Microwave Oven Not Heating! Is It Worth Fixing?

A microwave goes through a lot, especially the way it is handled and used. 

Your experience reduces or increases the efficiency of your microwave. 

If you start using your microwave without reading the instruction manual then it’s certain that you are compromising its upkeep. 

If you are new to this kitchen gear, then you must read the instruction manual carefully before operating your microwave.

Here are some common problems your microwave oven may face:

1. If you have accidentally turned ON or are using an empty microwave then you may experience slow heating or no heat at all. The magnetron that produces electromagnetic waves to cook food burns out when you turn on an empty microwave.

2. Interrupted performance is another highly reported user complaint due to a faulty door switch, defective touchpad, or failed transformer.

3. You might also face issues operating the touchpad or the tact dial due to constant mishandling or if your microwave is infested with cockroaches.

4. The microwave plate might stop spinning because of the damaged rotating motor underneath.

5. Low or no illumination inside the cavity during operation because of defective lightbulb wiring or faulty control board.

6. If you spot sparks inside the microwave stop using it immediately and call a technician for a quick fix.

The microwave oven repair cost can be anywhere between INR 350 – 500 to INR 2000 – 3500 (excluding service charge) depending upon whether the whole unit or its specific part needs to be mended. 

The basic charge to repair a 3-way door switch ranges between INR 350 – 450 and INR 1,550 – 1,850 for a convection motor.

Besides this, your location and availability of a skilled technician also determine the charge for microwave oven repair services.

While repairing an old microwave, the technician may ask for a service charge, for a new model within the warranty period, you may get a free repair or the company might waive off the price completely, it all depends upon the parts that need repairing. 

Whether your microwave oven is old or new, before fixing an appointment with the technician do check their service fee and if you will get any warranty on the parts that are getting replaced/fixed.

Getting the magnetron repaired by a professional can cost you INR 2,850 – 3,250, depending on the intensity of damage, your location, and the availability of repair services. 

However, to repair the magnetron of a brand-new microwave within warranty, we suggest you dial the consumer helpline and get an easy replacement and free repairing service.

The magnetron is responsible for generating heat to microwave your food faster at the required temperature. 

However, the magnetron is prone to a sudden breakdown because its life expectancy is approximately 5000 hours i.e 208 days as per reports.
 
The life expectancy of magnetron also depends on how you handle your microwave. 

If you switch on an empty microwave without any food inside, it will damage your microwave and the magnetron. 

Another report suggests that if your magnetron is damaged it’s best to buy a new microwave (if the warranty is over) rather than replace it with a new one. 

This is because the overall performance of your microwave decreases with time so there is no point in investing in the parts as it’s won’t make your microwave work as efficiently as the new one will.

If your microwave oven is just a few months old, then hell yes, it’s worth fixing because it’s still in the warranty period. 

Get some relaxation on repairing charges than completely replacing your microwave.

However, if you have a yesteryear model that has been through so much fixing, it’s time to dispose of your old microwave and get a brand-new replacement. 

In fact, there could be unavailability of compatible parts and components while repairing an old model which is not worth the effort and costly service charge. 

But then again, the idea of re-fixing or replacement totally depends on your budget and the availability of qualified and economical repair services.

One point to note here is that microwave oven efficiency decreases as it gets old, as per reports.

So you can’t expect it to work as efficiently as new, even if you get it fixed.

So we highly recommend you to get a new one instead of spending money fixing your appliance again and again.

Your microwave oven can develop some performance issues over time and interrupt the normal mode of functioning. 

But instead of paying the microwave over repair services for some minor issues, fix it by resetting a microwave in two ways – Soft resetting and Hard resetting.

In case, you have entered the wrong mode and time, a soft reset should get the job done. Here’s what you can do:

1. Simply press the OFF/Clear button to reset the required new details. 

2. You can also press the OFF/Clear button for a good 3 seconds to cancel or erase the previous data.

If none of the keypad buttons/tact dials are working or is stuck, you need to perform a hard reset by following these steps:

1. Unplug the device

2. Plugin the microwave again after 2 – 3 minutes

3. Turn on the microwave and press the clock button to set the time and the dial key to enter time, minutes, and AM/PM. 

4. After entering the required data, press the start key to initiate freeze-free functioning