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Is your microwave light stuck on?
You’re not alone! I understand how frustrating it can be when your microwave stops working as it should.
But don’t worry! I’m here to help.
If your microwave light won’t turn off, chances are a button got stuck, or there’s an issue with the door switches and latch mechanism. A faulty control board can also cause the problem.
Are you ready to take a closer look at the light in your microwave? Let’s dive in!
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.
Why Your Microwave Light Won’t Turn Off
In my experience, several reasons can explain why the light in your microwave isn’t turning off. The most common ones are:
Before attempting any of the solutions in this article, please disconnect your microwave and check your manual to prevent damaging your appliance and to avoid electrical hazards:
#1 A Stuck Button
If your microwave light won’t turn off, I recommend checking the buttons first.
If a button becomes jammed in the pressed position, it can send a continuous signal to the light circuit, causing the microwave light to be stuck on.
When you press a button in your microwave, you should hear it beep. If you don’t, this is a sign that the button is probably stuck (only if your appliance has mechanical buttons).
If you have a touch interface model instead, likely the culprit is a bad control panel.
To prevent your microwave light from remaining stuck on, I recommend unplugging your appliance and using a soft cloth and a mild cleaning solution to clean around the buttons.
Once you’ve cleaned away any grease residue or food debris, you should feel the button pop back into place when you press it. This indicates that the button has been released, and now your microwave light should be able to turn off.
Regularly cleaning your microwave can help you prevent multiple performance issues!
#2 Faulty Door Switches
In my experience, about 99% of the time, a faulty door switch is typically the culprit behind a microwave light staying turned on.
You see, most microwaves are equipped with three switches that are activated when the door is shut off. These switches indicate that is safe to operate and allow power to flow to the light bulb.
If any door switch is faulty or malfunctioning, your microwave light will remain on despite the door being closed.
I recommend checking the manufacturer’s manual to access and replace the door switches. You can also search for your microwave’s model on Youtube and watch a tutorial video.
The replacement parts can usually be found on eBay or Amazon and cost $4 to $12.
#3 The Door Latch Is Not Working Properly
If the door latch is not working properly, your microwave light won’t turn off.
You see, your microwave light is designed to activate when the door is opened and also when the unit is in operation.
So, if you find that your microwave light remains on even when the door is closed, it’s most likely because your microwave thinks that the door is open.
In my experience, the easiest way to deal with the problem of your microwave light staying on is to clean the door latch.
Please remove any food residue with a soft cloth and mild cleaning solution. You can also use a can of compressed air.
If your microwave light is still stuck on, there’s likely an issue with the internal components of the door latch and you need to replace it.
While you’re at it, I also recommend checking the door spring.
The spring decomposes and pushes the door open when the latch is disengaged. So, if it’s old, dirty, or broken, it can prevent your door from closing, resulting in a microwave light stuck on.
Replacing the door latch and spring is relatively straightforward. But please keep in mind that there’s a 50% chance of breaking other components, as most of them are made of plastic.
So, if you don’t feel comfortable replacing these components yourself, please call an appliance repair expert!
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.
#4 There Is a Problem with the Control Board
If your microwave under light won’t turn off, you’ll need to check the control board.
The control board is typically behind the keypad and responsible for different operations, including light control.
When the control board is malfunctioning, the best thing you can do is replace it. However, this can be a more complex and costly repair.
So, if you don’t mind having the light in your microwave, a simple and cost-effective solution would be to remove the light bulb altogether.
#5 There Is an Issue with the Filament Short
If your microwave light is stuck on and you have replaced the lightbulb recently, there’s likely an issue with the filament short.
It is crucial to unplug your microwave before attempting any repairs involving the light bulb. This precaution is necessary to avoid electrical hazards and prevent the filament from shorting out.
While replacing the light bulb and fixing the faulty filament is possible, it’s often insufficient to solve the issue of your microwave light being stuck on fully. In such cases, replacing the filament and control board is necessary.
Please consider the cost of the repairs compared to the price of a new model. It can be more cost effective to purchase a new microwave instead of investing in extensive repairs.
Conclusion
That about covers it! Now, you’ll be able to solve the issue of your microwave light not turning off.
Remember to clean your microwave buttons, check the door switches, and replace the door latch and spring. It’s also important to inspect the control board.
Call an appliance repair expert if you don’t feel comfortable fixing the issue of your microwave light not turning off.
Thank you so much for reading! If the fixes above have helped you, please check out our other related articles below.
Good luck!
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