One of the most important inventions of the 20th century is the microwave oven because of how it can quickly allow us to heat and even cook food in just a matter of a few minutes without all that mess and effort. But, then again, like most appliances, your microwave doesn’t have an indefinite lifespan and will probably need to be replaced sooner or later. So, how often should you replace your microwave?
With normal daily use, you should be able to squeeze out about 7 years from your microwave oven. That means that you might need to replace it when it is at least 7 years old. And that is actually without regular cleaning and maintenance as taking care of your microwave will allow it to last longer.
The amazing thing about the microwave oven is that it isn’t only very useful and efficient but is also quite long-lasting in the sense that you can use it for at least 7 years without the need to replace it. As such, as long as you know how to properly take care of your microwave and that you regularly clean and maintain it, you might be able to get about a decade from this amazing appliance.
How Often Should You Replace Your Microwave?
It can never be overstated how useful the microwave oven is as this is one of the appliances that most households use on a regular basis. Ever since its invention, houses around the world have discovered the wonders that they could do with a microwave because it not only heats efficiently and fast but is also capable of cooking certain types of food.
That said, as useful as your microwave may be, the thing you need to understand about any household appliance is that they come with a finite lifespan. Microwave ovens will eventually deteriorate over time due to how their electrical components slowly deteriorate as well. That means that your microwave oven won’t last forever and will need to be replaced sooner or later when it is actually time for you to replace it. But how often should you replace your microwave oven?
In most cases, microwave ovens can last longer than a lot of different household appliances as they are quite sturdy and long-lasting. And that is saying a lot about the microwave oven because you have to understand that this is a household appliance that is often used regularly as well. It isn’t as often used as your stove, refrigerator, or water dispenser but microwave ovens are still used quite often.
All that aside, your microwave oven will give you about 7 reasonable years give or take even when you are using it regularly for heating or cooking meals. This means that, once your microwave has reached the 7-year mark, you may want to inspect it to see if it already needs to be replaced.
Meanwhile, larger families that use their microwave ovens more often than most other families will probably have to replace their microwave ovens once every 5 or so years. That’s because the wear and tear will accumulate faster than smaller families that aren’t too reliant on their microwave ovens.
On the other hand, regardless of how big or small the family is, regular maintenance and cleaning can probably extend a microwave’s lifespan by at least an extra year. That means that your microwave may not need replacement until it is about 10 years old.
Signs That Your Microwave Needs To Be Replaced
While time is indeed a factor when you are deciding whether or not you need to replace your microwave, one of the things you also need to look at are the signs that will tell you that it is time to replace this appliance. That’s because, for one reason or another, your microwave might not last 5 or 7 years. In that regard, here are some signs to look out for:
- Sparks
Once the microwave starts sparking when you are using it or even when it might not be sparking but you do smell something burning when it is turned on, that could be due to faulty wiring within the appliance. There is no going back from this point on as the only logical thing to do is to replace the microwave instead of having it repaired and forcing a few months out of its lifespan.
- Food Isn’t Heating Or Cooking Properly
Another thing you need to look at is whether or not the microwave is still heating or cooking your food properly. You may notice this when the microwave needs more time to heat something that shouldn’t even need a lot of time to start heating. Or, in some cases, you may notice this when the microwave is unevenly cooking or heating your food. All that means that you need to have it replaced ASAP.
- It Just Doesn’t Sound Right
If you have been using your microwave for years already, you are probably accustomed to how it sounds like when it is cooking or heating. But when it begins to produce sounds that are unfamiliar to you or just don’t seem right at all, that means that it is squeezing more juice out of itself to work properly. And that points to the conclusion that it already needs to be replaced.
- The Door Won’t Close Properly
The microwave’s door is one of the most important parts of the entire machine because that will seal off all of the microwaves produced by the appliance when it is heating your food. So, if the microwave oven’s door is already compromised even though the entire appliance still works properly, you need to have the entire machine replaced because of how this could lead to potential hazards on your part.
- You struggle to use its keypad
Most microwave ovens use a keypad that will allow you to digitally input your cook times. So, if the keypad is no longer functioning properly such that it becomes a struggle to press one simple key, you need to have the microwave replaced.
How To Take Good Care Of Your Microwave
Even though microwave ovens need to be replaced some time between 5 to 7 years, there are some things that you can do to squeeze more years out of this machine. Here are some quick tips that will help you extend your microwave’s lifespan:
- Air circulation around the microwave should be good enough.
- You might want to use a surge protector that will protect it from sudden electrical surges, which will fry its insides.
- Do not put anything metal inside the microwave.
- Always use gentle soap when cleaning the microwave.
- Never turn the microwave on if it doesn’t have anything inside.
These tips will help you extend your microwave’s lifespan for probably 2 or 3 years depending on how well you take care of it. Then again, it still is better to watch out for the signs that will tell you that you shouldn’t bother with the microwave anymore because it already needs to be replaced.
