Microwave cutting out during use: what our engineers find
These figures come from NAC's own repair records: 90 microwave jobs our engineers attended for this fault in the last 12 months. Here is what they found, what fixed it and what it typically cost.
When a microwave cuts out during use, engineers sometimes find that the part which actually makes the microwaves has failed, often with visible burning on it, along with the power board that drives it. The oven may switch on, run for a short while without heating and then stop, and some models show an error code on the display as well. Now and then the microwave itself is fine and the fault lies with the wall socket it is plugged into.
To find the cause, an engineer runs the microwave to watch it cut out, checks that power is reaching the board, and inspects and tests the microwave-making part for damage. Where the socket is suspected, they try the microwave on a different socket to see whether it then runs through its full time. If the socket is to blame, they will advise you to have an electrician replace it.
When the fault is inside the microwave, the two parts are usually replaced together. They often have to be ordered, so the engineer typically fits them at a second visit, then heats a cup of water to confirm it works properly and checks that no microwaves are leaking.
Written by our engineers from these jobs.
- Jobs attended
- 90
- in the last 12 months
- Confirmed repairs
- 33
- This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Fixed at the first appointment
- 9%
- about 1 in 11 of our repairs
- Typical total paid by customers
- £453 to £493
- including parts and VAT, from 33 repairs
No single cause has enough confirmed repairs behind it yet to show for this fault.
Error codes we see with this fault
- Neff E1006: Microwave generation fault, usually the inverter board or magnetron.
About the price. £453 to £493 is the typical total paid by customers, including parts and VAT: the middle half of what customers paid on 33 of these repairs. Repairs paid for by manufacturers and insurers aren't counted, because that work is charged at contract rates. It's a guide, not a quote. Your engineer confirms a fixed price before any work starts.
Before you check anything yourself
- Switch the microwave off and unplug it, or turn it off at the isolator switch, before you touch anything. Our guide to safely isolating an appliance walks you through it.
- If it involves the mains supply, sealed parts, or you're not confident at any point, stop and book a qualified engineer rather than risk injury or further damage.
Rather leave it to us?
- Fixed-price quote before any work starts
- Same or next-day visits where available
- UK-wide engineer coverage