Maximize your investment with these tips:
Use a surge protector to safeguard the electrical components. Avoid placing metal objects inside the microwave. Use a gentle soap and water for cleaning. Do not turn the microwave on when empty.
With normal usage for an average family and good maintenance, a microwave often lasts for 7 to 8 years. If the microwave is used less frequently by a single person or a couple and is well-maintained, the lifespan can increase to up to 10 years.
The most common cause of microwave failure is its magnetron. The magnetron is what produces the microwaves that cook your food, and it's also the part that is most likely to burn out. Symptoms of a faulty or burned-out magnetron include a microwave that doesn't heat food properly or doesn't work.
Our survey results suggest that you should consider repairing the broken microwave if it's still under warranty or if it's 5 years old or less, but you'll definitely want to replace it if it's more than 5 years old. Once you spend $500 or more on an OTR microwave, there are more decision points.
Old microwaves are generally safe to use, with one caveat
If the screen or the rubber seals around the microwave door have been tampered with or damaged, it is possible that a higher amount of radiation could leak out of the machine.
To avoid replacing yours more than about once every 10 years—which is how long most manufacturers tell us they should last—you'll want to take care of it. Your microwave may not get as grimy as your oven, but even so, one of the best ways to keep it humming along is to keep it clean.
Call the phone inside the microwave.
If you hear no ring, your microwave is not leaking radiation. If you hear a ring, your microwave is leaking radiation, assuming the settings on your phone are correct. It's highly unlikely that your leaking microwave is a danger to your health.
Replacing a microwave magnetron costs between $100 and $200 on average. Labor for replacing the magnetron makes up half of the cost, so if you want to save money, consider installing this replacement part yourself.
A microwave can last anywhere between 9 and 10 years for most households. Common problems when you know a microwave is coming to the end of its life include not heating food adequately, the carousel not working properly, or the touchpad no longer functioning.
The quality of the appliance: More expensive microwaves typically last longer than more budget-focused models – something that's so often true in the world of kitchen appliances. Similarly, a commercial microwave is more expensive, but is built to withstand a lot more punishment.
Microwave ovens will not last forever. They last a mighty long time, but eventually its performance will deteriorate. It may take you a long time for you to even realise its deterioration as it is so gradual. The magnetron component of a microwave oven, which generates the microwaves, does eventually wear out.
If your microwave isn't heating food, it's likely that the magnetron in your appliance is broken. Unfortunately, a burned-out magnetron can't be repaired, it has to be replaced. Other issues that can lead to food not being heated, includes a broken diode or a faulty door switch.
Those features greatly limit exposure to levels of radiation that are already low. And since the radiation levels drop sharply with increasing distance, the levels two feet away are about one-hundredth the amount at two inches. Proximity to a microwave oven is not dangerous.
Magnetron tubes have a lifetime of only a few thousand hours—from 2,000 hours up to 8,000 hours depending on the tube.
If you take good care of your microwave up into its old age, there's a low risk of harm, but if it's damaged in any way you may want to get it checked out. If you've looked after it well, there's no reason why a vintage microwave should be dangerous.
It's just heating your food. The non-ionizing radiation from microwaves is only produced when the microwave is on and cooking. All the microwaves are made inside your oven and absorbed by the food. Microwaves are built so that electromagnetic radiation doesn't escape the oven.
Microwaves should not be confused with X-rays or other intense forms of energy. The microwaves generated by a microwave oven do not cause food or the oven itself to become radioactive.
The first indicator that your microwave is better off replaced is the five-year lifespan. Microwaves can last a long time, but they have the shortest lifespan of household appliances. If your microwave is over 6 years and especially if it's approaching 10 years old, you're likely better off with a new microwave.
There are no limits to how many times you can safely reheat leftover home-cooked meals. However, best practice is to limit the number of times you do so. More often than not, you wouldn't need to reheat one type of dish more than once. If you are making meals in bulk, separate and store them in individual portions.
Rust on the insides of your microwave oven or its door can cause microwave radiation leakages. Science experts seem to acknowledge that microwave radiation can affect human biological cell processes and cause problems such as glaucoma, leukemia as well as sterility.
Upgrading to a new microwave saves you money in energy consumption by greatly reducing energy use on standby. Microwave ovens reduce cooking time from hours to minutes, while convection models further reduce the duration. Over time, an over-the-range, built-in, or countertop microwave loses some of its power.
Place a glass bowl (preferably a 2 quart glass measuring bowl) filled with 1 quart of water in the center of the microwave oven cavity. The water temperature must be between 59 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 24 degrees Celsius). Heat the water for exactly 2 minutes and 30 seconds on the High power level.