Should I get my microwave repaired?

Redlander

I bought a Panasonic flatbed microwave about three years ago. (a NN-SF464MBPQ) costing £169.99 at the time - . It has just stopped working; initially we noticed a quiet buzzing when it was powered up; a day later it just whirrs and grinds and clunks when we try to run it. Evidently some internal moving part has ruptured or got detached.

It is out of warranty. Should I try to get it repaired, or buy a new one? Does anyone repair microwaves in your home? We don't have a car so it would be a real pain taking the microwave to a service centre.

Grey_Critic

***Should I try to get it repaired***

Are you super rich? would most likely cost you more than the £169.99 you paid for it. Much as we do not like to admit many products just reach an *End of Life*

Several years ago I refurbished my trailer - only used for taking rubbish to the tip - It worked out at more than double what I could have bought a new one for - only advantage was it kept me from under the wifes feet.

Whilst products of all kinds are supposed to be repairable these days the labour costs alone even for very simple repairs often exceed what you could buy a new one for.

Neil_Jones

Redlander said:

I bought a Panasonic flatbed microwave about three years ago. (a NN-SF464MBPQ) costing £169.99 at the time - . It has just stopped working; initially we noticed a quiet buzzing when it was powered up; a day later it just whirrs and grinds and clunks when we try to run it. Evidently some internal moving part has ruptured or got detached.

It is out of warranty. Should I try to get it repaired, or buy a new one? Does anyone repair microwaves in your home? We don't have a car so it would be a real pain taking the microwave to a service centre.

Microwaves are cheap.

Cheap and Cheerful models on Argos, £55 with a new statutory warranty.  Or if you want a brand, Morphy Richards or even Panasonic at £100 also from Argos.

These are traditional microwaves with the turntable, as the benefit of the flatbed is you don't have a turntable.

A Russell Hobbs flatbed microwave is showing on Amazon at £114 with a 20% discount at this time.

From a price point of view, no brainer if you ask me just to get a new unit of whatever type.

The only real thing to go wrong in a microwave is the part that generates the magnetic waves in the first place - that or the transformer for it.

TELLIT01

Currys still have the same model on sale at £199 so it would certainly be worth investigating repair.  I think it unlikely that you will find anybody to do the repair in your home as that would mean carrying a large amount of spare parts with them.

EssexExile

Many years ago I worked for Hotpoint. We never repaired microwaves, if under guarantee we just gave them a new one. From recent experience a call out charge nowadays is about £80, that's a lot of money to spend to find they can't get the part you need!

datostar

We've had a Sharp Combi  for a good number of years now during which time I've replaced the interior light bulb, turntable motor and waveguide. Unplug it, remove the outer casing, work carefully and methodically and stay strictly away from the magnetron and its circuitry. As the OP's model is a flatbed it sounds as if the fault lies in the mechanical system for directing the microwave energy around the interior. I'd replace it. Repair would probably cost more than replacement.

Redlander

Thanks everybody. The verdict is unanimous for replacement, and that's what I've done.