Microwave is one of the most commonly used electronic appliances these days. Microwave ovens are easy to use, take less space, and fulfill several purposes. However, due to their constant usage, they may start showing certain faults from time to time.
Modern technology has brought us the ease of a full course meal almost instantly, thanks to the microwave. This kitchen staple can make anything from a hot cup of coffee to enchiladas in a matter of minutes. So, when you head for an easy meal and find out your microwave doesn’t work, it may feel like your world is crashing down. This is when you start to wonder how to repair microwave oven not heating. You might want to find out for future use.
Common Causes of Oven Malfunction
There are several reasons why ovens malfunction. To know how to repair microwave oven not heating, you should determine the cause of the problem.
- High voltage diode problem
The most common reason for a microwave to stop heating up could be a high voltage diode problem. High voltage diode helps to power the magnetron and is located in the cabinet. To check whether this is the issue and to solve it, you need to unplug the microwave and then discharge the high voltage capacitor. Use a multimeter to test the diode. There must be low resistance in one direction and high in the other. If not, then the diode may need to be replaced. However, if the diode is fine, then the issue may be related to the high voltage circuit. - Problem with the door switch
Another possible cause that the microwave is not heating is an issue with the door switch. The door switch is also known as the interlock switch, and it can be accessed by removing the cabinet. For this, unplug the microwave first, then test using a multimeter. Depress the actuator button and check the switches. If you find no continuity at this point, then you may need to replace the switch. When testing this, you must ensure that the door hooks as this triggers the door switch is working correctly. - Problem with the magnetron
If your microwave is not heating, then the problem could also be with the magnetron. The magnetron is an important part of the microwave and is responsible for providing the heat which cooks the food. In case the magnetron is broken, then this may lead to blowing up of the fuse, which could further result in other components failing. To check the magnetron, unplug the microwave and then remove the cabinet. After this, discharge the high voltage capacitor and test. While testing the magnetron, disconnect the attached wires and attach the multimeter leads to the magnetron’s terminals. The continuity that you get should be about 2-3 ohms of resistance between the terminals and the grounded outer case. If this is normal, then the problem could be something else.
Now that you know the common causes of oven malfunction, you might want to learn how to repair a microwave oven not heating if there’s no maintenance specialist available.
Advantages of Using a Microwave Oven
And that is the first advantage of using a microwave. Microwaves are more effective in preserving nutrients in fruits and vegetables than cooking on a stovetop. Any heating breaks down some nutrients in food, and you have to use the correct technique. Setting the timer and expecting perfect food isn’t going to cut it. It’s better to under-cook your food first and then cook just a little longer than over-cooking it. Instead of setting the timer to 4 minutes, we get better nutrient retention by cooking for only 2 minutes, stirring them, cooking again for another minute, stirring again, and then letting the food rest.
The second advantage of using a microwave is that it’s convenient, especially for those who live alone in their house and do everything independently. Microwave-safe food containers let you place everything from soups to mac and cheese to popcorn inside and get a snack in only a few minutes. For single people, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all covered. Most microwaves also include recipes to help you prepare fantastic meals in a fraction of the time you’d otherwise spend fussing over a stove.
The last and important advantage is the energy efficiency of using a microwave. You can directly control cooking time; thus, you have much better control over how much power you use. Microwave ovens also don’t retain heat, nor do they heat everything in your kitchen. It use less energy than all conventional ovens or stoves since they directly heat the food’s water.
We know you love cooking a great meal for your family on the stove, and some meals cannot be replicated in the microwave! What just hope that after reading this article, you realize that it’s perfectly ok to use your microwave. And besides the convenience of it all, cooking with a microwave frequently could also lower your monthly energy usage. With this being said, you might get interested in learning how to repair microwave oven not heating because it’s a waste of food when the oven malfunctions in the middle of your cooking and no one is available to fix it right away. Know more about repairing appliances.
Conclusion
Now that you know the possible causes of microwaves’ heating problems, you must contact a technician to resolve the problem or the parts replaced. It’s important to know all these things just in case you know how to repair microwave oven, not heating. But there are many technicians or professionals out there who are experienced with repairing microwaves, so call a professional for help.