Diagnose
Microwave not working? Common problems and what causes them
Diagnostic fee waived with repair
Built-in and over-the-range microwaves are worth repairing; countertop units usually are not.
Quick answer
Most microwaves fail because of a single component, not age. The usual culprits are not heating, turntable stuck, sparking. Most repairs finish in one visit. Replacement is usually only worth it above roughly eight years old or when the repair exceeds half the replacement price.
What we do
Microwave repair, done properly
Built-in and over-the-range microwaves are worth repairing; countertop units usually are not.
Our technicians carry the parts that fail most often on microwaves, so the majority of these repairs finish in a single visit.
You get a written estimate before any work starts, and a 12-month parts-and-labour warranty on the repair.
Symptoms
What's wrong with your microwave?
Pick the closest match — it pre-fills your booking so we arrive with the likely part.
Ready to book microwave repair?
See what the visit costs, what the 12-month warranty covers, and which areas we reach same-day.
Microwave Repair details & coverageDiagnosis
How we diagnose a microwave problem
Every visit starts with a diagnosis, not a guess. Here's what your technician actually checks, in order, before recommending a repair.
- 1
Door interlock switches
We test all three interlock switches first — they're a genuine safety system that stops the magnetron running with the door open, and a failed one is a common cause of won't-start. We never bypass an interlock to keep a unit running.
- 2
Magnetron & high-voltage diode
If power reaches the unit but it won't heat, we test the high-voltage diode and capacitor before condemning the magnetron itself, since the diode fails far more often and is a much simpler part to replace.
- 3
Turntable motor & coupler
A stuck turntable is usually a worn drive coupler or a dead turntable motor, not a magnetron problem — a quick, low-cost check we rule out early.
- 4
Keypad membrane & control board
Dead keypad response usually traces to the touch membrane or a control board connection rather than the keypad itself, which changes what part gets ordered and whether the whole panel needs replacing.
Repair or replace
When replacement is the better call
The working rule is the 50% test: if the repair costs more than half of a comparable new unit, and the appliance is past roughly two-thirds of its expected life, replacement usually wins on total cost of ownership.
Most microwaves are built for 10–13 years. A failure at year three is almost always worth repairing. A sealed-system or compressor failure at year twelve usually is not — and we will say so rather than sell you the repair.
Premium built-in units are the exception. A Sub-Zero or Viking unit is worth repairing well past the point where a mass-market appliance would be retired, because replacement runs into five figures once cabinetry work is included.
Brands
Microwave brands we service
Questions
Microwave repair FAQ
Is it worth repairing a microwave?
Repairing a microwave is generally worth it when the repair costs less than half the price of a replacement and the unit is under about eight years old. SOS Appliance Repair diagnoses first and tells you plainly when replacement is the better value.
How long does a microwave repair take?
Most microwave repairs are completed in a single visit lasting 45 to 90 minutes. When a part must be ordered, SOS Appliance Repair schedules the return visit before leaving and the original diagnostic is not charged twice.
What causes a microwave to fail?
The most common microwave faults SOS Appliance Repair sees are: not heating, turntable stuck, sparking, door switch failure. Most trace back to a single failed component rather than end-of-life, which is why diagnosis before replacement matters.
Same-day appointments available
Broken appliance? We can be there today.
Talk to the company that actually sends the technician — no lead brokers, no bidding wars, no runaround.
- Licensed & insured
- 12-month warranty
- Diagnostic fee waived with repair