandals as well to make yourself completely insolated. This precaution is necessary to keep yourself safe from being electrocuted.
Steps to Repair Different Parts of a Microwave
In this section, we will guitar you repair the microwave part by part.
Repairing a microwave door
- Examine the door of your microwave. Look for usual problems like broken components.
- Clean the door and door edges along the inside front edges. You can use a little bit of detergent with warm water. Then rinse it and dry before rechecking.
- Check the door latches inside and outside. Look for blocks and make sure it is working smoothly.
- Examine the door hinges to ensure they are not damaged.
Disassemble
- Unplug the microwave. It is essential to unplug the microwave much before you disassemble it. Unplug it from the wall and make sure it does not have a connection with an external power source.
- Remove the plate, top-grill rack, and the carousels. Otherwise, these things may dispatch from their slots and damage the microwave while disassembling.
- Turn the microwave on its back and side to take off the screws that hold the frame.
- Carefully remove the bottom panel by removing mounting screws. Keep the bottom panel out of your way.
- Now remove all the screws from the side and outside the case.
- You will then find the case a bit lose.
- Now you can lift the case from the body.
- Be careful you should not damage any cable, wire or any parts of the microwave.
- Put on gloves
- Find the capacitor. Make sure you don’t touch the capacitor because it stores high voltage electricity even when it is unplugged.
- Clean all the switches and other components. But don’t touch the magnetron.
- Examine the fan, Switches, electric cords, Interlocks and fuse.
- Reassemble and test the microwave oven.
Magnetron
If the magnetron is faulty, then you may find the unit blowing up the fuse, but you may still have all other functions operating normally.
- You will have to discharge the high voltage capacitor to prevent accidents and to get electric shocks.
- Situate the magnetron and detach the two attached wires with it.
- Check for continuity of the Magnatron by attaching the lead of multimeter.
- Between the terminals, there should be 2 to 3 ohms resistance.
- If there is no continuity then you you have to change the magnetron.
Conclusion
Following these steps and cautions, you can safely and efficiently figure out the problem in your microwave oven. This instruction may save you from making a hole in your pocket by the professionals who fix the microwave.
Using a microwave oven properly will increase its longevity. Moreover, I highly recommend using a cover to prevent spreading food inside the microwave. This way you can prevent some common issues regulating heating problems.
Nevertheless, you must always remember that if you are not confident enough to fix your microwave or dispatch it, then you should not take the risk.