_edited_edited_edited_edited.png)
Microwave Service and Repair
Microwaves are one of the most ubiquitous of modern kitchen appliances, so much so, that while other appliances may not be present, chances are there will be a microwave. Unlike most kitchen appliances, microwaves are compact, and use a relatively small amount of electricity to heat food allowing them to be placed in airplanes, buses, motor homes, offices, dorm rooms, hotel rooms or anywhere else space is at a premium and doesn't allow for full size appliances. Moreover, microwaves are present in modern kitchens alongside full size appliances and in commercial kitchens owing back to their original selling point of speed and convenience.
Microwave ovens, as the story goes, were invented essentially by accident. In 1945, Percy Spencer, a self taught engineer then employed by Raytheon, was working on an active radar set when he noticed that the high power microwave beam melted a chocolate bar he had in his pocket. To verify his finding, Spencer built a high density electromagnetic field by directing power from a magnetron into a metal box from which it could not escape. When foodstuffs were placed into the metal box with the microwaves, the temperature of the foodstuffs rose rapidly. The first food deliberately heated with microwaves was popcorn, which is actually one of the most popular foods still heated in microwave ovens today. On October 8th 1945, Raytheon filed for a patent application for Spencer's microwave cooking process, and placed a prototype at a Boston restaurant for testing.
Raytheon built the first commercially available microwave oven, the "Radarange", in 1947. The unit was large by today's standards, almost 6 feet tall, weighed 750 lbs., cost $5000 (approximately $60000 in today's dollars), consumed 3 kilowatts of power (roughly 3 times more than modern units), and was water-cooled. One of these early units was installed on NS Savannah, the first nuclear-powered merchant ship, where it remains today. Raytheon licensed its updated commercial technology to the Tappan Stove company in 1952. The revised unit was slightly smaller, and consumed less power. Tappan marketed the updated unit as 220 volt built-in home appliance in 1955 but due to the high cost of $1295 (approximately $12000 in today's dollars), but they were not particularly successful.
In the 1960's, Litton Industries, a large defense contractor, purchased Studebaker's manufacturing assets, which had been manufacturing magnetrons and selling microwave ovens similar in design to Raytheon's Radarange. Litton developed a new configuration of the microwave oven: the short, wide shape employed most commonly today, as well as a new magnetron feed which could survive a no-load condition; an empty microwave where there is nothing to absorb the microwaves.
Sharp Corporation, having begun manufacturing microwave ovens in 1961, developed the first oven with a turntable which allowed for even heating of food in the mid-1960's. By the mid-1970's, Litton's updated design had spurred rapid growth in the home microwave market, and allowed units to be manufactured and sold at a much lower cost to the consumer. With manufacturing cost continuing to go down and continued market growth, by 1986, 25% of US households had microwave ovens, and 90% of households had microwave ovens by 1997.
Today, it is hard to image a kitchen or break room without a microwave. Microwaves are available as desktop appliances, built into cabinets, or mounted above cooktops or ranges where, in many cases, they double as an exhaust hood. Microwave ovens are available in combination with a convection oven or with infrared heating elements to aid in the cooking and browning of food, and as smart devices controlled via computers and apps. While most microwave ovens do not require microwave maintenance other than cleaning, as one of the most ubiquitous kitchen appliances, microwaves do tend to require microwave repair more frequently.
Does your Microwave need Maintenance, Service or Repair? We're here to help. Simply call us at (818) 791-0445, we'll answer any questions you may have or to schedule a Service Call today. We have the experience and expertise necessary to service and repair all major microwave brands including the following: