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Microwave repair near you

Microwaves sit right on the repair-or-replace boundary. Countertop units are almost always replaced; built-in and over-the-range models are almost always worth repairing. Either way, the high-voltage capacitor holds a lethal charge long after unplugging — this is not a DIY appliance.

209 of the 873 businesses in this directory list microwave repair, across 50 states and 106 cities. Below them: what actually fails, what the repair costs, and when replacing is the better call.

Stainless oven range and hood in a bright kitchen
Listed pros
209
States covered
50
Licensed
206
24/7 emergency
7
Average rating
4.6
Reviews
48,083
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Top-rated microwave repair pros

The 12 highest-rated of 209 businesses that service microwaves. Call the number on the listing — we never take a cut.

197 more microwave repair businesses are indexed by state and city further down this page.

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Common microwave faults, and what each one usually is

Symptom, the cause it most often turns out to be, and whether it is homeowner work or a job that has to go to a licensed technician.

The economics here are unusually clear. A countertop microwave costs $100–$250 new, and a diagnostic plus a magnetron is more than that, so replacement wins on nearly every fault. An over-the-range or built-in unit costs $400–$900 and is fitted into cabinetry, so a $200 repair is straightforward value. Establish which you own before anything else.

The safety point is not a formality. The high-voltage capacitor in a microwave stores enough energy to be fatal and holds that charge for a long time after the unit is unplugged. Every other appliance on this site has some homeowner-serviceable failures. On a microwave, essentially the only safe homeowner tasks are cleaning the waveguide cover, the filters, and the turntable.

Technician
Needs a technician — meter diagnosis, a model-matched part, or teardown that is easy to get wrong.
Homeowner fix
Safe for a homeowner with basic tools once the appliance is unplugged or the breaker is off.
Licensed trade only
Gas piping, sealed refrigerant systems, or fixed wiring. Licensed and, for refrigerant, EPA Section 608 certified technicians only.

  • Runs, lights up, turntable spins, but food stays cold

    Technician

    The magnetron, high-voltage diode, or capacitor has failed. The control side works because it is on a separate low-voltage circuit.

    Step-by-step: Microwave Runs But Doesn't Heat →

  • Completely dead, no display, no fan

    Technician

    A blown line fuse — and that fuse is usually blown by a failing door interlock switch, so replacing the fuse alone rarely holds.

  • Loud buzzing or humming while heating

    Technician

    A failing magnetron or a high-voltage transformer starting to break down. Stop using it and have it tested.

  • Sparking or arcing inside the cavity

    Technician

    A burnt or missing waveguide cover, chipped cavity paint exposing bare metal, or metal in the food. Stop immediately — arcing damages the magnetron fast.

    Step-by-step: Microwave Sparking Inside →

  • Turntable does not rotate

    Technician

    The turntable drive motor or a stripped coupler. The one genuinely low-cost microwave fault.

    Step-by-step: Microwave Turntable Not Turning →

  • Runs on its own or stops as soon as the door is touched

    Technician

    A worn door interlock switch or a door latch out of alignment. Interlocks are a radiation-containment safety system, not a convenience part.

  • Over-the-range unit no longer extracts steam

    Homeowner fix

    Grease-saturated charcoal or aluminium mesh filters, or a failed vent fan motor. Filters are homeowner-replaceable.

  • Built-in unit tripping the circuit or scorching at the outlet

    Licensed trade only

    A failing transformer drawing excess current, or an inadequate branch circuit. Fixed wiring is licensed electrical work.

Maintenance that prevents those failures

Each item below maps directly onto a fault in the list above. This is the whole of microwave preventive maintenance — there is nothing else worth doing.

  • Wipe the cavity and check the waveguide cover for burn marks

    Weekly

    Prevents: Arcing, which destroys magnetrons quickly and permanently.

  • Wash or replace the grease filters (over-the-range)

    Every 3 months

    Prevents: Loss of extraction and a vent motor running against a blocked path.

  • Replace the charcoal filter on recirculating models

    Every 6–12 months

    Prevents: Cooking odours pushed back into the room.

  • Never run it empty, and keep a cup of water inside if children use it

    Always

    Prevents: The most common cause of early magnetron failure.

  • Check the door closes square and the latch engages cleanly

    Every 6 months

    Prevents: Interlock switch failure, which is what blows the line fuse.

Try it yourself first

Free step-by-step guides and the replacement parts that fix most microwave faults, with realistic difficulty ratings.

Microwave parts & suppliers →

6 more microwave repair guides cover the rest of the faults above.

Common microwave replacement parts with typical price, service life, and installation difficulty.
PartTypical priceDifficulty
Turntable MotorLasts 8–12 years$15–$30easy
Door Interlock Switch SetLasts 8–14 years$10–$40moderate
Turntable Coupler and Roller RingLasts 5–10 years$8–$30easy
Grease and Charcoal FiltersLasts Grease: wash monthly. Charcoal: 6–12 months$12–$45easy
Cavity Lamp and SocketLasts 3–8 years$5–$25easy
Vent Fan MotorLasts 8–14 years$40–$140moderate
Control Board or TouchpadLasts 8–14 years$50–$220moderate
MagnetronLasts 8–12 years$55–$190advanced
High-Voltage Diode and CapacitorLasts 8–14 years$10–$60advanced

Brands the listed microwave pros service

Counts are how many of the 209 businesses servicing microwaves name that brand. 38 distinct brands are covered in total, and 14 of these businesses hold a factory-authorized servicer credential.

All brands →

Built-in and drawer microwaves from Sharp, Wolf, Miele and Thermador are trim-kit specific, so a replacement has to match the existing cabinet opening exactly. That is precisely why repairing them usually beats replacing them.

Whirlpool207Maytag206GE205Samsung202Frigidaire198LG198KitchenAid189Bosch141Kenmore90Sub-Zero51Amana50Viking39Thermador37Electrolux32Wolf31Miele22Speed Queen17Haier15Jenn-Air11Dacor7JennAir7

Microwave repair by state

50 states with listed microwave repair businesses. Each opens a ranked list for that state.

Alabama4Alaska4Arizona5Arkansas2California6Colorado7Connecticut5Delaware2Florida11Georgia8Hawaii2Idaho2Illinois2Indiana4Iowa4Kansas4Kentucky5Louisiana4Maine4Maryland3Massachusetts2Michigan5Minnesota2Mississippi3Missouri7Montana4Nebraska4Nevada4New Hampshire4New Jersey6New Mexico3New York5North Carolina5North Dakota1Ohio7Oklahoma4Oregon2Pennsylvania5Rhode Island2South Carolina3South Dakota1Tennessee8Texas14Utah2Vermont3Virginia3Washington6West Virginia1Wisconsin4Wyoming1

Cities with the most microwave repair pros

106 cities have at least one listed microwave specialist. Ranked by how many.

Browse all locations →
Denver, CO5Kansas City, MO5Louisville, KY5Austin, TX4Omaha, NE4Albuquerque, NM3Anchorage, AK3Atlanta, GA3Augusta, GA3Birmingham, AL3Brooklyn, NY3Cleveland, OH3Columbus, OH3Hartford, CT3Indianapolis, IN3Knoxville, TN3Los Angeles, CA3Manchester, NH3Miami, FL3Milwaukee, WI3Nashville, TN3New Orleans, LA3Oklahoma City, OK3Orlando, FL3Portland, ME3San Antonio, TX3Tampa, FL3Ann Arbor, MI2Arlington, VA2Baltimore, MD2

Other appliances we cover

Refrigerator repair676Washer repair673Dryer repair674Dishwasher repair664Oven & Range repair672Garbage Disposal repair110Ice Maker repair147Freezer repair402Trash Compactor repair14Wine Cooler repair56Range Hood repair24

What microwave repair costs

National ranges for parts and labor together, before the diagnostic fee. Regional labor rates move these by roughly 20% either way, and no figure here is a quote.

Typical microwave repair jobs with national cost ranges.
RepairParts + labor
Turntable motor or couplerThe cheapest genuine microwave repair.$80–$160
Door interlock switch setReplaced as a set; a single switch rarely fails alone.$100–$200
Line fuse plus the interlock that blew itFuse-only repairs usually fail again within weeks.$100–$200
Vent fan motor (over-the-range)Check the filters first — they mimic a dead fan.$150–$300
High-voltage diode or capacitorDischarging the capacitor safely is the whole reason this is not DIY.$150–$280
Magnetron replacementWorth it on a built-in; almost never on a countertop unit.$150–$350
Control board or touchpadOn a countertop model, price a new microwave first.$180–$350
Full over-the-range replacement and refitIncludes ducting and cabinet fit, which is why repair often wins.$400–$900

Blue Book

The 50% rule for a microwave

New unit, US average
$250
Expected lifespan
9 years
Repair-or-replace line
$125
Diagnostic fee
$40–$80

A quote above $125 on a microwave past 6 years old is usually money better spent on a replacement. Below that line, and with life left on the clock, repair wins almost every time.

Estimate my microwave’s value

Adjusts for brand tier, age and condition. Free, no sign-up.

How long a microwave lasts

7–10 years. Over-the-range units land at the lower end because they run hot above a cooktop and their filters are neglected.

Running a microwave empty, or with almost nothing in it, is what kills magnetrons early — the energy has nowhere to go and reflects straight back into the tube. So does arcing from a burnt waveguide cover left in service.

When replacing beats repairing

  • It is a countertop unit and the quote is over about $125 — half the price of a new one.
  • The magnetron has failed on a unit past year seven.
  • There is any arcing damage to the cavity walls, which cannot be safely repaired.
  • The door, hinge, or latch is damaged — a compromised door seal is a radiation containment issue, not a cosmetic one.

Microwave repair — common questions

Is it worth repairing a microwave?
It depends entirely on the format. A countertop unit costs $100–$250 new, so any repair over about $125 loses. An over-the-range or built-in unit costs $400–$900 plus installation, so a $150–$350 magnetron or control board repair is clear value.
Why does my microwave run but not heat food?
The magnetron, high-voltage diode, or capacitor has failed. Those live on a separate high-voltage circuit from the display and turntable, which is why everything else still appears to work normally.
Can I repair a microwave myself?
No, with narrow exceptions. The high-voltage capacitor stores a potentially lethal charge that persists long after the unit is unplugged, and discharging it safely requires the right tool and technique. Cleaning the cavity, the waveguide cover, the turntable and the filters is the extent of safe homeowner work.
Why is my microwave sparking inside?
Usually a burnt or missing waveguide cover, chipped cavity paint exposing bare metal, or metal in the food. Stop using it immediately — sustained arcing destroys the magnetron and can damage the cavity beyond economical repair.
How long do microwaves last?
7–10 years, with over-the-range units at the lower end because they run hot above a cooktop and their grease filters are rarely changed on schedule.
My microwave is completely dead. Is it just a fuse?
It is usually the line fuse, but the fuse is a symptom rather than a cause — most often a worn door interlock switch blew it. Replacing only the fuse typically buys a few weeks. Have the interlocks tested and replaced as a set at the same time.
Is a microwave with a damaged door safe to use?
No. The door, hinges, latch and interlock switches together form the radiation containment system. A bent door, a failed latch, or a damaged seal is a safety fault, not a cosmetic one, and the unit should be taken out of service until it is repaired or replaced.

Need a microwave fixed this week?

Every listing above is a real business with a real phone number. Compare two or three on rating, licensing and years in business, then call the one that explains the job best — and tell them what you found in the fault list above.

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