If your microwave shuts off shortly after starting or doesn't start at all, the thermoprotector could be bad. It's not uncommon for this part to start malfunctioning, so the appliance repair technician may test it first to figure out what's wrong with your microwave. Here's a look at how this appliance repair is done.
Decide If You'll Have In-Home Repairs
If your microwave is built in, you may want the appliance repair technician to come to your home. Even if your appliance sits on the counter, it may be too big for you to carry and transport yourself. If you have a small microwave, you might consider taking it to the shop and save on a house call.
Since the microwave contains high-voltage electricity, it's best to let a professional work on repairs. Even if you unplug the appliance, it could still give you a bad shock because the internal capacitor stores electricity.
Test The Thermoprotector For Continuity
The appliance repair technician has to remove the thermoprotector to test it. This requires taking off the panel of the microwave to expose the internal parts. The thermoprotector is a small part that's easy to see and pull out. It is kept in place by a bracket and wiring.
Once the part is out, the repair technician can test it with a multimeter to check for continuity. Continuity means the part has a flow of electricity through it. If continuity is present, the part is good and doesn't need to be replaced. If it isn't present, the repair technician will slide a new thermoprotector into the bracket and attach the wiring to see if the problem is fixed.
Check On Other Parts
The appliance repair technician may want to investigate why the thermoprotector went bad. In some cases, the cooling fan might be to blame. If so, the repair technician may need to replace the fan motor too.
It's also behind the microwave panel, but it's more difficult to reach and remove. It's held in place by several screws and wires. Once the technician has it out, they can put a new one in and secure it with screws. The wiring is then attached in the same way they were removed from the old motor.
If the appliance repair technician tests the thermoprotector with a multimeter and discovers that it isn't bad, they'll need to troubleshoot other parts, such as the control board, turntable motor, transformer, and magnetron to figure out why your microwave is malfunctioning and replace or repair the parts that need it.
For more information, contact an appliance repair technician near you.
It's never easy to admit that you could use a little help with your home appliances, especially if you know that you caused part of the problem. I was left dealing with a problem with my garbage disposal a few years ago, and I realized that it had to do with the fact that I put just about everything I could think of down the drain instead of using the trashcan. I began working hard to talk with different professionals about how to fix things, and it was super fun to learn about the ways we could change the appliances I had. Now all of my appliances work great, and I made a blog about how to make things better.