when to tell if microwave is unsafe

Jolaaled

does anyone know what the life-expectancy of microwave oven is?
I"ve heard that they can leak their microwaves after a time..but how would i know?? Is it dangerous??
I've had mine for 15 years now and seems to work fine, but i've noticed that condensations builds up on the inside of the glass door sometimes. Is this a sign??!!
thanks

Joannaclaire

There are microwave testing kits about. My sister tested my mum's microwave (must be about 15 years old at least too) when I was back in Oz over Christmas. Sorry, have no idea where she got the tester, (in any case it was in Oz) but I think it was only a couple of quid if that (equivalent) and was basically a small container on a handle that you heated up inside for 15 seconds or so, then held around the door edges of the mirrowave and the back to check radiation leaks. If there was radiation, the tester was supposed to glow I think.

Hopefully someone else on here might be able to help in regards to where one would buy such a device.

espresso

does anyone know what the life-expectancy of microwave oven is?

All that I would say, is that the old ones were made far better than the modern rubbish is today! I have one made by Toshiba, (probably one of the first domestic models) that is still working fine after 22 years and it has an easy clean stainless steel interior. You can usually tell from the weight, the modern ones weigh very little and use a lot of plastic.

I"ve heard that they can leak their microwaves after a time..but how would i know?? Is it dangerous??

Why should it suddenly start leaking? There is nothing to wear out on mine!

I've had mine for 15 years now and seems to work fine, but i've noticed that condensations builds up on the inside of the glass door sometimes. Is this a sign??!!

Condensation is quite normal and nothing to worry about.

:wave:

MATH

I would keep running your old faithful as long as it will keep going. I have a brand new micro in my holiday home which collects condensation in the viewing window. My Toshiba at home which I bought second hand 20 years ago doesn't have any condensation and keep chugging along just fine.

jennifernil

We got our first microwave in 1981, it is still in daily use in my husband's office! It is an American made Tappan. I remember it cost about £200 way back then!

The one we use at home now is a big Siemens combi microwave with grill etc. and dates from 1987.
Never had any problems with either of them. We only got the combi one as we wanted to supplement a single built-in oven.
Hubby will be retiring next year, I wonder if we should let the company keep the microwave??!!