Microwaves are common household appliances that are used for cooking food quickly.
They use waves of electromagnetic energy to heat food. Sometimes, the microwave does not work because of a bad seal or other faults with the microwave’s components.
In this case, you need to repair or replace them.
It is important to have a complete guide on how microwave ovens work before starting it. So that you can resolve many of the common issues relevant to the device.
Common Troubleshooting In GE Microwaves If Not Heating
To troubleshoot a GE microwave that is not heating, check these things:
- Check the fuse or circuit breaker on your electrical panel.
- Check the power cord of your microwave for any damage or wear and tear. If there is any damage, replace it immediately with a new one.
- Check the door seal by closing it and opening it after a few seconds; if there is no resistance, then there is some problem with its seal, and you will need to replace it with a new one.
Routine Maintenance Required For GE Microwave If Not Heating
Sometimes, however, there is nothing wrong with your GE microwave. It may need some routine maintenance. Here are some things you can do:
Fuse / Circuit Breaker
Check the fuse or circuit breaker by unplugging the microwave and whether it has blown out or tripped. If so, replace it with one of equal amperage and voltage ratings.
Power Source
Check your power source and make sure that it is working properly. If it is not working properly, call an electrician to check it for you.
Fuse Box Overload Protection Device
Check if your fuse box has an overload protection device that protects your circuit from overloading. This device should trip when there is too much current (usually when there is a short circuit). If this device trips often, you should have your fuse box checked out by a professional electrician as soon as possible because it might be faulty and need replacing.
Let’s discuss some potential reasons why Ge Microwave is not heating, along with their solutions.
Casual Tests For GE Microwave If Not Heating
Door Properly Closed
You can test whether the door is properly closed by operating the microwave at full power for one minute with nothing inside it and then opening the door while it’s running. If it shuts off immediately, you know it’s safe to continue testing.
Fuse Has Blown
To test whether the fuse has blown or if there is no power getting to your microwave, unplug it from its electrical outlet and then plug it back in again. If it works, there was a problem with your house’s wiring or an individual circuit breaker or switch in your home’s electrical panel box. If it doesn’t work after resetting both breakers and switches, you’ll need to contact an electrician to help troubleshoot other possible causes of no power getting to your appliance.
Humming Sound
If you hear a humming sound coming from your microwave when you try to turn it on, but nothing else happens, it may be a sign that the fuse has blown. In this case, you’ll need to replace the fuse and test it before using your microwave again.
Step 1: Remove the back plate of your microwave and locate the fuse. Some microwaves have one fuse, while others have two or more. Check your user manual for instructions on locating them if they’re not immediately visible.
Step 2: Replace the blown a fuse with a new one of the same amperage rating (usually between 10 and 15 amps), but only if your microwave uses fuses instead of circuit breakers or if you’re unsure about which type of device controls power flow in your appliance. Replace blown fuses as soon as possible because they can cause dangerous electrical fires if left unchecked for too long!
Major Tests For GE Microwave If Not Heating
Inspecting the Magnetron
To determine if your microwave is working properly, turn it on and set it to High for one minute. If nothing happens when you press Start, there’s no power getting to the magnetron. If you hear buzzing or humming noises, there is still power running through the magnetron itself but not enough to heat anything in the cooking chamber.
If no humming or buzzing noise comes from your microwave when it’s on a high, there may be something wrong with your magnetron or circuit board.
Damaged Diode
The diode is a component that protects the magnetron from overheating. If this component fails, it will cause an open circuit in your microwave oven and prevent it from heating. To fix this problem, you must replace a damaged diode with a new one. You can find replacement parts in stores or online.
If your microwave has no display or power light on its control panel, you may have a damaged main control board. This board receives signals from sensors and controls them according to their input signals. To fix this problem, you must replace a faulty main control board with a new one.
Main Control Board Error In GE Microwave Oven If Not Heating
The main control board controls all of your microwave’s functions. If this board stops working properly, it can cause all kinds of problems like no heat or strange noises when using buttons on the front panel of your microwave oven. You can test this by disconnecting the power from your oven and removing the top cover (you may need to remove some screws).
Find where these wires are connected to the main control board and check if they are touching each other or if there is corrosion present between them (this could be causing an electrical short). If there is an issue, you will need to replace your main control board for everything else to work correctly again.
Thermostat Or Thermocouple
If there are any problems with your thermostat or thermocouple, it could prevent your microwave from heating properly. In most cases, this will trigger an E2 error code on display. However, it should be noted that this is only sometimes the case.
If you don’t have an E2 error code displayed on your microwave and it’s not heating properly, you’ll need to check the thermostat and thermocouple to see if they’re working properly. You’ll need a multimeter and basic troubleshooting skills to do this.
Thermostats are inside your oven cavity and usually attached to your back wall. The thermocouple is usually located underneath the turntable area of your microwave oven.
Broken Door Seal
Another common cause of a GE microwave, not heating is a broken door seal. This can happen if there is too much pressure inside the microwave or something has fallen into it while it is running, causing damage to its door seal mechanism. You should inspect this area carefully before attempting any repairs yourself since opening up a working microwave will expose you (and other people) to high radiation levels that can be harmful if not handled properly by someone who knows what they’re doing (like an electrician).
Voltage Capacitor
The voltages capacitor is located in the top left corner of your microwave oven’s control panel. It is about the size and shape of a dime or a nickel (depending on which GE model you have). It has two wires leading from it and should have a label indicating its polarity (positive/negative). This can be hard to see, so look closely at each side of it before removing it from its socket.
The voltages capacitor can be repaired by cleaning out any corrosion, replacing faulty components, and then testing it with an ohmmeter (multimeter) to verify that it is working again. If your microwave still does not heat after replacing this part, you may need to replace another component, such as the diode.
Error Codes Of GE Microwave Oven
Some major and frequently occurred error codes of Ge microwave ovens are discussed below:
- F1 This error number indicates that the microwave cavity is producing extreme heat, which has caused the “thermal sensor” to open.
- F2 “Shorted sensor panel.” This error will occur if a thermal sensor is discovered in combination or roast cooking convection for more than 5 to 6 seconds.
- F3 Shorted touchscreen
- F4 for humidity sensor
- F5 Shorted humidistat
- F6 Shorted temperature
- F10 Touch screen shorted
FAQs
Is there a reset button on GE microwave?
You can reset it by unplugging the microwave for about 15 minutes and then plugging it back in. This may take care of the problem.
If not, you will need an electrician to check the breaker switch and possibly replace it if necessary.
- You may press off/clear button. By pressing this anything which is showing on the display will remove and you will be able to work from start.
How do I know if my GE microwave fuse is blown?
A shorted heating element is the most common cause of a blown a fuse.
If you have a multimeter, you can test the fuse to see if it’s good or bad. If it doesn’t pass this test, replace the fuse with another one of an equal amperage rating.
If your microwave has an electronic timer display, resetting the control panel may also prevent further damage by resetting the circuit breaker that protects the microwave’s wiring.
