Many include convection cooking settings, integrated sensor cooking technology that adjusts as it heats food, and smart technology that allows users to control the microwave via smartphone or with voice control. Today’s models feature powerful 1,000-watt outputs and capacities of up to 2.2 cubic feet. (The door latches have to align for the microwave to work correctly.Since they arrived in kitchens back in the 1980s, over-the-range microwaves have been popping popcorn and warming up frozen dinners while saving valuable countertop space.
Don’t run it when empty, don’t put anything other than food and microwave-safe dishware inside, and don’t slam the door. Keep it clean, including the filters underneath, which can get gunky with cooking grease. The best way to avoid a costly repair is to maintain your microwave, to begin with. Our 2021 survey shows that when a repair was attempted, 86 percent were successful. In our member survey, we found that owners of OTR microwaves were roughly divided between having the repairs done by manufacturers, independent repair shops, and DIYers, with a smaller number reaching out to retailers for help. In our survey, nearly half of the OTR microwaves that were professionally repaired were covered by a warranty. If it’s covered, the repair may cost less or even be free. Before reaching out, check to see if your microwave is under warranty (most manufacturers offer a one-year warranty). You can call the retailer where you bought it, call the manufacturer, or find an independent repair service in your area. But if the door won’t shut or the control panel breaks (two of the top three most common problems reported), you’ll need a repair.įinding the right person to repair your microwave isn’t easy, perhaps because there are so many options. If the turntable stops turning, you can live with that for a while and rotate the food yourself so it heats evenly. That’s not something you can fix, and microwaves run in such short bursts that it’s likely you can tolerate the brief interruption. A chief complaint our members reported about their microwaves was that they were too noisy. While some microwave problems render them inoperable, not every problem requires an immediate repair. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that people have been electrocuted trying to repair their microwaves. That’s because a microwave can hold an electrical charge of thousands of volts in its capacitors for hours or even days after it has been unplugged. The thing about microwaves is that while they may look like simple boxes, they have some complicated electronics and aren’t a candidate for most DIY fixes. The color bar will indicate whether you should definitely repair your microwave, consider a repair, or just replace it. Use the sliders to note the age of your microwave, what you paid for it, and any estimate you have for a repair. replace decision for your own OTR microwave, we’ve created this interactive tool, below. That’s what our members told us when we surveyed 61,000 of them who purchased a new OTR microwave between 20. The decision often comes down to how much you paid for your microwave in the first place and whether its age warrants a replacement. But even reliable brands can disappoint, and if that happens, you’ll need to decide whether to replace your microwave or try to get it repaired.
Buying a reliable brand is one way to make sure you aren’t tearing your built-in OTR out every few years. The dozens of over-the-range microwaves in Consumer Reports’ tests range from $200 to $2,000, and you may also need to pay to have it installed. But choosing an over-the-range microwave that will give you years of solid service is definitely worth the attention.Īs kitchen appliances go, the price of an OTR range microwave can range from downright cheap to the equivalent of a feature-packed refrigerator. When it comes to outfitting a kitchen, most folks choose a beefy range or snazzy refrigerator as the focal point.
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