Microwave Oven Longevity

[KukriKhan]

Has anyone here ever had a microwave oven that lasts 3 years or more? If so, what model?

I can't seem to get one to last more than 24 months. Bankrate.com cites 9 years (!) as the average "useful lifespan".

We just burnt out another one yesterday, after 20 months of service, so I'm grousing here.

Thanks for your attention, and any advice rendered.

[Togakure]

My mother died in 1991. Her first microwave, which we had and used for years before her passing, is a very large, brown Sharp Carousel with convection oven and still works, almost twenty years later. It's not in regular use now; I just tested it recently and it did work--pretty amazing.

[Megas Methuselah]

Just lightly punch it on the side a few times. My microwave makes loud and funny noises every so often, but as soon as I hit it, it quiets down and remembers its place.

[KukriKhan]

My mother died in 1991. Her first microwave, which we had and used for years before her passing, is a very large, brown Sharp Carousel with convection oven and still works, almost twenty years later. It's not in regular use now; I just tested it recently and it did work--pretty amazing.

Yeah, that's the kind of experience I remember from the 70's/early 80's machines.

Just lightly punch it on the side a few times. My microwave makes loud and funny noises every so often, but as soon as I hit it, it quiets down and remembers its place.

LOL. My second wife* and my '65 Pontiac reacted that way to similar treatment.

*Just kidding about the wife; I haven't hit a girl since I was 4. :)

[Gregoshi]

I think we've had Sharp (stand alone) and Kenmore (over the stove/oven) models that have lasted quite a long time.

[Louis VI the Fat]

All those remarkably cheap Chinese electronics stuff I've bought in recent years all fell apart within months.


Things are not build to last anymore. I just had a conversation about this with my mother. Not too long ago, people would have their vacuum cleaners, their televisions, even VCR's repaired when they broke down. Nowadays, fifty euros will simpy buy you a new one. They have become disposable goods. Nothing in a house is meant to last for more than three years anymore.


I have this guitar amplifier, a Marshall with tubes. It's from the 1970's. Huge too, as big as a car. The thing never breaks down. I've got a clock that's over a century old. Furniture that's even older. Pre-war kitchen utensils. All working perfectly.
And then all this new that breaks down within months.

[miotas]

If you're buying a new microwave nowadays then however long the waranty lasts is about how long it's going keep working. My parents got a microwave as one of their wedding presents 20 years ago and it lasted until 4 years ago. They then got a new microwave and 1 year ago, within a month of the waranty expiring, it broke down.

[Togakure]

"Built to last" isn't in the best interest of goods manufacturers, unfortunately. The shift over the last couple of decades suggests to me that product quality and customer satisfaction have become even less important when profit is considered. What disturbs me is what this suggests about overall values.

[Lemur]

I must be a freak; he first microwave I bought (four years ago) is still going strong. And Mrs. Lemur is a pro chef, so the thing gets a proper workout. Go figure.

Now, having typed that, the 'wave will probably explode tonight.

[Hosakawa Tito]

I have a Samsung Classic Collection model MW5500. You can bet they don't make this puppy anymore considering I bought it about 1980 and it still works. It's a monster, about 24" W x 14" D x 14" H, and probably weighs 25 lbs., no carousel just a basic microwave.

Good luck finding one that will last.

[pevergreen]

And Mrs. Lemur is a pro chef, so the thing gets a proper workout. Go figure.

And actually good!


We got ours....8 years ago? Still works fine.

[SwordsMaster]

Have owned a Moulinex for almost 6 years now, one of my most prized possessions all throughout college. You can imagine feeding a college student whose meals are about 80% microwaved, and 20% beer-based...

[naut]

We have this monster of a thing, a Concorde microwave or so it's called. It's coming up to its 30th birthday and it still does the job admirably.

You may just be best off finding the cheapest there is and getting a year or so out of it and replacing it when the time comes.

[Vladimir]

That's lousy. I admit I've regressed some and prefer the gas stove over microwave in less it's to boil water. It would help to know the price range of the radiation boxes you bought. Hopefully the higher end, energy star type microwaves last a while.

[Ramses II CP]

Microwaves tend to have a long useful lifespan if you don't abuse them. You're not cooking a lot of tinfoil and steel forks in there right? Lay off the fluorescent bulb experiments and most models should last at least five years.

You should consider checking your power supply if you've had more than one device die an unusually young death on the same outlet, or even in the same room.

[Andres]

As I student, I bought a Whirlpool (Philips) Microwave in 1996. Something very, very basic. I used it several times a day.

When I finished my studies in 2002, my brother, who happened to go living together with his gf at that time, took it with him. He still uses it and has no complaints whatsoever.

When I left the parental house, I bought a Philips. That was 2003. It's still working.

The house we bought last year had a fully installed kitchen, with a Siemens microwave. That microwave dates from 2002 and still works without any problems (which means we now have two microwaves, both of them already lasting 3 times longer than the average Kukri-microwave What do you do with those things that they break down so quick?)

My parents bought a Siemens mircrowave somewhere in the early nineties. It still works, never had a problem with it.

Based on my own experiences, I can thus recommend: Whirlpool (Philips) and Siemens.

[Whacker]

Kukri needs to stop using his microwave as a forge.

One small point, re: Gregoshi's post. Kenmore is simply Sears' brand name slapped on some equipment, they don't actually manufacture anything. The actual manufacturers can change over the years, sometimes quite often, as the lowest bidder usually wins. Whirlpool will often make their washing machines and dryers, but others can and do make them as well. Same goes for all appliances. Just do some research.

I don't honestly have any good recommendations for a good nuke.

[Xiahou]

I bought a Sharp Carousel in 2001. Still works fine.

[Monk]

My mother died in 1991. Her first microwave, which we had and used for years before her passing, is a very large, brown Sharp Carousel with convection oven and still works, almost twenty years later. It's not in regular use now; I just tested it recently and it did work--pretty amazing.

We had one like that when I was little, lasted a good fifteen years. Come to think of it the poor thing never broke, it just stopped cooking things all the way through. It probably had another three years of substandard life in it. They don't make 'em like they used to.

The one currently in use here is an Emerson (this is the closest to I can find. Not sure if it's the exact model) and it's lasted for a easy four years.

Other posters are right, microwaves should definitely last you longer than they are Kukri. Are your factory warranties still good by chance?

[Beskar]

I think Kukri might use his non-stop. Didn't your mother tell you to not constantly cook TV-meals?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Does anyone know how to fix the rotating tray part if it quits rotating?

[SwordsMaster]

Does anyone know how to fix the rotating tray part if it quits rotating?

Depends on the problem. Try cleaning the wheels and the rotating bolt, as food/grease can get stuck there sometimes. Definitely do not touch the engine component if they're in the protective box if you don't want to get a face full of radiation...

[Zain]

Throw it against the wall a few times, that should make it mind you. How old is the child?

... what are we talking about again?

[Ramses II CP]

The danger of repairing a microwave is mostly the nature of the power supply, there is no residual radiation risk in an unplugged and discharged microwave oven. The PSU operates at lethal levels (High voltage and amperage) and the capacitor for almost all models bleeds off slowly, so unless you really know what you're doing and you can discharge it completely don't even consider removing the cover unless the thing has been unplugged for a long, long time.

I've taken apart of lot of electronics in my life and I absolutely would not operate on a microwave oven while it was plugged in. Ever. Repairing a microwave is rarely worth it even for a professional, parts and labor are expensive for obvious reasons while new microwaves are fairly cheap.

So, if you can see the problem with the little wheels and wipe it off with a towel, do that. If you feel the need to go for a screwdriver or anything more heavy duty, just go buy a new one. It's not worth it.

Be safe with your microwave!

[Whacker]

Does anyone know how to fix the rotating tray part if it quits rotating?

Yeah, don't. Microwaves are rather dangerous pieces of equipment to monkey with. You can live without the rotating tray.

[drone]

I had an old Sharp, bought it sometime in the early 90's, gave out after about 15 years. The next one was a Panasonic, died within 2 years. The current GE built-in in our kitchen has been fine for the past 4 years.

Never, ever, buy a multi-appliance (oven/microwave/cooktop) if you can help it. One of them (most likely the microwave) will break and repair costs are not worth it. Dual ovens usually use a single control panel, so breakage there is expensive.

[Weebeast]

I've been in my unit for about a year now and the microwave was already here, clean but has oil residue and brown stuff all over the buttons. The brand is Kenmore no idea what the model is. Just a microwave with one door and one plate.

[Hax]

We have one of those oven/microwave things. It's working fine at the moment (after 7 months of use, mind you).

[jessica]

A microwave oven is the most important appliance in our kitchen. But if you take a good look at your microwave, you will find it is the most overlooked appliance when it comes to regular cleaning and maintenance. Microwaves have average lifetime expectancies. Maintaining your microwave properly can extend its lifetime indefinitely.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Now that, my dear Jessica, I nominate for greatest first post in the history of the .org.



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