What is the average lifespan of a microwave

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Learn more. More on Microwaves. Best Microwaves of Best OTR Microwaves of Most and Least Reliable Microwave Brands. Making Your Appliances Shine You might not be able to control all the messes in your kitchen, but Consumer Reports expert Sara Morrow reveals some simple steps for getting your microwave oven sparkling clean.

If you follow the instructions for use for a microwave oven there is no known harmful effect on humans. Aluminum Foil. It's nice to see sparks fly, but not so much when it comes to reheating your food. Paper Bags. Plastic Bags and Plastic Containers. Travel Mugs. Your Favorite Shirt. Hard-boiled Eggs. Hot Peppers. Styrofoam in Microwave. To determine the age of your appliance , use your serial number not model number to find date of manufacture. Our serial numbers begin with two letters followed by six numbers.

The 2 letters at the beginning of the serial number tell you the month and year it was made. Where is my model and serial number located? There's an easy way to tell if radiation can ' leak ' in or out. So if your microwave is shielded - ie not leaking radiation into the room - phones should not work inside them. But that's not the case, YouTuber Physics Girl found - with many models of microwave , you can call a phone, and it will ring inside.

From past experience and research selling the used parts puts an old microwave in the Rust on the outside of the microwave isn't an issue, unless it eats its way through to the interior cavity, allowing arcing and radiation to escape the microwave. As long as the interior of the microwave oven remains sealed and intact, microwave radiation poses no threat to humans; you can sand and repair its interior.

If you take good care of your microwave up into its old age, there's a low risk of harm, but if it's damaged in any way you may want to get it checked out. If you've looked after it well, there's no reason why a vintage microwave should be dangerous. For peace of mind, buy a microwave leakage tester. Can microwaves leak radiation? Health Canada states that "some microwave energy may leak from your oven while you are using it, but this would pose no known health risks, as long as the oven is properly maintained.

Simple Causes. Problems such as bad interlock switches or a misaligned door are common culprits for microwaves that stop working. When these problems occur, they can cause a fuse to blow, stopping your appliance dead in its tracks. If the new fuse blows in short order, your problem might not be so simple. This may occur again, but so long as the magnetron survives, you should be okay.

The appliance comes in a range of sizes and features but has a relatively short lifespan. Prepare to shop sales to stretch your dollar the furthest when replacing a microwave in your kitchen. The first commercial microwave was produced in by the Raytheon Corporation, and the first domestic microwave was released shortly afterwards, in by Amana. Microwave ovens have one of the shortest lifespans of among common appliances, about nine years, according to a study by the National Association of Homebuilders.

There are a number of parts that can cause a microwave to temporarily malfunction, most commonly, the fuse.