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How long does a microwave last?

S

silvib

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I am so upset that my built in Frigidaire Professional Series s/s micro, which is only 3 years' old has packed up!
We called out a technician and he said it wouldn't be worth repairing, due to the cost of the parts. I had our previous one for 13 years, when we sold the house. The technician said the life expectancy is now somewhat less!! My kitchen is open plan and my refrigerator, stove and dishwasher are part of the same 'series' and looking at the Frigidaire website, looks like they don't even have the same model anymore. I've written to them with my comments, but what are they going to do ... buy me a new one? :bawl:
 
They don't make anything the way they used to. My "new" microwave is also a built in one. At a bit over four years the handle cracked. The tech said it might be from two things...one, I should always use the fan when I have the burners on so the microwave doesn't get hot (can you imagine the racket?) and two, I should try to not use the very bottom of the handle to open the microwave...I'm 5'2", what am I suppose to do? I hate the microwave being over the stove, I'm always afraid of burning myself. If and when it goes out I may just replace it with a hood and a stand alone microwave...

Fern
 
Believe it or not - check eBay. My favorite convection oven, 4 years old, is available NIB on eBay. Closed stores, remodeling contractors, etc. And my discount Walmart price was $100;ebay auctions had it going for between $230-260.

Who would have thought that - well, it must be other people's favorite also.
 
When we remodeled our kitchen in 2001, I bought a Sharp micro. I love it. The touchpad is on the glass door across the top. It's installed under the counter (I think those above the range are simply unsafe). The thing quit working and there simply isn't a new one that would fit in the space and look decent. Luckily, there is an appliance repair guy here who said he'd look at it. He found a burned (arc'ed) wire in it, replaced said wire and it works good as new. I'm still running an e-bay search hoping an NOS one will magically appear so I can get a backup. It's either that or cut a new hole in the cabinet that more closely matches currently available micro's.

Jim Ricks
 
GE

Our microwave is about 13 years old and working just fine. The handle broke but I figured it was the way it was designed which I can't really explain very well. I slants and then goes straight.
 
We have a Sanyo at work (a lab) for over 12 years. The only things that goes in there are vinegar (acetic acid) and alcohol all day long. The inside paint is totally gone (all rusty) but the thing still keeps going.
 
I have a Sharp Carousel that I purchased in 1982 that is still working....but...it doesn't get a lot of use other than to pop the occasional popcorn or reheat coffee.

The Sharp Carousel that did get a lot of use bought the big one about 2 years ago. It was purchased new by my parents prior to my fathers death in 1988. This one had received quite a bit of use.

We purchased a new Sharp Carousel to replace the one the broke. I'm not impressed. It's not nearly the machine the older model was and I don't expect it to last nearly as long.

On another note, we had a new Whirlpool refirigerator installed when we built our house. At 4 years 11 months and 2 weeks (5 year warrenty) the compressor gave out. When the repairman came out to fix it I questioned him about the lack of durability. His comment was, in order to earn the energy star label, manufacturors were "underpowering" or putting in smaller compressors than what they use to put in. This put to much pressure on the smaller, underpowered compressor and they'd give out in 5 to 6 years.

I asked him if I needed to be looking for a new refridgerator in another 5 years and his answer was no, he was putting in the compressor that SHOULD have been put into this unit in the first place.

I've also had issue with components of our AC. Same story from the repair man. Cheaper parts that break down more frequently having to be replaced with the parts that should have been installed in the first place.
 
Our hotpoint over the range is 10 years old. We did have to replace a really big part something like the micron or other....think that cost $200 and was about 4 years ago....
 
Here's another one who purchased a Sharp Carousel (microwave/convection) in '81 or '82. It now sits in a built-in unit and is still working fine. We purchased a new refrigerator a little over 2 years ago and were told we did it just in time. Same thing about the compressors being required to be under-sized to meet regulations and the warranties were going to be reduced because of it. (Haven't checked to see if they really no longer come with an included 5 year warranty however.) BTW, that Sharp cost about $800 at the time so keep that in mind when lamenting the durability issue of the newer models.
 
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Htoo0 said:
Here's another one who purchased a Sharp Carousel (microwave/convection) in '81 or '82. It now sits in a built-in unit and is still working fine. We purchased a new refrigerator a little over 2 years ago and were told we did it just in time. Same thing about the compressors being required to be under-sized to meet regulations and the warranties were going to be reduced because of it. (Haven't checked to see if they really no longer come with an included 5 year warranty however.) BTW, that Sharp cost about $800 at the time so keep that in mind when lamenting the durability issue of the newer models.
Click to expand...

Looks like those extended warrenties might actually be the right thing to do when buying newer "energy star" appliances for the home.
 
I wonder if the same thing is happening with microwaves as other appliances...

I had a long talk with someone whose family has been in the appliance business for ages (with an excellent reputation). He told me that a number of years ago, the major manufactures started making cheapened products for Loews and the other big box stores. People would think that they were getting a quality product as a great price. They weren't. In any case, these products sold so well that the manufactures had to start making cheaper products for all the more traditional appliance stores because they couldn't compete in price with the box stores. It was a race to the bottom.

When I bought a stove from this store, the owner flat out apologized and told me that this was a cheap product and would not last nearly as well as what I had grown to expect. His family had always had a reputation for selling quality products and he was flat out embarassed. Sad.
 
Our Sanyo was a wedding present in 1984. It still works fine.
 
Our's is a Kenmore Spacemaker - purchased in 1980!! No problems with it all this time! I don't think that they make them like they did in "The Good Ole Days!"
 
When we moved into our new home in 1982 it came with a MagicChef stove with the Microwave attached to it above. Within the first year the touchpad went bad replaced under warranty. Went out again replaced it again. The repair guy said they have lots of problems with it because the heat and steam from cooking on the stove rises into the touchpad and messes it up. After that I gave up on it since I had my other Microwave that was about 6 or 7 years old and just used the Magic Chef for storage. My older Micro lasted about 19 years total. Can't remember the make but we replaced it with a Panasonic that is about 13 years now and no problems with it so far. I would never buy a stove with a micro on it. We replaced the stove few years ago and just put a vent above it attached under the cabinet.
 
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How convenient that this thread is here now. Our last microwave lasted about 20 yrs or so. Purchased one last summer (I think) and it just broke tonight. Have no idea what is wrong. Just went off.
 
Kay H said:
How convenient that this thread is here now. Our last microwave lasted about 20 yrs or so. Purchased one last summer (I think) and it just broke tonight. Have no idea what is wrong. Just went off.
Click to expand...

Now that is "Sad"!!! :doh: :D
 
Well I think we're probably all in agreement that they don't build anything like they used to. We recently downscaled from 2 offices to 1 giving me a spare microwave, just a small one, so I've brought that home and I can still use the Frigidaire for extraction, etc. until we decide what to do about it. I did look on ebay and one particular seller had 3 of my models, all used and all apparently working but with low starting bids and $77 shipping. I asked the seller a question, but am still waiting for the reply - don't want to throw good money away. Thanks for the input.
 
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