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Are you frustrated that your microwave door is not opening properly?
You’re not alone! I know it can be frustrating to not be able to open the door, especially when you’re hungry and want to heat up your food quickly.
Luckily, you’ve come to the right place for answers.
If your microwave door won’t open, chances are there’s food residue blocking the door, the door button is faulty, the door latch is not working properly, or there’s an issue with the door spring.
Read on to solve the problem and open your microwave door!
Why trust us? This article was written by Craig Anderson and James Blackford.
Craig has helped thousands of other homeowners repair their appliances since 2016. James is one of our resident appliance experts with over 16 years of experience. He currently works as a Master Technician for SquareTrade, and runs his own appliance repair business.
Prefer to Listen?
If you prefer video or audio, here’s me and James talking about dealing with a microwave with a stuck door for the ApplianceAnalysts Podcast:
What You’ll Need To Fix Your Microwave Door
If you want to fix your microwave door issues, I recommend gathering these materials:
- Manufacturer’s manual to figure out how to disassemble your microwave door if required.
- Cleaning solution to remove any food residue.
- Soft towel or cloth to clean the door.
- A screwdriver or a security bit set to disassemble the microwave.
After you have gathered all of these materials, it is time to move to your microwave and get ready to fix its door.
4 Steps To Fix Your Microwave Door
In my experience as an appliance repair expert, I’ve noticed that a microwave door that won’t open is one of the most common issues people encounter every day.
Unfortunately, microwave doors can have issues for a bunch of different reasons. The good news is that there are four simple solutions that almost always solve the problem.
Before attempting any of the solutions in this article, please disconnect your microwave and check your manual for advice specific to your microwave model.
#1 Clean the Door
If your microwave door isn’t opening, I recommend cleaning it!
Gummy residue can block the door and interfere with its smooth operation, keeping it from opening.
Please jiggle the door latch a bit to see if you can release the food residue that is stuck inside it. Please do not jiggle too hard,or you can break the door latch.
To remove food residue from the door, spray some cleaning solution all over the door latch. In my experience, giving it a few seconds to sink in its best. Then, put some cleaning solution on your cloth or towel and use it to wipe down the door and the door latch.
If the door latch is still dirty, I would try a can of compressed air and spraying it on the inside of the door latch. This should be enough to clean out your microwave door.
#2 Check the Microwave Door Latch
If your microwave door is still not opening, then I recommend inspecting the door latch.
You see, the door latch is responsible for securing the microwave door when it’s closed, and it is typically a plastic hook or a lever that engages with a slot.
When a microwave door latch gets broken, cleaning it will not be enough, and you’ll need to replace it.
You first need to check and see if you can move the door latch on your own. If the door latch is not moving, this is a sign that it is not working properly.
There are plenty of other ways to inspect the door latch. For example, check if you can get it to catch the inside of the door manually. If the lever does not appear to be latching the door properly, this is another sign it is broken.
I recommend looking at the manual to see what type of part you need to replace the latch itself. Then, please order the replacement and remove the old latch.
If you want to get any replacement part – or see how much one would cost – click to enter your model number in the search bar below. Our partners at AppliancePartsPros stock almost every part with free guides on how to install them.
#3 Fix the Door Button
In many cases, the issue with a microwave door not opening can be traced back to the door’s push-button mechanism.
A push button is particularly common with countertop or built-in microwaves.
The push-button mechanism is mostly made of plastic, so it doesn’t take much to wear out or break and cause your microwave door to not open.
The good news is that fixing microwave door button issues isn’t costly, as the replacement parts typically cost around $15 online.
However, keep in mind that reaching the mechanism can be tricky, as it often involves removing the entire case assembly. So, I recommend checking your manual before doing so.
It’s worth noting that most microwaves have special safety screws that may appear compatible with an Allen wrench, but a standard torque screwdriver won’t fit. To deal with these screws, you’ll need a security bit set that can usually be found at Walmart or any hardware store.
Don’t forget to clean the button surface to keep it from getting stuck.
#4 Fix the Door Spring
Finally, if the microwave door is still not opening, you will need to take closer look at the door spring.
You see, the spring is responsible for decompressing and pushing the door open when the latch is disengaged.
In my experience,the spring can prevent your microwave door from opening if it’s old or dirty.
To check the spring, you will need a screwdriver to remove the interior parts of your microwave. It’s important to be careful as some are made of plastic, so they can break easily.
Check if there is any food residue in the way of the spring. If there is, please clean it. But, if the spring looks old, replace it with a new one.
How To Prevent Microwave Door Issues
If you want to prevent microwave door issues from happening in the future, I recommend keeping your microwave clean. Ideally, it would be best if you wiped down the inside of your microwave after every meal.
Regularly cleaning your microwave will help prevent food residue and grease from building up inside the unit and door.
In my experience, it’s also best to cover your food whenever you are using the microwave. Even if you feel like the food will not splatter, you still need to keep it covered. That way, you do not have to worry about any food splattering inside the microwave, and the cleaning process will be much easier.
Conclusion
That about covers it! Hopefully, you’ll be able to solve the issue that was keeping your microwave door from opening.
Remember to clean the microwave thoroughly first and focus on the inside of the door and the door latch. It’s also important to take a look at the button and spring.
Don’t forget to clean your microwave after every use to prevent door problems from happening in the future.
Thank you so much for reading! If you found this article helpful, please check out our other related guides below.
Good luck!
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