When the microwave breaks down owners have two options: to buy a new one or buy microwave replacement parts and have the thing fixed. In some cases, buying microwave parts is the easier option, especially if you are low on cash and have nothing handy for a brand new microwave.

Microwave replacement parts include anything from the cavity and the chassis, the metal plate to the control switches. The cavity is the main component of the microwave, which is covered by the door. The metal plate is attached to the window aperture and is perforated with holes, which allow the light to enter the cavity and reflect the microwave.

The magnetron tube is another main component of the microwave, which controls the entry of the microwaves and the amount in which they enter. This also controls the heating and power safety features of the microwave.

Other important microwave parts include the stirrer fan located behind the microwave, the control switches for controlling temperature and heat, and the front panel where all the buttons are located.

Where to Buy Microwave Replacement Parts

Buying microwave parts are easy since you can do so online. Your manufacturer may have an online store containing replacement parts for the microwave make and model that you own. When looking for new microwave parts, check out the website of your manufacturer first before looking at other third-party suppliers. Looking at the microwave manufacturer’s site first is also a good idea since there might be some parts that you can only find with the manufacturer and not with any other supplier of generic microwave parts.

Searching for a specific microwave part can be done by going to online stores that offer equipment replacement parts and typing in the make and model of the brand as well as the number of the specific part that you are looking for.

Your purchases are usually delivered to your home 1 to 2 days after you make your order. While there are a lot of options for vendors that sell microwave parts online, stick to the vendors listed on the Better Business Bureau and those with good reviews from consumer sites.

You can also look for microwave replacement parts offline in your local department stores and home equipment stores. Some may even advise looking at flea markets or garage sales for microwave parts, but this is usually not a guarantee that you can find a part that you can use to fix an old or broken microwave.

But what if a microwave oven breaks down? An unwise money spender would think of buying a new one, but like any other appliances, it can also be repaired. There are lots of microwave replacement parts available in the market, from simple parts to sophisticated electronic circuits. Normally, microwave ovens are made up of a high voltage power supply for electrical source, a magnetron which converts electrical power supply to microwaves, a waveguide which controls the movement of the microwave, and the cooking chamber. New versions are added with quartz halogen bulb which speeds up cooking.

There are over twenty microwave replacements parts offered in the market. The following are the replacements parts commonly needed and found in repairing a microwave oven:

Miscellaneous Parts

• It consists of belts, cooking tray, door, door handle, switch, foam tapes, grills, vents, filters and bulbs. These are easy to replace and repair because these are not main parts needed for cooking food, they are just accessories.

Capacitor

• An electrical condenser, a device used for storing electrical charge.

Diode

• This electronic equipment allows passing of electric current in only one direction.

Fuse

• A well-known safety device and is used to protect an electric circuit from effects of excessive current.

Magnetron

• This is the heart of a microwave oven. It converts electricity to microwaves.

Motor

• It converts electrical energy to mechanical energy.

Rectifier

• It also keeps electrical current to pass in only one direction.

Thermostat

• This is a device that automatically regulates temperature inside the system.

Transformers

• It combines two alternating current circuits through induction.

Wave Guide

• This provides guide for microwaves.

Every microwave replacement parts are sold depending on the brand name of the microwave oven. Some brands are not compatible with other brands so be consistent in buying. In order to avoid further repairing, once the microwave oven has been repaired it is important that constant care should be prompted. Always clean the inside chamber to enhance good performance. Microwave specific cleaners are available for this purpose because small bits of food left inside the chamber can be burned out after repeated use without cleaning. Also, do not use metal containers and foils when reheating foods, these damages the internal circuits. Most importantly, do not run a microwave oven when its empty as this could damage magnetron and other delicate parts.