People get scared when they see a spark in their microwave, and the only question that comes to their minds is – Now can I use the microwave after it sparked?
Sparking is extremely common in microwaves and doesn’t necessarily mean that your microwave has been broken or damaged. A little bit of sparks doesn’t cause any harm.
So the answer to the question is –
In most cases yes, you can still use the microwave after it sparks. Basically, it depends on what actually caused the microwave to spark and the current condition of the microwave. If the spark is minor is caused by some metal piece left inside the microwave (which is mostly the case) then it’s completely fine to use the microwave. So yes, you can use the microwave.
Tip: You always turn the microwave off when you see a spark inside. However, if the spark occurs every time you use the microwave or don’t know the actual reason behind it.
In that case, you should not use the microwave as it may lead to the ignition of certain oily foods and cause a fire hazard.
What Causes Microwaves to Spark –
The Most Common cause is metal
Microwaves create sparks when there is a change in the electrical flow. The spark is caused by the sudden change of current, which is called an electrostatic discharge.
If you unintentionally put a metal piece inside the microwave, what happens is because the electromagnetic waves can not penetrate the metal surface, it bounces back, leaving a charge build-up on the metal resulting in a spark. It is the most common reason behind sparks, and if it happens too frequently, it might damage your appliance.
The WaveGuide Cover might be the culprit
The sparks can be caused due to a damaged or dirty waveguide cover. A Waveguide cover can found inside the microwave; it’s like a small mesh square.
As the name suggests, the waveguide cover guides or directs the heat waves from the magnetron towards the center where the food is placed. Sometimes food splatter inside the microwave gets collected over the waveguide cover, making it challenging to function correctly.
Thus, the accumulated residue sometimes gets sparked. You can solve this sparking issue by cleaning the microwave. However, if you still see sparks, then the waveguide cover might actually be broken or damaged, so it’s better to take it to a local repair shop and if it can’t be repaired then you should replace your microwave.
A Faulty Diode is also one of the reasons for sparks
A Diode, if broken or damaged, can also cause the issue of microwave arcing. A diode is basically responsible for generating and balancing the heat waves.
If it’s broken, you may find that it’s taking longer than usual while cooking, or your microwave may make a strange noise. If that’s the case, you can buy a new diode and take your microwave to a repair shop to get it fixed.
What to do when microwave sparks?
Microwave sparks are generally alarming occurrences. There’s a lot of scary thoughts going through your head at that moment. But don’t worry, you’re not going to be badly injured from a bit of spark inside your microwave.
Here’s a quick guide on what to do when your microwave sparks.
- The First and foremost thing to do is just turn off the microwave or unplug the microwave as soon as you spot any spark. Though a little spark is not dangerous, there is still nothing wrong with being on the safer side.
- Check if there are any metal pieces inside. If there are, remove them as metals are the common cause of the microwave sparking.
- Always clean the microwave thoroughly to remove any residues from the inside. Also, check if the interior is Okay or not as sometimes sparking, if too frequent, can damage the microwave interior.
Related Articles – Why do Microwaves Get Hot
How to Stop a Microwave Sparking
As I’ve mentioned earlier, sparking in the microwave is very common. There is nothing to worry about, only if you see it once in a while; it’s common.
However, if it’s happening every other time, it’s alarming and can even cause the microwave to stop working. Luckily there are some ways by which you can stop a microwave from sparking. Let’s take a look at them –
- Remove any metal piece that you may have left inside the microwave check every corner even the smallest particle of metal can cause the sparks.
- Check the waveguide cover as if it’s clean and not broken. If it’s dirty, then clean it and if it’s broken or damaged, then take the microwave for repair.
- Make sure the Diode is not faulty. It’s not good news if your microwave’s Diode is broken as it may cause significant problems in the future if not replaced by a new one.
Hence by following the above steps, you can make your microwave stop sparking. However, if you still find microwave sparking, I would recommend either buying a new one or take it to the repair center.
Conclusion –
In this article, I’ve covered all about Sparking inside the microwave, which includes the reasons for microwave spark and quick fix’s to Stop a Microwave from Sparking.
Arcing in microwaves is very common and almost happens in every microwave at least once a while. Though there is no harm in minor sparks, it’s still recommended to take the microwave for repair if the problem is unknown to you.
The microwaves are entirely safe for use after sparking as minors sparks are no big deal and will not certainly cause the microwave to stop working. As long as the interior is not damaged or broken and the waveguide alongside Diode are fine, you should be able to use the microwave without any concerns.