Microwaves are becoming a necessity in households of all shapes and sizes. Yet, they can be an expensive purchase, so people want to extend the life of their microwave for as long as possible. This requires being able to repair little and big issues that can come up.
To fix a microwave door, the best option is to try and remove the door by taking out the screws and pieces holding it together. If that doesn’t work, it is a good idea to inspect the other parts related to the door or opening/closing the microwave and make sure they are in good condition.
With this basic idea, it’s important to delve into why microwaves have doors, what kinds of doors microwaves have, what the common issues are that cause microwave door issues, what the process is for fixing each type, and what tools and resources are available for microwave repair.
Why do Microwaves Have Doors?
Some people who have microwave door issues might not want to go through the hassle of fixing a door. They will think about removing the door and leaving the microwave doorless. However, this is not a wise shortcut.
Microwaves are required to have doors to promote the safety of a household and a living space. When a microwave is cooking, it emits some radioactive waves called microwaves. These waves usually cause water molecules to speed up, causing heat. However, these waves can also have detrimental effects on people and their health.
The door is meant to contain the waves inside the microwave and focus the energy on the food inside. The waves have no connection to health issues when used on food products, so a person is safe to eat the food inside. It’s simply a matter of safety that the microwave has a door in the first place.
There are some other additional benefits that doors provide. For example, the doors keep any spills and bubbling liquid inside the microwave. It can also be a nice place to put warm foods in as a storage place. This can keep children and animals away from warm foods that could hurt them.
What Kind of Doors do Microwaves Have?
People may not realize it, but microwaves do have some distinct features and models. Older ones have harder buttons, newer ones might have what seems like touch buttons and modern amenities. There are even some microwaves that have the ability to switch heat settings. There are three main types of doors that microwaves have: manual, push button, and touch button.
Manual doors are doors that have a handle on them that people pull on to open or push to close. These types of doors are common on older microwaves and are typically held shut by a latch. They also have switches that connect the circuit of a microwave once the door is closed. These models tend to be the cheapest, but also have a tendency to break more often than other models.
Push button doors are doors that can only be opened by pressing a button. The button is what unlocks the latch to open the door and shuts off the switch that makes the microwave work. These are in-between models of microwaves that can have physical mechanisms or technological mechanisms holding the door closed. Sometimes, the door is held shut with a magnet instead of a latch.
Touch button microwaves are microwaves that have doors that open by pressing a button but have additional features than a push button door does. They are different than push button microwaves because they have more modern technology that reads the pressure on the number and settings buttons, similar to a phone’s touch screen.
These can have latches but are more commonly seen with magnets holding the door closed. These microwaves are the most modern, have the most technology placed in them, and are usually the most expensive models.
What are Common Issues That Cause Microwave Doors to Break?
There are many different types of potential issues that can cause a microwave door to break. Some of these include things like improper maintenance, rusting, food buildup, and simple things like the wheel and plate not being put in the microwave properly.
Many of the issues that can cause microwave doors to break are easily preventable. Improper maintenance can be as simple as leaving the door open too long, overcooking food items, and even just not cleaning it enough. It is recommended that the door remains closed unless there is moisture condensing in the microwave. This reduces the wear and tear on the microwave and reduces the likelihood of the door getting damaged.
It is also recommended to put foods in for the recommended period of time. Some items, like leftovers, do not have a recommended time. It is safer to start small, at like a minute, and add more time as necessary. Some people recommend cleaning a microwave after every use. This can be unreasonable with certain lifestyles, but it is important to clean it on a regular basis.
Rust is usually caused by prolonged periods of time with steam or water vapor that is trapped inside the microwave. The best way to prevent this is to leave the microwave door open after cooking foods with high moisture content like soups, stews, pasta dishes, chowders, and other similar meal types.
Food buildup should be reduced by regularly cleaning the microwave. As for putting the microwave together, it is best to follow the owner’s manual to insure the best results.
What Tools are Available and Recommended for Microwave Repair?
Many people may not realize this, but there are tools available for small appliance repairs that are handy to have around. Some of these are microwave and small appliance specific, others are just generally a good idea to own and have.
The recommended tools for microwave repair include a multimeter, screwdrivers, a cordless drill, needle nose pliers, wire cutters, a crescent wrench, a flashlight, and a putty knife.
A multimeter is a device that measures electrical output from a device. This can be helpful when trying to decide if a problem is related to the electrical circuits or is a malfunction of the board. This device is also multipurpose and can be used on a variety of devices.
The two recommended screwdrivers are ones that have a Phillips head and a Standard head. Phillips head screws are screws that have a four-point star shape and standards typical have a four-point cross shape. It is important to make sure that a person is using the correct screwdriver head because the correct screwdriver will help people unscrew the machine quickly, easily, and without ruining the screw. There are also other head shapes worth looking into, as some microwaves and other appliances use unique screw shapes to hold them together.
Cordless drills are super nice to keep around the house. They are multi-purpose and can be used for a variety of projects. People use them in home repairs, like fixing handrails on stairs or readjusting picture frames on a wall. They can also be used to make home decor.
Many people enjoy making their own tables, shelves, desks, and other odds and ends. If a person has this kind of drill and some other tools, they can be equipped to handle microwave problems and make additional adjustments to their home and other appliances.
Needle nose pliers are helpful to get a grip around smaller pieces and screws. Sometimes, fingertips do not have the same type of grip. Hands also might not be able to reach the part that needs twisted, removed, or pushed in. Needle nose pliers are able to do what fingers can’t.
Wire cutters are shaped like pliers, but instead of having smooth metal edges, the edges have been sharpened to cut through wire and other materials. This could be necessary if a microwave has faulty wiring.
A crescent wrench is a wrench with an adjustable head. This is an important tool because it is shaped to handle hexagon-shaped bolts and nuts. The fact the head is adjustable allows it to grip many different sizes of bolts. People use them to take apart different appliances and parts.
A flashlight is a smart thing to have around the house. They can be used in darker places and when blackouts occur. It also is helpful for home repairs, especially when working in an attic or other dimly lit area.
A putty knife is a less common repair tool. However, it is a nice addition for people wanting to do most of their household repairs. It has a handle and a blade that can be many widths and is made of many different materials. The one a person would prefer to use for a microwave repair would likely have a thinner blade that is made of a stiff material. The blade would be used to pop off different metal pieces through the repair process.
How to Fix a Microwave Door Explained in Depth
The two main issues that are common for a microwave door include the door being stuck closed or being unable to close. There are a variety of common issues that are connected with each of these problems that can be easily resolved. Here are some of these issues and how to fix them: in-depth.
My Microwave Door Won’t Close
There are a few different reasons why a microwave door won’t close. One of them is that the hinges are not clean or are in bad repair. A person simply needs to remove the hinges and clean/replace them. Another common issue includes having broken springs. The broken springs can be removed by removing the door.
After removing the door, a person needs to unscrew the panel and remove and replace bad springs. The third most likely issue is that the latch is broken. If the latch is broken, it would be important to begin by removing it from the door by unscrewing the door from the machine, unscrewing the panel, and unscrewing the latch. The last step is to replace the latch.
Those will cover most of the common issues involving microwave doors not closing. There are a few others worth noting such as misalignment of the door to the machine, overheating, a circuit failure, a door button that isn’t being sensed, a bad seal around the door, a messed-up magnet, or even something like needing to be unplugged and plugged back in.
My Microwave Door Won’t Open
This is another common problem with microwave doors. There are a few common issues involving stuck microwave doors that can easily be solved. The first is putting too much food in the microwave. Too much food leads to too much moisture in the microwave which can mess with the electronics.
The second is putting too much liquid in the microwave. This can cause similar electronic issues. There can also be latch issues. If a latch is unable to open on its own, a person can try and force it open. If a latch has something stuck in it, a person can use tools to remove the object.
The last most likely issue is that there is an electrical problem caused by a surge or an outage. A person should try and unplug the machine and plug it in after the circuit breaker has been checked.
All of these ideas are a good place to start when trying to discover why a microwave door is refusing to work.
Options for Microwave Repair
If none of these methods work or the techniques are above a person’s comfortable skill level, there are professionals that can be hired to look at microwaves. There are many options such as local or big-name mechanics. It is important to look into the company and make sure they are reliable.
With all of this knowledge about microwave doors, it is highly likely that a person will be able to handle most of the problems that come with microwave ownership. If not, there are repairmen that can help. Oftentimes, it might just be worth it to buy a new one. Whatever a person decides to do, this information will help them make the best decision regarding microwave usage.
