Microwaves sit at the lower end of the repair-vs-replace math: replacement units are cheap enough that most repair quotes don't pencil. But over-the-range models flip the equation — installation costs make the replace side meaningfully more expensive. The articles below cover the specific failures, magnetron burnouts especially, and the over-the-range versus countertop distinction that decides the call.
Over-the-range microwave repair decisions are fundamentally different from countertop units. Installation cost changes the financial math entirely.
Magnetron failure on a countertop microwave is almost never worth repairing. Here is the complete math on why replacement is almost always the right call.
Use our free calculator to get a data-driven repair or replace recommendation based on your specific appliance and local labor rates.
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