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

Content:

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

All electrical appliances break down sooner or later and the microwave is no exception. One of the common problems with it is sparks inside the microwave. Like why does the microwave sparkle inside You will learn 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 how it works. The basis of the microwave is a device called a magnetron. Depending on the operating mode, voltage is applied to it. Under the action of voltage on the magnetron, short energy pulses are emitted. A certain number of waves travel through the waveguide and exit through a hole made inside the microwave oven. For the normal functioning of the microwave, the presence of products 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 microwave pops and that very unpleasant sparking occurs.

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

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Possible causes of the problem

microwave sparks

Sparking can occur due to some basic factors, below we will talk about them:

overheated mica plate for microwave;
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 urgent replacement micas in the microwave... Burnout occurs due to the fact that during the heating of food, fat enters 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, may 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 the case of a 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 sizes. 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 the service center, where they will perform all the necessary operations to replace the inner coating.

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

Repair malfunction related to mica

microwave 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 use it to cut out the mica of the appropriate dimensions, if you have more;
also during the replacement you can check the protective cap on the magnetron itself and, if necessary, replace it 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 works. In no case do not carry out the check with an empty chamber, it may end badly.

Is it possible to operate a 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

breakdown reasons

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 still decide to replace the mica plate yourself, it is worth remembering some nuances:

before replacing the mica from the microwave, it is worth emptying the main chamber of food and everything else;
it is worth remembering that microwave mica is made of a rather fragile material, and you need to handle it very carefully. When cutting 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 a punch;
after you cut the mica for the microwave oven, be sure to sandpaper the edges with sandpaper.

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.