Ways to Fix a Noisy Microwave
Whether it’s because of the turntable, door, or exhaust fan, a microwave is bound to make some noise after using it for a while. Why? That’s because after using your microwave for a while, it’ll most likely have some minor issues.
The sound of a working microwave is a humming sound. When it’s soft, your microwave is healthy. When it’s making other sounds such as rattling, there is a problem.
Your microwave is probably about to break down and you will be forced to heat everything over a stove.
In order to avoid this, you have to inspect your microwave for what’s wrong. It is only when you find out what’s wrong that you can apply the correct remedy to your noisy microwave.
This article also has complete information about why your microwave is noisy and how to fix them under a single roof.
Common Reasons Why Your Microwave Is Noisy And How to Fix Them
Different appliances are built with different features. The feature of a microwave is that it quietly heats and cooks your food with a low hum. Any other sound may be due to:
Drive Motor
Once your microwave is making a grinding noise, the first thing to check is whether or not the drive motor is working well.
The fastest way to determine this is to check if the noise is coming from the turntable. If it is coming from the turntable, the next step is to check the drive motor under the floor of the microwave to see if anything is wrong with it.
To do this, the best instrument to use is a multimeter at its highest setting. Check for continuity by accessing the terminals with the multimeter.
Any reading other than zero means that your drive motor is faulty and you need to change it as soon as possible.
Cooling Fan
The cooling fan in a microwave works exactly like a normal fan. It helps to manage the temperature of the magnetron. If it is faulty, it makes the normal noise a faulty fan is going to make which is a loud humming sound. So, once you hear a loud humming sound from your microwave, it should be the cooling fan.
If you want to check whether the cooling fan is faulty or not, the first step is to unplug your microwave. After this, remove the outer cabinet of your microwave.
Once that is done, you should inspect the fan assembly for any damage or obtrusion to its movement. If the issue is a buildup, then you may want to clean the fan. If it’s not a build-up, changing the fan when it’s not working maybe the right thing to do.
We recommend you call a professional for the same to ensure the installation is done correctly and the microwave works perfectly then.
Roller Guide
Another reason why your microwave may be making noise is because of the roller guide under the turntable. A roller guide is usually used to balance the turning tray. In microwave ovens with round glass trays, the roller guide is turned by a motor-driven coupler.
To check if the roller guide has an issue, you should unplug the microwave and remove the tray before anything else. After this, check the hub and outer roller to see if your roller guide is working perfectly well.
If the roller guide has cracks or the hub is not working very well, you should replace your roller guide.
Magnetron
This is the part of the microwave which makes it possible for your food to be heated. It is also the part that makes the low humming sound in a microwave while it’s working. So, if the humming sound from your microwave gets louder, the part to point at is the magnetron.
The magnetron is one of the most dangerous parts of the microwave. It has a high voltage capacitor which is capable of storing electricity even when your microwave is not plugged. Reaching the magnetron is risky unless you discharge the high voltage capacitor first.
To check whether the magnetron is working well or not, you will need a multimeter. But we recommend you call a professional for the same.
High Voltage Diode
The high voltage diode works hand in hand with the magnetron and capacitor to generate heat in a microwave. It can also be the reason why your microwave is making a loud buzzing sound.
To test this part of the microwave, you need to remove the cabinet, discharge the high voltage capacitor, and remove the diode.
Next, use a multimeter with the setting, Rx1 to check for continuity. Continuity should be in one direction. Anything else means that the diode requires a replacement.
Conclusion
The microwave helps you save time and energy to focus your attention on other activities, but it also needs attention.
With this article, you should be well equipped to fix your appliance as long as you’re attentive enough to notice when it needs fixing.
