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Microwave Oven, Twist Tie, and FIRE
Hi all--
A plastic bread bag with a twist tie unwittingly got put in our Kenmore Microwave oven. After about 15 seconds of operation, the smoke and fire was noticed and the microwave was shut off. Only the top of the oven had significant soot which was cleaned off, as well as the glass turntable which had a slightly melted bag on it. The microwave was used one more time after that to boil a cup of water. The problem was that it shutdown after that--completely. Like it was unplugged (no clock, no blinking ":"...NADA). I checked the house fuses and all was good, verified the outlet was still good, even plugged the microwave into another known good outlet--still dead. Four hours later, the blinking ":" came back! Stuck another item in, turned it on, and after about 3 seconds, it completely shut off again (i.e., dead). 10 seconds after that, the display came back on. Having read on the web and even in the owner's manual, the solution after an "oven fire" is to have the unit properly serviced or replaced. My questions are as follows: 1. exactly what would a service person do? 2. what kind of damage would most likely have occurred? I have stopped using the unit. A Sears repair person is scheduled to come out at the end of the week. But if I can troubleshoot this without too much hassle, I would like to. For example, if the unit almost always has to be replaced under these circumstances, I may as well go get a new microwave now and save myself both the wait (I have Thanksgiving leftovers that need a warmin'!) and the service call. Thanks for any replies. * Nyx * |
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Microwave Oven, Twist Tie, and FIRE
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Microwave Oven, Twist Tie, and FIRE
Anonnyx wrote: > > Hi all-- > > A plastic bread bag with a twist tie unwittingly got put in our > Kenmore Microwave oven. After about 15 seconds of operation, the > smoke and fire was noticed and the microwave was shut off. Only the > top of the oven had significant soot which was cleaned off, as well as > the glass turntable which had a slightly melted bag on it. The > microwave was used one more time after that to boil a cup of water. > > The problem was that it shutdown after that--completely. Like it was > unplugged (no clock, no blinking ":"...NADA). I checked the house > fuses and all was good, verified the outlet was still good, even > plugged the microwave into another known good outlet--still dead. > > Four hours later, the blinking ":" came back! Stuck another item in, > turned it on, and after about 3 seconds, it completely shut off again > (i.e., dead). 10 seconds after that, the display came back on. > > Having read on the web and even in the owner's manual, the solution > after an "oven fire" is to have the unit properly serviced or > replaced. My questions are as follows: > > 1. exactly what would a service person do? > 2. what kind of damage would most likely have occurred? > > I have stopped using the unit. A Sears repair person is scheduled to > come out at the end of the week. But if I can troubleshoot this > without too much hassle, I would like to. For example, if the unit > almost always has to be replaced under these circumstances, I may as > well go get a new microwave now and save myself both the wait (I have > Thanksgiving leftovers that need a warmin'!) and the service call. > > Thanks for any replies. > > * Nyx * Microwaves are cheap... It would cost you more to have it repaired that to just replace it. Same goes for VCR's. ;-) Toss the microwave in the trash and go get a new one. K. -- >^,,^< Cats-haven Hobby Farm >^,,^< >^,,^< "There are millions of intelligent species in the universe, and they are all owned by cats" -- Asimov Custom handcrafts, Sterling silver beaded jewelry http://cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAP...s&userid=katra |
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Microwave Oven, Twist Tie, and FIRE
Anonnyx wrote:
> I have stopped using the unit. A Sears repair person is scheduled to > come out at the end of the week. But if I can troubleshoot this > without too much hassle, I would like to. For example, if the unit > almost always has to be replaced under these circumstances, I may as > well go get a new microwave now and save myself both the wait (I have > Thanksgiving leftovers that need a warmin'!) and the service call. I really think you should get rid of it and get a new one. It's only my opinion, but I do think that's the best thing. The service call will probably be almost the price of a new one. nancy |
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Microwave Oven, Twist Tie, and FIRE
"Anonnyx" > wrote in message om... > Hi all-- > > A plastic bread bag with a twist tie unwittingly got put in our > Kenmore Microwave oven. After about 15 seconds of operation, the > smoke and fire was noticed and the microwave was shut off. Only the > top of the oven had significant soot which was cleaned off, as well as > the glass turntable which had a slightly melted bag on it. The > microwave was used one more time after that to boil a cup of water. > > The problem was that it shutdown after that--completely. Like it was > unplugged (no clock, no blinking ":"...NADA). I checked the house > fuses and all was good, verified the outlet was still good, even > plugged the microwave into another known good outlet--still dead. > > Four hours later, the blinking ":" came back! Stuck another item in, > turned it on, and after about 3 seconds, it completely shut off again > (i.e., dead). 10 seconds after that, the display came back on. > > Having read on the web and even in the owner's manual, the solution > after an "oven fire" is to have the unit properly serviced or > replaced. My questions are as follows: > > 1. exactly what would a service person do? > 2. what kind of damage would most likely have occurred? > > I have stopped using the unit. A Sears repair person is scheduled to > come out at the end of the week. But if I can troubleshoot this > without too much hassle, I would like to. For example, if the unit > almost always has to be replaced under these circumstances, I may as > well go get a new microwave now and save myself both the wait (I have > Thanksgiving leftovers that need a warmin'!) and the service call. > > Thanks for any replies. > > * Nyx * |
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Microwave Oven, Twist Tie, and FIRE
I agree that it would be best just to toss the microwave out and buy a brand
new one. Even though the technician may be able to clean all the soot out of there, it is possible that there will always be that burned plastic aroma which will be damn near impossible to get out of the oven, and whenever you cook something and heat things inside the oven up, you'll always get a little of that funky smell.. A good microwave will last ten years or more and will set you back about 60-80 dollars, which is probably less than having a repairman out there to work on it. Also, there's a good chance he'll open it up and look at it and tell you the microwave is shot, so you'll have to pay for the service call AND buy a new microwave. Cut your losses, cancel the repairman, and go to Walmart and buy a new microwave. Michael O'Connor - Modern Renaissance Man "The likelihood of one individual being correct increases in a direct proportion to the intensity with which others try to prove him wrong" James Mason from the movie "Heaven Can Wait". |
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Microwave Oven, Twist Tie, and FIRE
Nancy Young > wrote in message >...
> Anonnyx wrote: > > > I have stopped using the unit. A Sears repair person is scheduled to > > come out at the end of the week. But if I can troubleshoot this > > without too much hassle, I would like to. For example, if the unit > > almost always has to be replaced under these circumstances, I may as > > well go get a new microwave now and save myself both the wait (I have > > Thanksgiving leftovers that need a warmin'!) and the service call. > > I really think you should get rid of it and get a new one. It's > only my opinion, but I do think that's the best thing. The service > call will probably be almost the price of a new one. > > nancy Well, the service call is $60. A new unit is $250 + tax = approx $270. This is an microhood combination unit that matches the stove. See http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...e=KENM#tablink I can now afford to wait, at least--a friend of mine loaned me an extra he had in his garage. I guess if the total cost of the repair exceeds $170, I might as well get a new one. * Nyx * |
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Microwave Oven, Twist Tie, and FIRE
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Microwave Oven, Twist Tie, and FIRE
Anonnyx wrote:
> Well, the service call is $60. A new unit is $250 + tax = approx > $270. This is an microhood combination unit that matches the stove. > See http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...e=KENM#tablink > I can now afford to wait, at least--a friend of mine loaned me an > extra he had in his garage. I guess if the total cost of the repair > exceeds $170, I might as well get a new one. > > * Nyx * The service call is $60 which means that it's gonna cost you $60 for them to walk in the door. If you go ahead and have them fix it the $60 will probably be applied to the bill but I'd bet that you'll be approaching the "buy new" price anyhow. -- Steve Men are from Earth. Women are from Earth. Deal with it. |
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Microwave Oven, Twist Tie, and FIRE
hahabogus wrote:
> > (Anonnyx) wrote in > om: > > > Hi all-- > > > > A plastic bread bag with a twist tie unwittingly got put in our > > Kenmore Microwave oven. After about 15 seconds of operation, the > > smoke and fire was noticed and the microwave was shut off. Only the > > top of the oven had significant soot which was cleaned off, as well as > > the glass turntable which had a slightly melted bag on it. The > > microwave was used one more time after that to boil a cup of water. > > > > The problem was that it shutdown after that--completely. Like it was > > unplugged (no clock, no blinking ":"...NADA). I checked the house > > fuses and all was good, verified the outlet was still good, even > > plugged the microwave into another known good outlet--still dead. > > > > Four hours later, the blinking ":" came back! Stuck another item in, > > turned it on, and after about 3 seconds, it completely shut off again > > (i.e., dead). 10 seconds after that, the display came back on. > > > > Having read on the web and even in the owner's manual, the solution > > after an "oven fire" is to have the unit properly serviced or > > replaced. My questions are as follows: > > > > 1. exactly what would a service person do? > > 2. what kind of damage would most likely have occurred? > > > > I have stopped using the unit. A Sears repair person is scheduled to > > come out at the end of the week. But if I can troubleshoot this > > without too much hassle, I would like to. For example, if the unit > > almost always has to be replaced under these circumstances, I may as > > well go get a new microwave now and save myself both the wait (I have > > Thanksgiving leftovers that need a warmin'!) and the service call. > > > > Thanks for any replies. > > > > * Nyx * > > > > There is possibly soot inside the fan and other motors any filters will be > plugged up too. The magnatron has a motor to spread the > waves....prolly...gummed up with soot. > > -- > And the beet goes on! (or under) > -me just a while ago Soot is mostly carbon and carbon conducts electricity. If the magnetron has substantial amounts of soot it may be shorting out and the safeties may be shutting it down. Something similar tp what would hapopen if you put a metal container inside. This used to happen on TV picture tubes where a carbon path would form at the high voltage lead and you could hear "frying" noises. Unless this guy is familiar with servicing high power vacuum tubes I suggest he do not try to service it himself. Although the magnetron in modern microwave ovens may have been replaced with a solid state device it is dangerous. It takes a trained tech to work on something that can put out somewhere near a kilowatt of power. Bert (ex-KA4BBS) |
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