Why the microwave does not heat - causes, diagnosis and troubleshooting

How does a microwave oven work?

To make it much easier to troubleshoot problems found in your oven, it is worth familiarizing yourself with its main elements. The waves are generated thanks to a magnetron, which is connected to the camera by a waveguide. Power is guaranteed by a capacitor and diode. Therefore, it is possible that the microwave does not heat, but works.

There is another important element - this is a fuse that protects equipment from unexpected problems. The working chamber is an important part of the appliance in which food is placed to be heated.

To independently cope with equipment repairs when the malfunction is directly related to a defect in a certain element, you need to know the structure of the microwave. The magnetron is connected to the microwave chamber by a waveguide. The magnetron is closed on the camera side with a piece of mica or a plastic cover (this depends on the type of technology chosen). The failure of this component fully explains why the Panasonic microwave oven does not heat food.

In order to obtain high-voltage power, a special additional element (multiplier) was created. It consists of two main parts - a diode and a capacitor. A proven and high-quality fuse helps to avoid unexpected overloads. In addition, the manufacturers have provided one more point - a special lock on the switches makes it impossible to turn on the oven with the door open.

Professionals made sure that it was safe and easy for each user to reheat cooked food. But sometimes, for some reason, modern microswitches become damaged and no longer cope with their tasks, as a result of which the disk spins, but the microwave does not heat. It is important to constantly monitor this in order to avoid additional difficulties.

Specific commands are clearly visible on the device's convenient panel. The selection is made using special switches. Digital control is carried out using buttons; certain models have an easy-to-use touch panel.

Multiplier check

The multiplier consists of a diode and a capacitor. The condition of the capacitor is checked with an ohmmeter, although it is intended for use in alternating voltage circuits. If the instrument needle first deviates a little and then shows infinity, everything is fine. The presence of slight resistance indicates a breakdown. If there is an internal break, the needle remains at zero. A malfunction of this capacitor often causes the microwave to hum but not heat. Since it is difficult to check the diode at home, it is better to immediately replace it with a known good one.

What to do if the microwave does not heat

The key to proper and, most importantly, long-term operation of a microwave oven is careful operation of the equipment. A foreign object may accidentally enter the camera. You should not heat food in dishes made of metal, this will lead to trouble. To determine why the Bork microwave oven does not work, you need to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis. No special skills or equipment are needed for this; available tools will suffice, provided that the user follows professional recommendations.

What to do if the microwave heats up but does not spin? It is absolutely not necessary to immediately contact the service center for help. It is necessary to identify the damaged component, and then repair the part or replace it with a new one.

Checking fuses

To get to them, you need to remove the back cover by unscrewing the mounting bolts. First, check the mains fuse. If it burns out, the light in the camera will not light. If it is not smoked and upon visual inspection the wire inside is intact, it would not hurt to check with an ohmmeter to be completely sure.

It would also be a good idea to check the integrity of the power cord and plug. Then the high-voltage fuse located under the casing is checked, again with an ohmmeter. The presence of a small resistance indicates that it is intact. Faulty fuses are replaced with new ones, but not with “bugs” that can cause a fire.

Why problems might arise

The microwave is working but the food is not heating, it will be important for you to know that certain factors are often the cause:

1. Difficulties arising with the supply voltage: to eliminate the cause, it is worth purchasing a power supply of the specified power.
2. Failure of parts - over time, the design stops working correctly, the door does not open well and the dishes do not warm up completely.
3. Setting the random mode.
4. Presence of unnecessary objects in the chamber.

Constantly monitor the serviceability of the selected microwave oven.

If your LG or Samsung microwave does not heat, be sure to check to see if the warranty period has expired. It is possible that the cause of the breakdown of household appliances was a manufacturing defect.

To determine the reasons why the microwave does not heat and is noisy, carry out a comprehensive diagnosis. Start with a visual inspection of the walls of the heat chamber and the power cable. If the microwave does not heat, you need to disassemble the device to check the functionality of the components.

It is important to know that problems in the proper operation of a microwave often lie in its careless use, violation of basic rules and recommendations. As a rule, it is mainly very cheap models that become faulty; their parts wear out quite quickly and easily. Remember that it is the users themselves who are to blame if the microwave oven refuses to heat food properly. People neglect the rules, and then suffer from the poor performance of purchased home appliances. When heating food, be sure to take special dishes and under no circumstances turn on the oven completely empty; such equipment is not provided for this.

Pay attention to some important points: the fuse has a glass bulb and metal elements. When you see a break in the chain, you need to replace it immediately.

Difficulties with the magnetron - poor quality and untested contacts (due to constant heating). The solution to this problem is simple - restoring contact using special tools. Has the cap turned black? You have to make an effort to clean it carefully. The antenna cap is damaged - carefully inspect the magnetron itself, make sure the element is in good condition. Replace the cap, and, if necessary, the magnetron: the new parts must match the installed ones in terms of power and structural features.

To prevent equipment from being used with the door poorly closed, special small switches are installed. It is important to know that often the reason why a microwave does not heat can be due to defects in the microswitch. This will require urgent replacement of parts.

Always be careful about the rules for using the selected devices. If necessary, contact trained specialists and experienced craftsmen.

Features of repair of some brands

The causes of breakdowns for different brands are identical, but the repair of a certain brand may differ slightly from its analogues. Let's look at the features of the most popular brands of microwave machines.

Also popular brands of equipment include:

• Sharp is a popular brand with a wide range of sizes, but the actual size of the camera may be smaller than stated;
• Supra is a budget equipment with normal quality, sometimes breakdowns occur, but most customers are satisfied;
• Elenberg is also a budget brand, but has a short warranty - only for a year;
• Bork - models are distinguished by high functionality and stylish appearance, but we must take into account that the brand is Russian, and the spare parts are Chinese;
• Scarlett is a British brand that wanted to produce equipment in Russia, but still chose China;
• Daewoo is one of the leaders in electronics, simple controls and stylish models, low cost and good quality. There are retro models;
• Erisson - simple, concise and budget models. Ideal for a cottage or rented apartment;
• Vitek is a very popular brand, there are many models with different numbers of functions.

The microwave does not heat - simple reasons

You decide to heat up a dish, the microwave works, but the temperature of the food does not rise. The reason can be either simple or complex. If the voltage is low, you need to install a stabilizer to correct the situation. Once you determine why the microwave is not heating food, you need to start repairing it. Is the furnace switched on in line with other appliances? Then switch some of the equipment to other outlets. Also make sure that the oven cord is not damaged.

Even old wiring can explain why the microwave stopped heating and defrosting food. Don't forget about preventive measures. It is extremely important to regularly clean the heat chamber from splashes of grease and food debris. To avoid unpleasant odors, use plastic lids and hoods.

Absolutely forbidden

We often hear complaints about manufacturers of household appliances. This is especially true for large companies such as Samsung and LG. But, often, people forget that they themselves cause irreparable damage to their equipment. There are a number of things that are prohibited from doing in the microwave:

1. Never place metal dishes or utensils in the microwave. It is important to use the correct utensils.
2. Under no circumstances should you run the microwave empty (for more details, see the article on what will happen if you turn on an empty microwave and whether this can be done).
3. Don't heat the eggs.
4. Do not use dishes that are tightly closed with a lid or cling film.

When buying equipment from a low price segment, be prepared for the fact that it will quickly fail. After all, the quality of Chinese products raises serious doubts.

More serious reasons

If the food does not heat up, the microwave oven does not turn on, or some modes stop working, then these are the first signs of serious malfunctions. Why doesn't the microwave heat up? Hardware components come out due to:

• normal wear and tear;
• mechanical damage;
• improper operation of equipment;
• short circuits.

To determine why the microwave beeps but does not heat food, and then fix the problem, you need to buy the appropriate spare parts.

Fuse

If the microwave disc is spinning and the light is on, but the food is not heating, then you should contact a professional. They will help you cope with the situation.

Fuse blown:

1. Remove the cover.
2. Blown fuses turn black or swell.
3. Check resistance.
4. Replace parts with proven and high-quality ones.

If the microwave operates but does not heat, disassemble the oven to check the functionality of other parts. It is possible that another component, for example, a magnetron, has broken.

In order to carefully examine the general condition of the fuses, you need to carefully remove the cover, removing the fasteners. The light in the microwave itself does not come on if the mains fuse is faulty. If you do not notice any serious external defects, then take an ohmmeter to check its condition. You can also pay attention to the condition of the cord and plug itself; they must be of high quality and without damage. This condition must be observed. There is a high-voltage fuse directly under the casing; this should also be checked. The safety of using a microwave oven depends on the reliability and serviceability of the parts.

Magnetron problems

If the microwave hums but does not heat, this may indicate problems in the magnetron. A malfunction of this part causes the microwave to turn on but not heat well. There is no need to immediately blame the magnetron for everything; this is due to the fact that well-known brands, for example, Samsung, may have problems with the solder joints of the filter coils when the lamp is operating. Remember that these difficulties can be eliminated quite simply without the help of specialists. But if there are no problems with soldering, you will need to pay attention to the channel thread.

You need to know one more rule in order not to make a mistake - the magnetron housing heats up to one hundred and fifty degrees during operation. It is for this reason that when the microwave was turned on, it was necessary to wait until the lamps cooled down. When you have checked everything and the food is not heating in the oven, replace the magnetron. But keep in mind that the new part must strictly comply with the established parameters and characteristics. You can make a replacement either yourself or by contacting the specialists whom you trust to solve this problem.

Problems with mica plate

What is the reason that the microwave does not heat food? If, after a detailed and careful check and replacement of parts, the oven turns on, but does not heat the food, an additional check of the mica plate will be required. A mica plate is necessary to cover the exit of the waveguide directly into the microwave chamber. If there is carbon deposits on the part, it will interfere with the proper operation of the oven. When serious defects appear, sparks may occur, and this, in turn, will lead to an unexpected fire. All your actions must be well thought out.

Carefully clean the plate from dust, and then carefully, following the rules, put it in place. Please note the following point: if you notice a hole in the plates, replace them as soon as possible. Show responsibility and you will prevent serious troubles from occurring.

This element can be purchased separately in the store without any problems. At the same time, if you purchased a plate from Samsung, but you need a component for Sharp, you will have to make holes for the screws.

Capacitor burnt out or diode faulty

What could be the problem if the oven stops heating? Check with a tester to see if the capacitor or diode is broken. When a problem is identified, the parts are changed. Take care of your chosen microwave oven, and then it will delight you for many years with its serviceability and positive characteristics. If problems do appear, then it is necessary to urgently begin to eliminate them. You can entrust the work to professionals or, if you have experience and relevant knowledge, cope with the tasks yourself. Do not ignore the instructions and instructions for using the purchased equipment. Valuable recommendations will help you prevent unexpected device failure.

Broken multiplier:

1. Resistance will indicate a problem.
2. Check the diode itself.
3. Damage to the magnetron.

Often, problems of this kind can be eliminated with simple efforts, without outside help: you just need to understand the documentation and replace the part. But this will require patience and careful attention to detail.

When the microwave was turned on, the light began to come on, but the equipment still does not perform specific tasks, under no circumstances should you throw it away, everything can be fixed. The whole point is that you violated certain rules for using the device. Anyone can face this problem. Eliminating defects does not always require special knowledge and skills.

If the microwave breaks down, first use the instructions, as they contain hints from the manufacturer as to why the oven may fail. If a solution is not found, check the voltage, also disconnect the device from the network and check the microswitches.

A multiplier is a part that consists of a diode and a capacitor. The reliability of the capacitor can be checked with an ohmmeter. Here you will need minimal knowledge: you saw that the device’s arrow deviates, then points to infinity, then you can say with complete confidence that everything is in order with the device. But when resistance is detected, it means there is a breakdown. This moment (problems with the capacitor) is indicated by the peculiar behavior of the equipment: it hums, but does not do the work. Replace the diode with a serviceable and high-quality one.

To repair a microwave, you need to check the component with an ohmmeter. If the readings are 0.1 Ohm, everything is fine, you can rest assured.

How to find a breakdown: detailed instructions

First of all, it is recommended to read the instructions for the microwave oven, paying special attention to the last paragraphs - about possible problems and malfunctions in the operation of the device. Most often, the instructions indicate methods for solving the problem, but if there is no documentation left for the microwave, then you can begin self-diagnosis.

First, it is recommended to measure the network voltage, because even with small deviations, within 5-10V, incorrect operation of household appliances can be observed.

After this, you should turn off the power to the device and use an ohmmeter to check the functionality of the miniature switch on the oven door. Next you will need to remove the top cover by unscrewing the screws.

Proceed to checking the mains fuse. If you cannot visually detect a wire that has burned out inside, and the fuse is not black, then you can use the resistance sister. This will help you know for sure that the part is working properly. Using an ohmmeter, check the high voltage fuse in the housing. If the device shows that there is even a slight resistance, then the situation is not so sad.

If the problem has not yet been found, then it is necessary to check the components of the multiplier, or rather the diode and capacitor. This must be done using an ohmmeter. If the capacitor is faulty, then the instrument needle will not move. This means a break in contact. If a small charge occurs when the arrow deflects, then the part is working.

Be sure to check the feed-through capacitors and filters on the body of the electromagnetic lamp. If, when checking with an ohmmeter, there is no zero resistance, then this is normal. If the device shows zero, it is necessary to replace the part.

Don't forget to check the primary winding of the transformer using a tester. After turning on the microwave oven, the voltage on the tester should be at least 220 Volts, with heating turned on.

Troubleshooting

A huge number of reasons why a microwave oven does not heat can be detected and solved quickly and in a timely manner. First of all, you need to prepare some tools in advance - a screwdriver, measuring instruments. These include an ohmmeter - a device that will do an excellent job of diagnosing problems in a microwave oven.

Microwave works but doesn't heat well? Troubleshooting methods:

1. Incorrectly marked mode - use the instructions to set the desired command (“warm-up”); turn on the oven for a while and make sure that the food is heating up - the problem is solved.
2. Insufficient voltage - take care to install an uninterruptible power supply.
3. Problems with the normal functioning of the door - replace parts.

If the microwave oven is no longer in good working order and cannot cope with direct tasks, first refer to the instructions, which contain a list of tips and valuable recommendations on why the oven fails. If you don't find a useful answer, check an item such as voltage. If everything is in order, unplug the oven and check other elements - microswitches.

In some situations, it is impossible to restore a non-working Samsung microwave or a device from another manufacturer. Even troubleshooting a magnetron is too costly a process. It is more rational to purchase new equipment.

DIY repair

There are not many problems with a microwave oven that you can solve yourself. If you are unsure of your abilities, it is better not to start repairs at all. Before you pick up something to do, you need to check it for charge.

The essence of self-repair is only to replace broken parts with new ones. You won’t be able to repair the parts yourself without experience. The operating principle is as follows:

• The fuse is a simple and cheap consumable that performs very important functions, so it is advisable to replace it at the first sign of a problem. To select a suitable part, it is recommended to take the spoiled part with you to the store. It is best not to use specimens with thin wire - they are not as reliable;
• capacitors - easy to check with a capacitance measuring device, and also easy to replace. Caution: The capacitor may retain an electrical charge for a long time, which may result in electric shock;
• diodes - it is difficult to thoroughly check their performance, so they are replaced if there are no other objective reasons for the food not heating. It is easier to replace the diode than to examine it at home;
• magnetron - easy to replace, but the purchase itself can be expensive. It makes sense to think about buying new equipment. If you decide to buy a part, then you should take the spoiled copy to the store or at least copy its serial number;
• transformer - replacing it with your own hands is dangerous. Not recommended for beginners - because... This is a complex procedure that requires basic knowledge of electronics (you need to be able to calculate the nominal resistance of the transformer windings and use an ohmmeter).

A win-win option is to call a specialist. He will always accurately, quickly and without problems determine what exactly the breakdown is, and will also immediately repair the microwave, if you do not have to order rare parts. The easiest way to “accept” the work of a master is to simply warm up a glass of water.

Repair rules

In order not to harm the equipment and yourself during repairs, you must follow a few simple rules:

1. Always unplug the cord from the outlet before starting repairs.
2. Use protective dielectric gloves.
3. Only use tools with insulated handles.
4. Do not operate a disassembled, empty, open or broken microwave oven.
5. Discharge the capacitor before repairing.
6. Don't forget any metal objects inside.
7. Do not make holes in the housing.

Preventing damage

We looked at how to determine the cause of a malfunction, as well as how to repair a Sharp microwave oven with your own hands. Now is the time to talk about prevention, which helps prevent failure of the basic components of the stove. You can avoid serious damage by following a few simple tips:

• Under no circumstances should food be heated in metal containers;
• do not turn on the oven without placing a dish or product in the heat chamber;
• You can’t heat eggs;
• heat food in plastic containers with lids.

These are the basic rules for operating microwave ovens. More useful information can be found in the user manual and technical documentation.

How much will the repair cost?

Repairing a microwave oven yourself involves some financial expenses, but they are not significant, since a high-quality fuse costs about 50 rubles, capacitors 100-150 rubles, high-voltage diodes from 15 to 200 rubles, depending on the design features.

The most serious costs will be incurred by purchasing a new magnetron; its cost depends on the specific model, but on average it is 1500-2000 rubles.

However, in some situations, it is not possible to carry out repairs yourself and the help of a qualified specialist is required; below are the approximate minimum costs for the most popular repair services:

1. Replacing the power cable usually costs 200–250 rubles.
2. Work on replacing sensors , capacitors or high-voltage fuses costs from 300 – 350 rubles.
3. Work on repairing the oven door , replacing mica, electronic control unit, fan or tray motor costs from 400 – 500 rubles.
4. Work on troubleshooting the waveguide on internal surfaces, replacing the magnetron or power transformer costs from 500 to 600 rubles.
5. The most expensive thing is to completely replace the grill heating element ; usually this procedure costs 650 – 700 rubles.

Rules for caring for a microwave oven

In order not to have to figure out why the microwave oven does not work after a short period of use, you need to properly care for your household appliances. Rules for caring for your microwave:

1. The heat-resistant glass tray must be washed with liquid soap.
2. Do not use abrasive powders to clean the grates, they just need to be "soaked".
3. Promptly remove any remaining fat or food from the surface of the chamber.
4. The most unpretentious in maintenance is a microwave with internal walls made of stainless steel; they can even be cleaned with abrasive agents.
5. Under no circumstances should the oven be cleaned or washed while it is on.
6. After cooking, wipe the oven with a microfiber or lint-free cloth dampened with plain water.
7. To remove condensation from the walls of the microwave oven, wipe them with an ordinary napkin.
8. If the oven is very dirty, do not use the grill or convection mode, otherwise the grease will turn into brown spots.
9. Use cleaning products labeled as Microwave cleaner.
10. There is no need to touch the ventilation, as well as the compartment in which the magnetron is located.

These simple tips will help your microwave operate longer.

Precautions for repairs

The internal structure of microwave ovens of all models and different manufacturers is almost the same.

It won’t be difficult for a trained person to figure it out. Nevertheless, it would be useful to remind you:

1. Disconnect the microwave from the mains voltage before starting the test and discharge the capacitor.
2. Do not turn on the device if the fan is not working.
3. Do not start the magnetron with the door open or if the chamber is damaged.
4. Since the magnetron emission is very high, do not attempt to test its functionality when it is removed.
5. Install equipment parts to be replaced only with the same parameters as the burnt ones.
6. After repair, carefully remove no longer needed or replaced parts and debris inside the device.

Remember that you can only turn on the oven when the chamber is loaded. To check the functionality, place a glass dish with water there.

You will need:

• instructions with a diagram of the arrangement of blocks and components of the device;
• Phillips screwdriver;
• pliers;
• rubber gloves (you can use those purchased at a pharmacy);
• multimeter

Useful tips

In order not to waste time determining the reason why the Daewoo microwave stopped heating, you need to adhere to the basic rules for operating the equipment:

• toxic cleaning powders can get into food or damage the magnetron;
• dirt and grease from the body can be removed with a damp cloth;
• to remove dirt from the door, use a damp sponge and wipe the insulation;
• It is advisable to wipe touch panels with dry wipes;
• to get rid of an unpleasant odor, heat a glass of water with a slice of lemon;
• Reheat food by covering it with a special plastic lid to keep the walls of the heat chamber clean.

If the enamel inside the microwave has peeled off, be sure to paint over the damaged areas.

Prevention of microwave ovens

Here's what not to do to prevent your microwave from breaking:

• Do not heat food in iron cookware, plates coated with metal, or gold or silver parts.
• Do not slam the containers tightly - leave a hole for steam to escape.
• Do not use extension cords.
• Do not heat alcoholic beverages.
• Do not use the stove as a stand or shelf.
• Do not let the stove run idle.
• Don't try to cook eggs in the microwave.

Here are some tips and tricks to keep your microwave from stopping heating:

• Place the microwave in the kitchen as recommended by the equipment manufacturer.
• If you bake vegetables with their skins on, make cuts in them.
• Close the door carefully so as not to break the latches.
• Cover the dish with a special plastic cap - if it is not included, be sure to buy it. It will simplify the maintenance of the unit and extend the period of trouble-free operation.
• Heat food in containers made of heat-resistant transparent glass, ceramics, or porcelain. Special heat-resistant plastic - polyamide or polypropylene - is also suitable. The most uniform heating is in a round, oval bowl.

Warranty and self-repair

It should also be noted that if you tamper with the integrity of the case yourself, the warranty will be completely void.

Therefore, before you try to repair the microwave yourself, make sure that the warranty period has either expired or you are 100% confident in your ability to repair it. Otherwise you will have to pay for it out of your own pocket. Sometimes service repairs cost 2/3 of the price of the microwave oven itself.

If the plate in the microwave does not rotate, then it is easy to fix. You just need to put in a little effort and know how to use the tools. Of course, if you have a warranty, then the best option would be to send the stove to a service center where they will repair it for free.

Transformer primary winding

You need to check the voltage of the primary winding of the transformer using a tester. The operating voltage should be 220 W.

Do not forget to disconnect the household appliance from the electricity before repairing it!

And remember, even when switched off, any equipment can cause an electric shock if used incorrectly. Therefore, if you are not confident in yourself and your skills, it is better to entrust microwave oven repair to specialists.

Simple problems

If the microwave stops heating, do not rush to blame the manufacturer for poor-quality internal parts - very often the cause of the malfunction is more than trivial:

• Voltage level drop in the network. Even a minimal decrease in voltage, by 15-20 V, can negatively affect the performance of the microwave - due to lack of energy, it simply will not heat up fully. If voltage drops in the house are regular, it is advisable to use an uninterruptible power supply.
• Network overload. If two or three powerful appliances are connected to one outlet, there may be a network overload, due to which the oven will also not receive additional power. The solution to the problem is to connect each device to a separate outlet.

First of all, make sure that the electricity supply to the microwave is normal.
The door is broken. Very often, the reason for the loss of functionality of the microwave is a malfunction of the door, or more precisely, its latch. It’s all simple: the door does not close tightly, so the oven chamber loses its seal and the heating of the food is significantly weakened. Replacing the latch will help fix the problem.

In all three cases, the reason for the poor functioning of the microwave lies not in the deformation of its internal devices, but in external problems - all of them can be solved without any repair work.

But if none of the proposed options suits you and after a thorough check the device still refuses to heat, then you are dealing with a breakdown of internal elements: fuses, capacitor, diode or magnetron - we’ll figure out how to solve the problem if each one fails from these devices.

What to do

First of all, you need to identify the cause of the microwave oven malfunction. For example, improper operation or internal malfunctions of functional elements.

When doing DIY repairs, you should adhere to the following rules:

• always disconnect the device from the network;
• use personal protective equipment (insulator gloves);
• use of tools with well insulated handles;
• You cannot turn on a disassembled device;
• Do not leave metal objects in the chamber;
• It is not recommended to make additional holes in the housing.

If you do not have specialized tools and skills in repairing household appliances, it is better not to risk expensive equipment and your own safety. In this case, you should contact repair services.

Useful articles, news and reviews on our Yandex Zen channel

Non-standard use of microwaves

A microwave oven is one of the most versatile appliances. There's so much that's not built into this miniature box! Each of the irreplaceable functions of the microwave is described in the instructions. But there is something that no instruction manual will tell you:

1. This miracle of technology will help you forget about tears while cutting an onion. Just put the cleaned head in the microwave for half a minute, and the problem is solved!
2. If you have old spices stored at home, heating them in the microwave for about 15 seconds will restore their original flavor.
3. If you urgently need to melt butter or margarine, a microwave is ideal for this purpose. Simply place the briquette on a plate and microwave for one minute.
4. Stuck chips can be brought back into life by drying them in the microwave on paper towels or napkins.
5. But everyone’s favorite crackers, after being in the miracle oven for half a minute, will experience a rebirth.
6. Bread, on the contrary, can be restored to softness and freshness. To do this, place the stale piece in a damp towel and microwave it.
7. You can use the microwave to make delicious bacon chips. To do this, place the slices on a napkin and send them to dry.
8. If frozen food is wrapped in paper, it will not end up falling apart.
9. If you want to get chocolate paste, and you just happen to have a chocolate bar lying around at home, then the microwave will be an excellent helper for this.

How does food heat up in a microwave?

The essence of this process lies in special dipole molecules, which are positively charged on one side and negatively charged on the other. Almost all food consists of this kind of molecules, but there is especially a lot of them in water, which is also part of any food. Here's how the heating happens:

1. When there is no electric field, these molecules are scattered randomly. But when the field appears, they instantly line up in straight lines, with their positive sides in the same direction.
2. If you turn the plate, which is what the oven does, then the molecules will turn around following the electric field.
3. Microwaves have a frequency of 2450 MHz; as a result of calculations, it can be found that in one second molecules change their position almost 5 billion times. The friction that actively arises in this case releases a huge amount of heat, warming up the food.
4. First, only the surface of the food is heated, and then, due to thermal conductivity, the temperature inside it also rises.

Visual assessment of the scale of the problem

This is the first thing you have to do before any equipment repair. Based on the characteristics of the malfunction, the potential culprit is quickly identified.

1. The microwave does not turn on. Most likely the fuse needs to be checked and replaced.
2. The oven turns on and off on its own, or refuses to turn off. The vent is clogged or the relay needs repair.
3. The device works, but heats too little. Sources of trouble are magnetron or voltage surges.
4. The device does not heat up, but there is light and the plate is spinning. The culprit is a dropped voltage or a circuit that requires calling.
5. The plate rotates, but it does it strangely - jerkily. The engine is faulty or the problem is caused by grooves covered with dirt.
6. The timer is ok, but the microwave does not heat. The problem may be that the door is locked.
7. There is a burning smell and the device sparks. The mica gasket urgently needs cleaning.
8. The oven is working, but the display is acting up: it does not reflect all the indicators. The problem is in the screen.
9. Neither the microwave nor the display functions. The fault lies with the damaged processor.

If the buttons cannot be pressed, they will have to be replaced or soldered.

If the malfunction occurs due to carelessness

Do not rush to take the microwave to a service center or call a technician - perhaps the tray does not rotate due to some small non-technical issue.
Then you can fix it yourself. When inspecting the device, pay attention to the following points:

• The dish you placed in the chamber is too large - touching the walls, it prevents normal rotation. Because of this, the plate with wheels is completely blocked or rotates jerkily.
• Food has fallen out of a container placed in the chamber and is blocking movement. Even crumbs stuck between the wheels can cause braking and blocking. The size of the product may also hinder rotation. Let's say you put a piece of meat to defrost, but it is too large and when turning the tray it touches the walls - the movement becomes intermittent or stops altogether.
• You may have cleaned the turntable and installed it incorrectly; if the ridges of the bushing or the bushing are not properly seated in the slots, there will be no movement. To fix the problem, you just need to place the pallet correctly.

Why does a microwave oven spark during operation: reasons, solutions

Most often, the cause of such a malfunction is user inattention. Turning on a device with an empty platform, metal objects in a working device, drops of dried fat on a mica plate - this is what can cause such a nuisance.

Even utensils with gold or silver rims cannot be used for microwave heating, let alone stainless steel or enameled steel utensils. Let's look at the causes of sparks and methods for eliminating them.

Microwave oven malfunctions causing cracking noises and sparks

A mica plate, if it is not promptly cleaned of any grease that has fallen on it, begins to deteriorate over time. This happens due to the heating of food debris accumulated on it. As a result, a small black speck appears on the mica plate (microwave diffuser), which quickly grows during operation of the microwave oven. The process is accompanied by smoke, sparks, and crackling sounds.

Consequences of burning a mica plate (microwave diffuser)

Crackling and sparks inside the microwave: what to do, how to troubleshoot

The first step is to thoroughly clean the inside of the microwave oven. To replace it, it is better to purchase a larger plate. Having attached the old one to it, we cut out the required shape with ordinary scissors, and sand the edges with sandpaper. Next, we mark and drill holes for the mounting screws, after which all that remains is to fix the cut plate with self-tapping screws.

Mark the outline of the old plate with a pencil and cut out a new one

IMPORTANT INFORMATION! After removing the mica plate, pay attention to the condition of the magnetron cap. If necessary, it should also be replaced.

Another cause of crackling and sparks can be peeling of the camera enamel. This happens when too large dishes are placed in the oven to heat up. It rubs against the walls, leaving scratches that lead to sparks and can easily damage the magnetron. If scratches appear, perform the following actions.

1. Thoroughly wash the chamber to remove dried fat.
2. Clean the scratches with sandpaper and degrease.
3. We apply a primer, and then 2-3 layers of enamel (food grade, fireproof or electrically conductive).
4. We wait for it to dry completely, after which the device can be used.

This kind of microwave oven cannot be used - it requires restoration and replacement of the mica plate, which is already starting to burn out.