If you don’t have an EMF detector, the cup of water is a perfectly fine microwave tester by itself.
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Morning, Robert. Hope to find you well.
Been some time that I tested microwave ovens. As for a glass of water in the microwave oven when testing. The water in the glass helps absorb, as well as evenly distribute microwave energy, thus making it easier to test heating performance.
Hope that helped answer your question.
I appreciate all of the finger wagging and admonishment that the tester was used incorrectly. The failure was obviously on me for not properly training a new assistant. Cause acknowledged. Additional training coming.
I was actually wanting to know if anyone else had run that tester for 20-30 seconds and what the result was.
At the end of the day I don’t want to argue with the seller. If they ask for reimbursement for a new microwave Ill do that, blink my eyes and move on.
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Be sure to check the Date of Manufacture first.
It may be twenty years old, so the best they deserve is a ‘used’ one, or a prorated cash settlement as anything past 10 years is ‘borrowed time’!
I have two microwaves… Main kitchen is 20 years old, and Basement wet-bar is 34 years old. Both look and work as new! If either died, it wouldn’t phase me one iota. I got my moneys worth out of both!
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I always carried a hot dog and a bun in my tool kit, pop it in the micro wave and set the timer for 30 seconds…
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Jim, this reminds me of back in the day before computers, the order takers would yell out the orders to the kitchen. A plain hotdog was yelled back as “I need a nekkid dog running!!” Times have change, but still an iconic place.
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Yeah, Good point Jeffery. 9 yo, $1.3m house so probably similar age of a microwave. The sellers agent has only said that they had a home warranty and they’d put in a claim there. Any participation on my part will just be good will. My business plan (read: historic f.u. ratio) is about 2 things per year that cost a few hundred dollars each. We’re almost mid year and this is the first 2025 f.u. so I’m right on my historic pace…
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Do you take pics of Data Plates?
When you train/retrain, consider requiring a pic of all data plates. All microwave Data plates have the Date of Manufacture on them (inside unit door).
Countertop unit’s typically have the Date plate on the rear of the unit, and may not have the date or a Serial number, just a Model number.
This is good info to have for your own protection. Some sleezeball sellers change out appliances after the inspection and before the Closing. Another reason why I take a photo of all appliances present on the day of inspection.
I know that isn’t an issue with your scenario (this time), but you never know what the future holds. Ya gotta protect your assets, as nobody else will like you will!
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GREAT IDEA! An additional could be the condiments and potato salad and soda left in the fridge to test it until you nuke the Dog and cleaning it all the plate and cutlery in the dishwasher to test it!
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And, the shirt in the washer to get the mustard stains out.
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So you would like to know if someone else has not read the instructions?
Why not throw one in your own microwave for repetitive testing to see how it goes?
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Damn I forgot that one!
Same here, I put the tester in the oven, close the door, turn it on, and as soon as the tester lights up I open the door, remove the tester, and cancel any time left on the controller.
The test is to verify that the magnetron is working, so the instant the tester lights up, the test is over.
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An occasional microwave hotdog is delicious.
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That’s what I do. Wet/damp paper towel, take a picture with IR camera, run microwave for 10 seconds, then open door and scan with IR camera again. …
Were you taking a coffee break Bert?
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If they are in training you should be showing them how to perform the test so this kind of thing doesn’t happen. Unfortunately to not be liable for replacement of the microwave you would have to prove you used normal operating methods and followed testing procedures correctly. In this case it wasn’t tested correctly so although that’s probably not the cause it’s a waste of time to try and fight a claim on that in my opinion. Just make it right and make that assistant take an appliance class and tell them to read the user manuals for all their tools cover to cover
I have zero interest in verifying the heating ability of the microwave. There are so many more important things, I don’t think my clients want me spending much time at the microwave.
Therefore, all reports get this…
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Testing procedure:
- Wet a plate
- Remove the stems from several grapes. Write numbers on each grape.
- Microwave on high
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And then?