Why does a microwave oven spark inside: what to do?

Content:

Microwave device
Possible causes of the problem
Repair of faults related to mica
A few tips and tricks

All electrical appliances break down sooner or later and the microwave oven is no exception. One of the common problems with it is sparks inside the microwave. Like why is the microwave sparkling inside you will find out in this article. We will tell you about the causes of the problem, as well as about the possibility of repair.

Microwave device

microwave device

To understand the problem, what to do if the microwave sparks inside, you need to know its structure and principle of operation. The basis of a microwave oven is a device called a magnetron. Depending on the operating mode, voltage is supplied to it. Under the action of voltage on the magnetron, short energy pulses are emitted. A certain amount of waves pass through the waveguide and exit through a hole made inside the microwave oven. For the normal functioning of the microwave, the presence of food inside is required.

It is the products that absorb the emitted microwaves, which can no longer be reflected back into the emitter. Because of the reflected waves the microwave is bursting and that very unpleasant sparking occurs.

A little tip - if you are heating a small amount of food inside, then you need to put a glass of water with it, which will take on excess radiation, this will extend the life cycle of your microwave oven.

See also:

Possible causes of the problem

sparks in the microwave

Arcing can occur due to some basic factors, below we describe them:

overheated mica plate for the microwave;
there was a violation of the enamel layer of the main chamber;
there are metal foreign objects inside the main compartment.

The very first reason is perhaps the most basic, in this case an urgent replacement micas in the microwave... Burnout occurs due to the fact that during heating of food, fat gets on the mica plate, and causes temperature fluctuations in it. If you do not take any action, then following the mica, the magnetron, which is very expensive, can also become unusable, and repairs will cost you a pretty penny, and it will be easier for you to buy a new microwave oven than to repair an old one.

In case of replacement, the first thing you need to do is go to the store and buy an original part or one that is close to it in terms of characteristics and dimensions. Microwave mica sold in many hardware or household stores, in extreme cases, you can order it in the online store of the manufacturer of your unit, or on a third-party resource. The main thing that microwave mica the oven was the right size and was not smaller or larger.

Enamel coating - in order to restore the original layer, you need to purchase a special product sold in specialized stores.It is not recommended to paint the inner walls of the chamber by other means. It is best to contact a service center, where they will perform all the necessary operations to replace the inner coating.

As for sparking due to metal objects, then everything is simple, it is worth checking their presence in the main chamber and removing accordingly.

Repair of faults related to mica

microwave oven repair

In order to get rid of sparking and prevent further damage, the following manipulations must be performed:

dismantle the old unusable plate, for this you need to disconnect the latches or fasteners, it all depends on the manufacturer;
put this plate on a new one, and with its help cut out mica of the corresponding dimensions, if you have it larger;
also, during replacement, you can check the protective cap on the magnetron itself and, if necessary, replace it in order to avoid further malfunctions;
install the new element in place of the old one, and fix it;
After all of the above, check the microwave oven to see if it is working properly. In no case do not carry out the check with an empty chamber, it may end badly.

Is it possible to operate the microwave without mica?

Mica for a microwave oven is a protective shield for the element behind it - the magnetron, namely its antenna. With careful use of the microwave oven, it can work for some time without this protective screen. To do this, cover all food with special lids.

See also - DIY microwave oven repair at home

A few tips and tricks

causes of breakdown

We told you why the microwave oven sparks inside, and described what to do. From all of the above, we can conclude that the main cause of breakdown in a microwave oven is faulty mica, and it needs to be changed, but it is best to provide this work to specialists with experience and the necessary knowledge to repair these devices. But if you nevertheless decide to replace the mica plate yourself, it is worth remembering some of the nuances:

before replacing the mica from the microwave, it is worth removing food and everything else from the main chamber;
it is worth remembering that microwave mica is made of a rather fragile material, and you need to handle it very carefully. When you cut it, use as sharp objects as possible to do everything quickly and not to damage the mica itself;
when you make holes, punch them with a drill or punch;
After you cut out the microwave mica, be sure to sand the edges of the mica.

The newly installed plate will serve you long enough if you cover them with a lid while heating food, this will protect not only the mica, but also the inner walls themselves, since it will be easier to wash the lid itself than the main chamber. Take care of your home appliances.

See also: