Thermador Microwave Not Heating Issues: Diagnose and Fix
Microwaves are commonplace in modern kitchens these days. As a method of convenient cooking and warming of food there are few appliances as efficient to the level that you find with a Thermador microwave.
Thermador microwaves can last a long time as long as you take good care of them as they are well built.
After (hopefully) years of service to you there is a possibility that your microwave may experience some issues such as not heating your food correctly.
In this blog post we will investigate some of these possible problems and look at some ways in which we can discover the root of the issue and troubleshoot some of the problems in an effort to solve them with minimal cost and effort.
Causes of Thermador microwave not heating.
There can be several causes of a Thermador microwave not heating. In this section, we will address some of the most common causes that are associated with faulty microwaves.
We will start with the most basic and one of the most common issues – the power supply.
A microwave will not function without electricity and so if there is any fault with the power supply or the outlet then you will find the microwave is not heating your food correctly.
A second cause of the microwave not heating due to a lack of power may not come from the power supply itself but can also be down to a blown fuse in the circuitry instead.
If it is not the power source or fuse, then there are some other possible things that may lead to the microwave malfunctioning and not heating.
A vital component part to the microwave appliance is the magnetron box. This imperative component is found rooted in the inner compartment of the microwave. The magnetron creates the “microwaves” that allow the microwave to operate and produce heat waves.
So, if there is a problem with the magnetron your Thermador microwave will not heat properly or even work at all.
Now on to another important component. To convert A/C power into D.C. power, microwaves use a diode.
A diode is then utilized to operate the magnetron. This means that should the diode in your Thermador microwave not be correctly doing its job, then neither will the magnetron.
The door mechanism of the microwave is the next common cause for a microwave to not heat correctly or not function at all.
A fully operational door to a microwave oven is key for the safe operation of a microwave. A microwave cannot work and heat if the door is not totally shut or if there is a problem with the switch that opens and closes the door.
A Thermador microwave has to be ventilated when in use, in order to operate effectively. If the ventilation area to the microwave becomes blocked or not able to operate properly, it may lead to a fault and cause the microwave to not heat correctly.
There are quite a few issues that can occur to reduce the effectiveness of a microwave that are not so simply identified.
Microwaves often appear to function as normal until you take a bite of your food or a sip of your supposedly hot coffee for example.
Signs and symptoms of issues may be things like your food being unevenly cooked or insufficient temperature distribution throughout the microwave while in use.
Troubleshooting tips for Thermador microwave not heating.
In this section we are going to look at various pieces of troubleshooting advice, to try to solve any issues that might have led to your Thermador microwave not heating.
Let’s start with the issues that may have been caused relating to the power supply. Firstly, and this is the most common reason for not heating issues, is that the microwave is properly plugged in.
Often the plug has been yanked out a little by mistake. Having checked that, then maybe it is a problem with the outlet it is plugged into.
Have a look at it closely and you might notice some lights which show that it is working and producing power. If there are no lights on the outlet you can test it by trying a different plug from another device.
If it is working correctly the last thing to check in terms of issues powering the microwave is the fuse. Maybe that has blown needs to be replaced or reset.
Next, we are going to have a look at some issues that may be present in the Thermador microwave door that may solve the not heating when addressed.
Thermador microwaves close with a satisfying “click” and then lock into place. If you can no longer hear the sound, then it could be that there is something blocking the hinge.
Sometimes whatever is in the microwave at the time is a bit too large and blocks the door a little bit, stopping it from clicking shut.
The button that opens the door can also be faulty, Thermador microwaves have a push button that snaps open the door automatically, and if there is a problem with this then the microwave will likely not heat properly.
The final part of the door is the seal that keeps the heat in the microwave, sometimes this erodes over time or can get pulled away from the lining because of lots of fast use.
Finally let us take a look at any particular problems that can occur with either the diode or possibly the magnetron itself. To test these two items, you will need to use a device called a “multimeter”.
This little piece of equipment measures things such as voltage, current and resistance.
They do not cost a lot and are very useful for checking the current in your Thermador microwave and a variety of other appliances for that matter.
Bad news though, if it turns out to be a problem with the magnetron, they are not cheap or easy to replace and this makes it not really worth doing as a new microwave will not cost you too much more.
Repair and maintenance.
Like most machines and appliances, your Thermador microwave will last you much longer if you remember to perform regular maintenance checks to make sure that it is in correct working order and able to operate more efficiently.
Take the time to check the ventilation section at the rear of your Thermador microwave and make sure there is nothing covering it.
Have a look at the seal around the inner door from time to time and see what condition it is in; is it starting to fade or show any other signs of wear and tear?
And lastly, don’t forget to check the power outlet that your Thermador microwave is plugged into, you don’t want to overload this and cause a power shortage.
If none of this information has helped, or if you do not feel confident to attempt any of these solutions to your Thermador microwave not heating, you could contact a local general appliance repair store.
You could also get in touch with the customer service team at Thermador. You can find their contact information on the website, or in your “Operator’s Manual” that came with the microwave when you bought it.
Conclusion
Hopefully your Thermador microwave lasts a very long time and never lets you down, but if it does start to have issues with not heating then take the time to read through all of our trouble shooting tips listed above.
They should prove useful in solving most situations that commonly cause the microwave to not heat.
If you cannot solve the issues after following all the tips then we would advise you to contact Thermador through their website or take your microwave to a professional appliance repair store.
Finally, your Thermador microwave may still be under its manufacturers’ warranty, and so they will be responsible for fixing or replacing your microwave for free!