Appliance repair
Microwave repair in Salt Lake City
We repair built-in and over-the-range microwaves in homes across Salt Lake County, Utah, and the rest of the Wasatch Front. Dash Appliance Service sends a technician to your home, Monday to Friday.
$99 trip fee, credited toward the repair when the repair is completed. How our pricing works
Common microwave problems
What each problem usually means, and what you can safely check before you call.
Microwave runs but doesn’t heat
First rule out settings: a demo mode or a low power level can stop food heating. Sometimes the light, fan and turntable all work, but food stays cold. Then a part in the high-voltage circuit may have failed. It could be the magnetron, which makes the heat, or the high-voltage diode that powers it. It could also be a door switch. A capacitor inside can hold a dangerous charge even when the microwave is unplugged, so this repair is for a technician.
Check first: Make sure demo mode is off and the power level isn’t set low. Then heat a cup of water for one minute. If it’s still cool, stop using the microwave.
Microwave won’t turn on or won’t start
If the display is dark, the breaker may have tripped, a fuse inside the microwave may have blown, or the control board may have failed. If the display works but it won’t start, a door switch may not be sensing that the door is closed.
Check first: Check the breaker. Close the door firmly and try again.
Turntable not turning
The glass tray may be off the center hub, the roller ring may be blocked, or the turntable may be switched off: some models let you turn it off. If none of those, the turntable motor has probably failed.
Check first: Take out the tray and roller ring, clean the track under them, and set the tray back on the center hub. Check your manual for a turntable on/off setting.
Sparks inside the microwave
Metal is a common cause: foil, a twist tie, or a dish with metal trim. Built-up food on the inside walls, or on the cover over the opening in the side wall, can also spark. So can damaged paint inside. If the inside is damaged, stop using it until it’s repaired.
Check first: Turn it off right away and take out anything metal. With it off, wipe the inside walls and that cover clean.
Buttons not working
The control lock (child lock) may be on, or a setting like delay start may be waiting to run. If buttons still don’t respond, the touchpad or the control board may have failed.
Check first: Look in your manual for how to turn off the control lock. On many models you hold one button for a few seconds.
Light or vent fan not working
On an over-the-range microwave, a cooktop light that stays dark usually needs a new bulb. If the vent fan won’t run at any speed, the fan motor or its switch may have failed.
Check first: Switch the microwave off at the breaker, then change the bulb the way your manual shows.
Want an experienced technician to diagnose your microwave? Call or book a visit.
What a microwave repair visit costs
$99 trip fee, credited toward the repair when the repair is completed. Each extra appliance we diagnose on the same visit is $20, also credited toward the repair when the repair is completed. How our pricing works
The repair price depends on the fault and the part.
Brands we repair
We service most major brands, including Wolf, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Amana, JennAir, Frigidaire, Electrolux, GE, Café, Monogram, Hotpoint, LG, Samsung, Bosch, Thermador, Viking, Dacor, Fisher & Paykel, Miele, Kenmore.
Not sure about your brand? Call or text (801) 751-4084 and we’ll tell you.
Dash Appliance Service is an independent repair company. We are not affiliated with any appliance brand.
Safe checks before you call
- Check the breaker.
- Close the door firmly and try again.
- Turn off the control lock and demo mode, and check the power level isn’t set low.
- Set the glass tray on its roller ring and the center hub.
- Take out anything metal, and never run it empty.
Good to know in Salt Lake County
From outside sources, not Dash's own jobs.
Does Salt Lake City’s altitude change microwave cooking times?
It can. USDA says liquids evaporate faster at high altitude, so microwave cooking may take less time than at sea level. Meat, poultry, pasta and rice are the exceptions: they need the full time. Salt Lake City’s airport sits at 4,227 feet. USDA’s advice: microwave for a little less than the shortest time given, add time if needed, and check with a food thermometer.
Sources: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, High Altitude Cooking (last updated August 13, 2024); NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Local Climatological Data, Salt Lake City (1991–2020 normals) (2021).
Repair or replace your microwave?
Consumer Reports’ advice covers over-the-range microwaves that cost $300 or less. If one breaks at 1 to 3 years old, repair it. At 4 to 6 years old, a repair is worth considering. Replacing one can also mean paying for installation.
How long it lasts: about 10 years, according to Consumer Reports.
An older rule of thumb from Consumer Reports: don't spend more than half the price of a new appliance repairing an old one.
Sources: Consumer Reports, Should You Repair or Replace Your Broken Over-the-Range Microwave? (updated January 29, 2024); Consumer Reports, How to Clean Your Microwave and Make It Last (updated February 2, 2024); Consumer Reports, Consumer Reports Offers Insights on When to Repair and When to Replace (January 9, 2014).
This is outside guidance, not data from Dash's own jobs. Ask for the repair price, then compare it with the price of a new microwave you would actually buy.
Questions to ask the technician
- Is it the magnetron, a door switch or the control board?
- What will the whole repair cost?
- Could the maker’s warranty or a recall cover it?
From a customer
Great experience with Dash. We had a complicated microwave fix and they were patient and worked through a couple issues to get it working. Definitely would recommend!
Stacey R.
Where we repair built-in microwaves
Homes across Salt Lake County, including Salt Lake City, Bluffdale, Draper, Riverton, Herriman, South Jordan, West Jordan, Sandy.
See every area we serveMicrowave repair questions
Is it safe to use a microwave if the door doesn’t close right?
No. The FDA says not to use a microwave whose door doesn’t close firmly. The same goes for a door that’s bent, warped or otherwise damaged. The FDA also says to stop using one that keeps running with the door open.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Microwave Ovens (content current as of October 12, 2023).
Can I fix my microwave myself?
It isn’t safe. GE Appliances offers no do-it-yourself repair advice for microwaves, for safety reasons. A part inside called a capacitor can hold a high-voltage charge. It can keep that charge even after the microwave is unplugged.
Source: GE Appliances, Microwave - Runs But Does Not Heat (undated, read October 11, 2026).
Why does my microwave heat food unevenly?
USDA says microwaves can cook unevenly and leave cold spots. Stir, rotate or turn food over halfway through, even with a turntable. Let it stand, then check with a food thermometer that it reached 165 °F.
Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Cooking with Microwave Ovens (last updated June 27, 2024).
Need your microwave looked at?
Call (801) 751-4084 during office hours, Mon–Fri 8–7, or book online any time.