Who knew?

what is a waveguide.
how might we recognise it ?

I’ve never heard f this before, I must have a look.

I've never heard of it so I googled it. I never knew it might need to be replaced or that there were replacements available. In fact I never knew you could replace any part of a microwave. You live and learn.

I’ve had a part replaced on my microwave.

I’m not the only one then I don’t feel so daft now.
wellbeck it’s small about the size of a credit card and covers a hole on the side of the microwave where the waves that heat the food come from it looks like cardboard but is made of something else. I was able to take mine out as it was a bit grubby and wipe it clean apparently if it looks damaged you can get replacements on Amazon very cheaply.

Found this, along with a guide for replacing it:

"If your microwave oven is sparking or ‘arcing’ during cooking it may be that the waveguide cover is damaged. Usually the cover is made of a material called mica. Although strong and tough when new, over a period of time this cover absorbs moisture and food debris and becomes soft or breaks. If moisture or food embedded in it starts burning it will go from bad to worse quite quickly and if not replaced can cause irreparable damage to the microwave. It is advisable to replace the cover as soon as possible to prevent damage."

I don't ever remember reading any of this in the microwave guide. But I only use the microwave about twice a year so maybe I didn't read it properly.

Who knew indeed.
I have seen that in my microwave but had no idea about what it is or the possible problems with it.

My new micro has this. It got covered in liquid that spilt and I thought it was a label and removed it. Then had to send for a new one.

Just looked. Yes, there is one, looks clean though.

Don’t really use my microwave for messy jobs, just heating up drinks, cooking veg (always covered), making custard etc. so not likely to get too greasy or anything. Wipe it out after use.

I didn't know about waveguides either. Our microwave is a Panasonic bought in 1986 by the people we bought a house from in 1998. We gave them a £100, if I remember rightly, for the microwave and the cooker (they were having a completely new kitchen in the house they were moving to, which had belonged to the woman's parents).
We left the cooker in the house when we sold it in 2006 but brought the microwave with us. It's still going strong and is still better (also bigger) than any other microwave I've ever used.

I looked through the instruction booklet just now and there is no mention of the waveguide. Then I looked at the original receipt. Waveguide is mentioned on that because it was not included in the three year guarantee (the glass turntable and lamp weren't included either).

So far we haven't had to replace anything. The original price was £330. I reckon this microwave has earned its keep!

Nothing like that in mine. It's a Siemens, bought in 2007.

JackyB

Nothing like that in mine. It's a Siemens, bought in 2007.

Might it be this thing, JackyB?

I found we had a waveguide, when it scorched in our new Microwave from John Lewis. This is when I also found that a John Lewis guarantee wasnt worth the paper it was written on. Such a faff, I was accused of cooking jacket potatoes in it too often (it was 2 weeks old). So, we bought a replacement waveguide from Amazon for about £2 and it has been fine since.

Well, i didn't know about that either, just popped over to mine and opened the door and yes, there is what looks like a rectangle of cardboard on one of the sides.

Thanks for looking, Baggy, but that is just a raised part of the stainless steel side. Doesn't come off.

Well I've learnt something today! Had a look and there it was.

Just had a vision of Grans everywhere rushing off to look in their microwaves!

JackyB

Thanks for looking, Baggy, but that is just a raised part of the stainless steel side. Doesn't come off.

👍👍

Baggs might be worth investing in a microwave radiation check gadget...
They used to be about a tenner - they check that the seal isn't leaking.
Not sure what they are officially called but I would be happier using an old microwave if I knew it wasn't leaking.

Thank you for this - I had no idea such a thing existed!