Problem Potential reason Potential solution
Sparking
1. Burnt on food debris
Burnt on food debris in the microwave, on 
the waveguide and the behind the 
waveguide can cause the microwave to 
‘spark’. This is because burnt on debris 
can be focused on by the microwaves and 
spark.
2. Metal or foil
No metal or foil should be put inside a 
microwave as it can cause ‘sparking’ 
which can damage the microwave.
3. Pressure build up in 
food
Food with none porous skins (potatoes for 
example), must be pierced to allow steam 
to escape. As the build up of pressure can 
cause food to burst and create a ‘fire 
hazard‘.
Heat spots
Operated empty or with 
no moisture
Microwaves cannot be run empty, 
microwaves need moisture to operate 
correctly.
If microwaves are operated empty or are 
used to heat up plates (this is not 
permitted), the microwaves can focus on a 
single point inside the microwave. This can 
cause a heat spot, which can cause the 
area to become deformed, warped or start 
to melt.
If microwaves are operated empty or to 
heat up foreign objects this will void the 
warranty.
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