What Will Happen If the Fan Is Blocked on My Microwave?

Heat Damage to the Underside of the Microwave

• A blocked fan may cause melting or distortion of the underside of the microwave if the cooking surface generates too much heat. The fan automatically switches on to help redirect heat when the temperature of the underside of the microwave reaches a certain level.

Overheating of Internal Parts

• The microwave relies on the cool, circulating air generated by the fan to reduce the heat of its internal parts during cooking. Blocking the fan cuts off the supply of cool air and causes internal parts of the microwave to heat up and potentially fail.

Poor Cooking Results

• The microwave's internal fan is used during convection cooking cycles to circulate air past the food. A blocked fan will prolong cooking times and reduce the efficacy of the convection mode of the over-the-range oven.

Excessive Food Odors

• The microwave fan acts in place of a stove extractor fan on many over-the-range models. You might notice lingering cooking smells, excessive steam or smoke or increased temperature in the kitchen if the fan is blocked.