Most people assume that unplugging an appliance before working on it makes it safe. With a microwave oven, that assumption is dead wrong and it has cost lives. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns against do-it-yourself repairs of microwave ovens and reports that from 2006 through 2008 there was an annual average of two electrocution deaths associated with consumers attempting to repair their own microwave ovens.
Why Unplugged Microwaves Are Still Deadly
Microwave ovens operate using high voltage — significantly higher than the voltage present in standard household wiring. Inside every microwave is a component called a high-voltage capacitor that stores a powerful electrical charge. This capacitor retains its charge even after the microwave has been unplugged, sometimes for hours or longer. If a consumer removes the outer cover of the microwave and touches the capacitor or other internal electrical components, the stored charge can discharge instantaneously through the body, causing electrocution.
The hazard does not require carelessness. Simply removing the cover and inadvertently contacting the wrong component is enough to be fatal.
What You Should Do
- Never attempt to repair a microwave oven yourself. The CPSC strongly recommends that consumers have professionals repair microwave ovens at all times.
- Do not remove the outer cover or attempt to access any internal components of a microwave oven for any reason.
- If your microwave is not functioning properly, contact the manufacturer for service or take it to a qualified appliance repair professional.
- If a microwave oven sparks, produces unusual smells, makes unusual sounds, or does not operate correctly, stop using it immediately and seek professional service or dispose of it safely.
- Do not assume that an appliance is safe to work on simply because it has been unplugged. This is especially true of microwave ovens, televisions, and other products with high-voltage capacitors.
To report a dangerous microwave oven or a product-related injury, visit SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
