There’s nothing worse than when an appliance stops working all of a sudden. The good news is that there are some troubleshooting steps you can take yourself before calling out a professional.
A quick word on that before we move on!
You should never try to fix complex appliances on your own. Not only can you put yourself at risk, you might even void the warranty. Safety first, and never take on a job that you’re not confident at completing!
You should also disconnect your microwave from the power supply before doing anything else!
With that out of the way, what steps can you take to determine why your Samsung microwave has suddenly stopped working?
#1 Are you sure it’s the microwave?
Before assuming it’s your Samsung microwave that’s at fault, it’s worth making sure there’s not something wrong with the actual power outlet it’s attached to.
This is simple to test: simply plug another appliance into the socket and see if it works!
If this second appliance doesn’t power up this means one of two things:
- The power socket is faulty. Discontinue using it immediately and call a qualified electrician.
- A fuse might have blown or the circuit’s tripped. Go and check your fusebox to see if this is the case. If you know what you’re doing, replace the fuse or flip it back on.
#2 Check the door latch on the microwave
Most modern microwaves like Samsungs are designed to stop working if there’s anything wrong with the door latch. It will also stop working if the door has become misaligned in any way.
This is a job for a qualified technician to deal with, unless there’s some food you need to clear out. Don’t try and put any band aid fixes in place as it’s important your microwave is allowed to operate safely – and deactivate itself when it can’t.
#3 How’s the microwave fuse?
It’s possible that the internal fuse on your Samsung microwave has blown. I wouldn’t attempt this kind of thing myself, but your owner’s manual may explain how to find this.
This involves removing the outer cover and inspecting the fuse, and is really best left to a professional.
If the fuse is burnt or damaged in any way, they’ll be able to replace it with one of the same type and rating.
#4 Is it the control panel?
Have a play around with the control panel. If it doesn’t feel very responsive or it generates an error code, there’s a possible fault with the electronic components inside the microwave.
If it’s showing an error code, refer to the owner’s manual for your Samsung microwave. These are usually easy to find online if you don’t still have the hard copy!
Try the troubleshooting steps included with the guide, but if you can’t get it working then you likely need a replacement control panel.
If your microwave is still in warranty, contact Samsung. Alternatively a local technician may be able to fix this for you if the parts are standard.
#5 Other faulty parts?
If you’ve made it this far without resolving the problem, there’s probably something wrong with either the magnetron or the turntable motor.
You’ll know it’s the latter if your Samsung microwave powers on, but doesn’t rotate.
Both of these jobs are strictly for the professionals, so get a few quotes in. Just be mindful of the costs involved, as it may be more cost-effective to simply upgrade to a new microwave.
Wrapping Up
Nine times out of ten the reason your Samsung microwave has stopped working is due to the first two faults in this guide.
If in doubt, don’t try to make any of these repairs on your own. It’s far better to be safe than sorry, and a qualified technician will always know how to conduct these repairs correctly.
Mark’s a lifelong food fanatic and spent ten years working as an entertainment journalist. He now combines his love of food, drink and writing as the founder and editor of Viva Flavor. Read more