Residential microwave oven inspection, troubleshooting & repair guide:

This article describes simple safety checks and initial steps that you can take to get a microwave oven working again, or to decide that it's time to buy a new device, or that you would be smart to call an appliance repair person.

Microwave Oven Inspection & Repair

As adapted (with permission) and expanded from Carson Dunlop Associates Home Reference Guide:

• Watch out: Microwave safety components must remain in place and be un-damaged.
  
  All microwave ovens have a double interlock system to prevent operation when the door latch is released. In addition, a computerized monitoring system stops the oven if one or both of the interlocking systems fail.
• The microwave oven door seal is designed to prevent leakage of microwave energy, and the glass window on the oven door is shielded with a metal screen. Because of the strict safety standards, owner service and disassembly are discouraged.
  
  Most manufacturers will void their warranties if the oven has been tampered with. Service technicians can check microwave ovens for leakage.
• Microwave ovens should never be turned on when empty, since this may damage the magnetron.
• An inoperative microwave may be the result of no electrical power, a faulty control system, or a faulty magnetron.
  
  A service technician should be contacted if any problems with the door are suspected. The door gasket should seal tightly, and the microwave should shut off when the door latch is opened.
• Microwave ovens should not be installed above cooktops unless they are rated for this location. The manufacturer’s installation guide will usually indicate this.

MIcrowave Oven Service & Repair Manual Downloads

• Amana, Jenn-Air Maytag MICROWAVE OVEN SERVICE MANUAL [PDF] (2001-2002) Models ACO1520AB ACO1520AC ACO1520AW ACO1530AB ACO1530AW ACO1560AB ACO1560AC ACO1560AS ACO1560AW ACO1840AB ACO1840AC ACO1840AW ACO1860AB ACO1860AC ACO1860AS ACO1860AW JMV8196AAB JMV8196AAQ JMV8196AAS JMV8196AAW MMV4184AAB MMV4184AAQ MMV4184AAW MMV5156AAB MMV5156AAQ MMV5156AAS MMV5156AAW MMV5186AAB MMV5186AAQ MMV5186AAS MMV5186AAW MVHRK3 MVHRK4
• Amana Maytag COMMERCIAL MICROWAVE OVEN SERVICE MANUAL [PDF] (2002 & earlier)
• Jenn-Air GAS WALL OVEN SERVICE & REPAIR MANUAL [PDF] JGW8130DD (2004)
• Jenn-Air Maytag MICROWAVE OVEN SERVICE & REPAIR MANUAL [PDF] (1997-1999) P/M 16008497
• Maytag Acellis 2X MICROWAVE & ELECTRIC OVEN REPAIR MANUAL [PDF] (2000)
• Maytag MICROWAVE OVEN SERVICE MANUAL [PDF] 1992-1997

..

Carson Dunlop Associates' Home Reference Book

To purchase a more extensive printed collection of information about home inspection and maintenance see

• The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
  
  Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
  
• The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
  
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

...

Continue reading at APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see

Microwave oven inspect, Diagnose, Repair Guides:

• APPLIANCE DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
• EMF MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS
• MICROWAVE OVEN REPAIR
• MICROWAVE OVEN VENT INSTALL
• Radio Frequency RF DETECTION METERS low-cost and accurate radio frequency or RF detection and measurement devices suitable for radio, TV, cellphone, microwave, and similar signals.

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MICROWAVE OVEN REPAIR at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to APPLIANCE REPAIR

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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