Microwave Repair in Carmel Valley, Del Mar & Solana Beach

If your microwave sits above the stove, it's also handling cooking steam, smoke and grease. The metal grease filters underneath should be cleaned about once a month in a home that cooks often; soak them in hot water with dish soap or run them through the dishwasher. Models that recirculate air instead of venting outside have a charcoal filter behind the top grille that needs replacing every six months or so.

A vent fan that runs on its own is often a built-in protection feature: when the cooktop below gets too hot, the microwave turns on the fan to protect its electronics. If the fan won't turn off when the cooktop is cool, the thermostat or control board may be at fault. Cooktop lights that won't light can be a simple bulb or a socket damaged by heat. In homes near the coast, salt air can also corrode the vent damper and exhaust path that lead outside.