Microwaves come in many styles with a range of functions, like smartphone control and child locks. Here’s a guide to all the factors that impact the cost of a new microwave, whether you’re looking for a countertop, built-in, or over-the-range model.
Why Is My Microwave Smoking? 3 Potential Causes and Solutions
Smoke-free is the way to be
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Old food, grease, or debris inside your microwave can burn when you heat something new, creating smoke that signals immediate cleanup needs.
Overheating food or placing items like paper bags inside a microwave can start fires and produce smoke from improper use.
Electrical issues with microwave components create ongoing smoke problems that put your home at risk and require professional diagnosis to resolve safely.
Hiring a local small appliance repair professional provides reliable help when electrical problems cause smoke, keeping you safe from electrocution risks during repairs.
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Smelling smoke when you use your microwave is never a good sign—but fortunately, it’s not always a serious problem. In fact, you can often fix this issue just by cleaning your microwave. But before you start scrubbing, make sure you understand exactly why your microwave is smoking. Here are three common causes.
1. Leftover Food or Grease
When there’s old food, grease, or other debris inside your microwave, it could burn (and produce smoke) the next time you cook something in the microwave.
How to Fix It
When you smell smoke coming from your microwave, turn it off and unplug it immediately. If there’s a fire inside the microwave, keep the door closed for at least 15 minutes to let it burn out. Then, remove whatever you were heating up and thoroughly clean the inside of the microwave.
To prevent this from happening in the future, wipe any spills and remove leftover food particles when you finish using the microwave. You should also clean your microwave regularly. Check your user manual for your microwave’s specific cleaning instructions.
2. Improper Use
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Just like metal utensils or aluminum foil can cause sparking in a microwave, using your microwave incorrectly can lead to smoking. For example, if you cook your food for too long or on too high of a power setting, it could start to smoke.
Putting certain items in the microwave can also create smoke. Paper bags, for example, may catch fire and start smoking when heated in a microwave. There are even some mineral-rich foods—such as kale and bell peppers—that can spark, set on fire, and produce smoke in the microwave.
How to Fix It
If you smell smoke or see fire in your microwave, unplug it, keep the door shut, and let the fire extinguish itself. After the fire goes out, wait at least 15 minutes before opening the door. Throw away the food you were cooking and clean the microwave thoroughly.
Before using your microwave again, read through your manufacturer’s guide to understand what you can (and can’t) put in it.
3. Electrical Issues
Let’s say you’ve cleaned your microwave and double-checked that you’re only putting approved food and containers in it—but it keeps smoking. If so, there could be an issue with one of the electrical components of the microwave.
How to Fix It
Unless you have prior experience working with electrical components, it’s best to leave this job to a professional. A small appliance repair pro can troubleshoot to figure out exactly what’s going on with your microwave—and let you know if it’s better to fix it or replace the entire unit.
When to Call a Pro
Some problems are easy to fix without a professional’s help. For example, if your microwave is smoking because there’s old food in it or because you overcooked your current meal, you can use the steps above to take charge of the situation—and prevent it from happening again.
However, if you think you have an electrical issue (or can’t figure out why your microwave is smoking), it’s better to call a professional who fixes microwaves. Repairing a microwave comes with the risk of electrocution (even if the appliance has been unplugged for hours), so this isn’t something you should attempt yourself.
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Small appliance repairs reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
5.0★ avg. • 2 total reviews
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Positive experience. As previously stated, the replacement/repair could not be completed (no fault of the plumbing tech) b/c misinformation was rec?d by property management maintenance. Thanks to the plumbing tech for your efforts. Appreciate you!
The Waterworks - Brent C.
Carpet repair done well. Scheduling was easy. Showed up on time.
BR Flooring Installation - Mike Z.
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U.S.A. Dryer Vent, LLC - Micki B.
Everything from initial contact to completion was absolutely top notch. We contacted the business during off hours to leave a message, and the owner still reached out to feel out the issue within minutes. We were scheduled and repaired within 48 hours. I cannot say enough about the...
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Ace Fireplace Services - Lisa S.
On Sunday 2/26 I requested quotes via Angi from 4 refrigerator repair businesses. Northwest Appliance responded to me Monday morning (2/27) and my refrigerator was repaired by noon the same day. Great communication, they did everything they said they would. The technician had the parts on...
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