Top reasons why microwave turns on by itself

microwave magnetron replacement
Image Credits: Flickr

If you own a microwave then you may agree to the fact that living without it may seem kind of difficult now that you are dependent on it. Afterall, it is an important kitchen appliance and makes several kitchen tasks much easier.  But due to regular usage, microwaves may start showing certain problems and one of the most common one is a microwave turning on by itself.  Anytime this happens, it immediately becomes a safety hazard and to avoid this, you must get it repaired fast. The following are the top reasons why microwave turns on by itself:

1. Stuck switches

One of the most common reasons why your microwave turns on by itself could be stuck switches.  The interlock switch in the door may be stuck or in some cases, the interlock relay on the control panel could also be stuck. Make sure you either check this yourself or ask for professional help.

Our Pick

Here are some of the recommended microwave door switches:

  1. LONYE W10727360 & W10269458 & W10269460 Microwave Switch Replacement for Whirlpool Microwave SZM-V16-FC-61 SZM-V16-FC-62 SZM-V16-FC-63
  2. KW3A Microwave Oven Door Switch 16A 125/250V Door Interloc(Normally Open & 3 Insert Foot)
  3. Microwave Door Switch SZM-V16-FA-63 by Podoy Compatible with LG GE Starion WB24X829 3B73362F PS3522738 SZM-V16-FD-63 AP2024337

2. Defectives switches and boards

Another reason why microwave may be turning on by itself could be faulty boards and switches.  After the problem of this appliance getting started on its own was reported by many customers or consumers, it was researched and found that this could be because of faulty switches or boards from the manufacturing company. The best way to deal with it is to contact the company to replace these parts.

3. Problem with the control panel

The touchpad or the control panel may sometimes get defective and this too can lead to the issue of the microwave turning on by itself.  The control panel supplies voltage to the various cooking components sometimes without even being told and this could suggest an issue with it. Make sure you get it replaced soon by contacting a professional.

Our Pick

Our other recommended replacements:

  1. GE WB56X10826 Touchpad and Control Panel
  2. Samsung De94-02517c Assembly Control Panel

4. Issue with the heat sensor panel

Another cause of the problem of microwave turning on on its own could be an issue with the heat sensor panel.  Some microwave buttons are heat sensitive and even without touching them; the warmth of the fingers may be enough to press the buttons. Infact in some cases, if the microwave is an over the stove model then the heat from the pan etc could also lead to it turning on by itself.

5. Membrane keypad

In some cases where the microwave has a membrane keypad, the microwave may get started on its own. In such cases, the membrane could be faulty and may need to get replaced.  For this, you may first have to order the control panel frame assembly which will have a new membrane keypad installed. You can even replace it on your own.

membrane keypad
Image Credits: Samsung

If you are comfortable replacing the necessary microwave part yourself, then you may just need replacement parts. However if you want professional help for the microwave or any general home appliances repairs, you can contact Mr Right.

You might also like

13 Comments

  1. 1
  2. 2

    We are grateful that you have provided us with such valuable information. Over the past few days, I have been struggling to think of a lot of questions that pertain to this subject. I will continue to be with you! fnf mods

  3. 3
  4. 4

    The mention of control panel issues caught my attention too. Sometimes, I do notice that the control panel buttons on my microwave don’t respond as smoothly as they used to. Then I replaced the part, and now it’s working very well I got this part from PartsHnC. Overall, this blog post has been incredibly informative, and I’m grateful for the tips and insights provided here. Thanks for sharing this valuable information!

  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9

    The microwave may start on its own if it has a membrane keypad. The membrane may be defective in such circumstances and will need to be replaced. It’s possible that you’ll need to order the control panel frame assembly first, which will include a new membrane keypad. You can even do it yourself if you want to.

  10. 10

    This just happened to me. Had a new G E microwave installed a week ago and today it turned itself on when I was across the room. Ran for about 5 minutes got super hot, was just about to unplug it and it stopped and now seems to be working fine. The only thing happening here is rain, but there was no power outage.

  11. 11
  12. 13

    My microwave start runinng as soon as i plug it in but it dont be heat an wen i am able to use it it works just fine

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>