To repair a microwave, first assess the situation and determine what exactly is wrong, whether it is the turntable, the microwave fan, or something else. Next, have your microwave manual or the company’s website on hand to order parts. Finally, only actually fix a microwave if you are confident in your ability to complete the project in a safe manner. Microwave appliances can be dangerous if put together wrong and then used; for example, they can shock people or start a fire days after the repair.
If your microwave is sparking during operation, either the microwave is dirty or the stirrer is not working. When the microwave is dirty, the food splattered on the walls of the machine continues to cook, which can cause sparks. This is easily fixed by simply cleaning the microwave according to the manual. The stirrer is the fan usually located on the ceiling of the microwave. If the stirrer is not moving, some part of it is probably broken and must be replaced.
Sometimes it takes less than 30 seconds to repair a microwave, like in the case of a misaligned turntable. If the turntable is not working, adjust it to ensure it is sitting on the guide properly. Occasionally the carousel cooking tray, the plastic piece the turntable sits on, is blocked or broken, and clearing out debris or replacing this piece fixes the problem. In some cases, a turntable that does not turn means the carousal tray motor has burned out. To repair your microwave in this case, it is a bit more complicated and depends on your microwave model.
Microwaves have a fuse that must be in working order for the machine to operate. Sometimes slamming the microwave door can blow this fuse. To repair a microwave in this case, just replace the fuse or have a professional do it for you. While the expense of some microwave repairs are such that you might as well buy a new microwave, replacing the fuse is usually not one of those repairs. Whenever your microwave stops working, the fuse is the second thing to check, right after whether or not it is plugged in.
To repair a microwave with a broken turntable, simply buy a new turntable. You can usually do this by calling a number in the microwave’s manual or visiting the company’s website. Do not use the microwave without the turntable, unless the microwave is a type that specifically allows this.