A microwave that hums and spins the plate while the food stays cold is a common repair call. The part that makes the heat is not the same part as the light, fan or turntable, which is why those can work while heating does not.
Safe Checks Before You Call
- Try a different outlet or check the breaker. A microwave on a weak circuit can run but not heat.
- Make sure the door closes fully. A damaged latch keeps the heating from starting.
- Heat a mug of water for a minute. If it stays cool, the oven side is not producing heat.
- Check the power level setting. Leaving it on low or defrost gives weak results.
Why You Should Not Open It
Inside every microwave is a high-voltage capacitor that can hold a dangerous charge after the plug is pulled. Removing the cover is not a safe home repair. That is true for over-the-range models as well, where the unit also hangs over a hot cooktop.
What Can Cause No Heat
When the lights and fan work but food stays cold, the cause could be a failed magnetron, a high-voltage diode or capacitor, a transformer, a door switch or a control board relay. The sign alone does not tell us which. A burned smell or a loud buzz points one direction, and a clean silent failure another. We test each part with a meter and give you a written price before replacing anything.
Repair or Replace
On a built-in or over-the-range microwave, repair is often worth considering because replacing it means mounting and wiring changes. On a countertop unit, the repair can cost nearly as much as a new one. We tell you which way it leans for your microwave, and older units without parts support are called out honestly.
Stop using the microwave and unplug it if you see sparks, smell burning or find the door will not shut. If you want us to come out, use the phone or the online form. We will confirm a three-hour window for our arrival. See our microwave repair page.