Microwave tripping the electrics: what our engineers find
These figures come from NAC's own repair records: 73 microwave jobs our engineers attended for this fault. Here is what they found, what fixed it and what it typically cost.
When a microwave, particularly a combination model that also works as an oven, trips the electrics, engineers sometimes find that one of the heating elements has broken down. This can be the grill element at the top, the fan oven element at the back or the element in the base, and now and then more than one has failed at once. The trip might happen when the grill or oven setting is used, as soon as start is pressed, or when the door is opened or closed. Engineers also sometimes find sparking from the small cover inside the cooking space, or heat damage to the parts that produce the microwave power.
To find the cause, an engineer tests each element to see whether electricity is leaking from it. Some elements only show the fault once they are hot, so the engineer may heat the appliance up and test again. Disconnecting a suspect element and checking that the tripping stops helps confirm it. The engineer also checks that the microwave side heats properly and is not leaking.
The replacement part often has to be ordered, so it is usually fitted at a second visit, after which the appliance is run and tested to make sure it no longer trips.
Written by our engineers from these jobs.
- Jobs attended
- 73
- Confirmed repairs
- 41
- 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
- 2%
- about 1 in 40 of our repairs
- Typical total paid by customers
- £181 to £274
- including parts and VAT, from 41 repairs
No single cause has enough confirmed repairs behind it yet to show for this fault.
About the price. £181 to £274 is the typical total paid by customers, including parts and VAT: the middle half of what customers paid on 41 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