Repair or replace?

[jon-nyc]

House came with a ‘microwave drawer’ under counter. No formal dx bit by all appearances the magnetron blew.

Don’t have a quote on repair. Probably need a guy to come out twice, once to confirm dx once to replace, plus order the part.

They aren’t cheap, $1299 new. Then again service ain’t cheap here either.

Unit was built in July 2017.

I’m leaning toward replace as it’s getting close to 8 years old.

Thoughts?

[Doctor Phibes]

@jon-nyc said in Repair or replace?:

I’m leaning toward replace as it’s getting close to 8 years old.

I'd replace. We had an installed one stop working on us in our new place of about the same age, although a lot cheaper than yours and we just had them install an identical one.

You could easily pay for repair and then end up replacing it anyway.

[Mik]

Is there a better place you could install a less expensive under cabinet unit and get the drawer space back?

[jon-nyc]

Actually I have plenty of drawer space. At the margin the counter space is more valuable.

[89th]

@jon-nyc said in Repair or replace?:

Actually I have plenty of drawer space.

Pfft, minimalist. I'm jealous.

I bet you have one fork, one spoon, and one knife, equally spaced out as you open the drawer.

[jon-nyc]

Ha

[Axtremus]

@89th said in Repair or replace?:

Pfft, minimalist. I'm jealous.

I bet you have one fork, one spoon, and one knife, equally spaced out as you open the drawer.

Can be reduced to two chopsticks.

[Mik]

Double wide drawers ROCK. We got one in our summer kitchen remodel. LOVE it.

[Jolly]

Technology is mature. I'd replace. I'd do some cipherin' to see if a cheaper model would fit my needs and kitchen space.

[blondie]

Pricey yes, but I’d seek to duplicate the model of the existing one, then seek to repair the broken one & keep it as a backup. Microwaves only last 8 yrs or so.

[jon-nyc]

Yeah. Plus all drawer models are pricey. If one out there were $400 I wouldn't trust it.

[blondie]

I’ve no experience with drawer units, but I wouldn’t want anyone trying to retrofit, drill, futz around within the cabinet down there. The thing needs to slide operate smoothly, open-close for the long term.

[blondie]

Is your drawer unit vented? Like to the exterior of your home? Just curious.

[jon-nyc]

No. It's not acting as a range hood and the microwaves themselves don't vent air to my knowledge.

[blondie]

I guess I’m asking the wrong question. I want to know its location .. above counter or below counter within a cupboard space, or if it’s in an island?

[blondie]

What’s its brand too?

I’m building a house now btw. Have also have had to replace above counter shelf type microwaves in 2 other homes. Oh and 1 above the stove thing.

[jon-nyc]

In an island. (Peninsula, I guess)

[blondie]

Are those pop up controls?

[blondie]

If your unit is made by SHARP, and I think most are no matter their branding, you should have no problem replacing it.

[George K]

I bought our first microwave as a Christmas present for Mrs. George in 1982. It was a Panasonic and it cost $700 - do the inflation-adjusted thing. When we sold our house in 2013, it was still working.

In the condo, we have an above the stove GE profile. Been fine since 2009.