There are so many things that can go wrong when it comes to how a microwave functions. There can be many components responsible for the heating mechanism that can fail and cause your Hamilton beach microwave to not heat properly or at all.
Hamilton beach microwave not heating
A Hamilton beach microwave not heating can be because of a faulty diode, burnt out magnetron or capacitor, defective door switch, blown fuse, failed high voltage transformer, or a tripped thermal-protector. The best way to fix any of these problems is with the help of an expert.
There can be many reasons why a Hamilton beach microwave might not be hearing. Let’s get to know about them.
Defective door switch:
All of the door switches of your Hamilton beach microwave should be in perfect working condition for the device to operate right. A defective door switch can lead to the microwave not heating.
A good way to identify this problem is with the help of a multimeter. You can use the multimeter leads to check for continuity from each switch to the door latch and selector switch.
Faulty diode:
The diode is an electrical component that directs the flow of electrons in one direction only.
The performance of a microwave is very much dependent on the diode as it works by cutting down on power loss which gives more power to the microwaves.
A faulty diode can disrupt the whole performance of a microwave. The magnetron produces microwaves that get directed to foods to heat them.
If your Hamilton beach microwave has a faulty or burnt-out diode, the magnetron may not be able to work and heat the food.
Burnt-out magnetron:
A magnetron is a vacuum tube responsible for the generation of heat. It operates with high voltage and current to produce a lot of heat hence it can get burnt out quickly.
The solution to fixing this problem is to get a new magnetron. Along with little or no heat, some other signs of a faulty magnetron are color on your food, a drop in the power, or a rattling sound coming from the microwave when you power it on.
Burnt-out capacitor:
The capacitor and diode work together to let the magnetron produce the electromagnetic waves needed to heat the food. The capacitor that works as the filter for the high voltage can burn out and cause problems.
You should not handle the capacitor if the microwave has been turned on. You must turn it off before removing the capacitor from the mounting.
Then you can attach clips to the terminals and check for reading with the help of a voltmeter. If there’s no reading, you have a faulty or burnt-out capacitor.
Failed high-voltage transformer:
The high voltage transformer converts the electrical energy to a form suitable for the magnetron. Now, if you’ve been using your microwave for a long time, it’s normal for the transformer to go bad and fail eventually.
This can lead to your microwave not heating. Some other signs can be noise and burned smell coming from the microwave.
Tripped thermo-protector:
The thermo-protector is the component responsible for protecting the microwave from overheating. A sudden problem with your Hamilton beach microwave not heating can be because of a tripped thermo-protector.
Blown fuse:
The fuse is also responsible for the task of saving your microwave from overheating. The fuse can get blown causing the microwave to stop functioning properly. You should check for continuity in the fuse with a multimeter.
Is it worth fixing a Hamilton beach microwave that won’t heat?
It may be worth fixing a Hamilton beach microwave that won’t heat if the repair seems straightforward.
Sometimes, microwaves develop problems that require the replacement of multiple components which can be quite risky, time-consuming, and expensive to do.
In such cases, it might be better to go for purchasing a new microwave instead of spending time, effort, and money on the defective one.
Moreover, if the repair requires multiple steps that may be time-consuming and don’t guarantee a definite result, it may not be worth going for.
How do I know if my Hamilton beach microwave fuse is blown?
There are different types of fuse found in microwaves to protect them from certain damages that can stem from overheating of the device or short circuit. However, there are simple ways to find out if your microwave’s fuse has blown.
Checking with multimeter:
A thermal fuse safeguards your microwave from overheating. The best way to know if the fuse has blown is by testing it with a multimeter to check for continuity. To do this, the fuse needs to be removed from the microwave.
If it shows no continuity on the multimeter, it means that the fuse has blown. There’s no way to fix this except for replacing the fuse.
Make sure that the damaged fuse is replaced by the exact type of new fuse. If the fuse blows again after replacing it, there may be other underlying problems with your microwave that needs to be thoroughly checked.
Look for scorch marks:
There are many different types of fuses installed in a microwave. One of them is a glass fuse. If your microwave has a glass fuse that blew, you may be able to see scorch marks. The filament will melt as well.
How much does it cost to replace the magnetron in a Hamilton beach microwave?
The magnetron is considered the core component of the Hamilton beach microwave. It is a vacuum tube that generates microwaves that get directed to the foods and heat them.
One of the common problems with microwaves is that the magnetron can get defected or burnt out for several reasons.
A faulty diode, burnt-out capacitor, or a surge of energy can damage the magnetron. Replacing the magnetron can save your microwave. However, a magnetron can be expensive.
Also, it needs to be done by an expert so you will have to bear the labor cost as well. Generally, the magnetron can cost anywhere between $50 to $100. Add $50 to $100 to this as per labor cost.
How do you fix a Hamilton beach microwave which is not heating?
To fix a Hamilton beach microwave you need to make sure that you follow the proper process. Let’s find out the prefect one.
Check the settings of the microwave:
First, you should check the overall settings of your microwave. A lot of these microwaves come with different modes that you can choose from. These modes let you choose different cooking styles so you can try out making different dishes.
However, these modes come with different heat settings, meaning, your microwave suddenly not heating up can be because of a mode that you selected. You can go back to the original microwave mode to solve this problem.
If you can’t figure out how to do that, you can always take help from the manual that should come with your microwave. Also, you should make sure that the timer button of your microwave is off.
Check the connections in the microwave:
Oftentimes, there are problems with the connections in your microwave that can cause it to not heat up. If you’ve already made sure that the settings are fine, you should check if all the connections in the microwave are installed firmly.
A loose connection between the power cord and the microwave can cause inadequate current to reach the device and cause problems like no or less heating. Another thing to check is that the outlet has power.
You can use a voltmeter to check for reading and have the sockets replaced if needed. You can also check this by connecting the microwave to a different outlet to see if that helps.
Check the microwave door:
The door of your microwave needs to be closed perfectly for it to start functioning. Check if the door is tightly secured.
If you face any trouble closing the door or if it stays slightly open, you will need professional help to check the matter. If you have any defective door switches, you may have to replace them.
Fix or replace faulty components:
There are many components responsible for the proper performance of a Hamilton beach microwave. If your microwave suddenly stops heating up, it may be the result of a failed or burnt-out component.
In this case, your microwave will need a thorough check-up to identify the problem and may need a fix or replacement of one or more components.
Fixing a microwave all by yourself can be too risky. Taking apart all the parts to check and fix on your own is just not worth the risk. A professional can take all the necessary measures to safely check, fix or replace any faulty components.
Final Thoughts
Your Hamilton beach microwave can stop heating due to a faulty diode, burnt-out magnetron or capacitor, defective door switch, blown fuse, failed high voltage transformer, or a tripped thermal-protector. You may need to fix or replace the defective component to fix the issue.