Popping sounds are usually caused by the food item being cooked in the Microwave. Food items with a higher fat content will pop and sizzle as they cook. Covering the container will reduce this. Noises can also be heard when cooking foods with tight membranes such as potatoes.
If your microwave sparks, it means that there is a short circuit in the power cord. A short circuit is when one of the wires inside the cord has come loose and touched another wire. When this happens, your microwave will spark and you may hear a loud noise or feel a burning sensation in your hand or arm.
If food particles or grease build up on the cover, or the cover is damaged and shorting out, sparking can occur. Check the waveguide cover for residue or burn marks and confirm it is tightly secured.
More than likely, the circuit your microwave is plugged into is hooked onto another circuit at the circuit breaker panel. This was probably done by a previous owner of your house. When you turn your microwave on, it draws more current than the circuit breaker can handle, and so it blows.
That is going to be caused by a faulty magnetron. When the magnetron fails the 2 most common symptoms are loud buzzing or growling and no heat.
One of the most common issues with a malfunctioning Magnetron is the lack of heating. If your microwave is running but not producing heat, it could be due to a faulty Magnetron, burned-out filament, or a malfunctioning high-voltage diode.
These are safety red flags, and fixing them might not be worth the hassle — or the risk. Faulty Magnetron: The magnetron is the part that heats your food. If it goes bad, the cost to replace it can be almost as much as buying a new microwave.
Circuit Overload Protection
If your microwave trips a breaker regularly, it could be due to a sensitive circuit breaker or a short-duration power surge. While these breakers are designed to protect your electrical system from damage, frequent tripping might indicate an underlying problem.
Examples: a dented anode jacket, punctured vacuum seals, misaligned filament due to handling by the cathode / filament (stem), operation with incorrect voltages / currents or insufficient cooling (air and water).
It is common for the paint on the supports on the interior wall shelves/racks in your microwave to chip over time. This causes the metal inside to become exposed resulting in the creation of a point of electrical discharge, leading to sparking.
With normal usage for an average family and good maintenance, a microwave often lasts for 7 to 8 years. If the microwave is used less frequently by a single person or a couple and is well-maintained, the lifespan can increase to up to 10 years.
If your microwave is making noises like a Geiger counter, the sound is coming from the magnetron that produces the microwaves. The sound is normal and there's no reason to be alarmed. If your microwave makes noises when it's in standby that are somewhat loud or strange, something could be wrong with your fan run on.
Sparks and electrical appliances are definitely not a good combination! If you're using your microwave and you notice sparking, don't panic! Simply turn it off at the outlet and read our guide – we have the most common causes of a sparking microwave and how to fix them.
Some reasons your microwave might be sparking include metal objects, a damaged waveguide cover, or even a buildup of food debris.
On average, microwaves last 7-8 years.
If the cost of repairing a microwave comes close to or exceeds the price of a new one, it might make more financial sense to replace it. However, if the costs of repairing are relatively low and the microwave isn't too old, it could be worth repairing the microwave.
If your microwave is making an unusual or loud humming noise, you may have a problem with the magnetron. This component is part of the high voltage circuit and provides the microwaves that generate the heat. If the magnetron is defective, it may cause a loud humming or buzzing noise.
The term "arcing" refers to sparks inside the microwave oven. These sparks are caused when microwaves react to gold paint on dishes, twist ties and other metallic materials, like aluminum foil.
Most microwaves have three or four door switches. When the microwave door closes, the door switches actuate in sequence to ensure that the door is closed properly. If the door switch has burnt contacts or the terminal connections are loose it will produce a burning smell.
A dying microwave often takes more time to heat foods. If the latch on the door is broken -- and you need to use duct tape to keep it closed -- it's time to get a new microwave. When food stops rotating, that means the motor on the turntable is broken.
Magnetron tubes have a lifetime of only a few thousand hours—from 2,000 hours up to 8,000 hours depending on the tube.