Russell Hobbs microwave sparking inside

If a microwave is sparking or flashing inside with no metal present, stop using it until you’ve found the cause. The most common causes are usually inside the cooking cavity rather than anything electronic.

1. Check the waveguide cover This is the small card-like or mica cover on one side wall inside the microwave. If it’s burnt, greasy, warped or has a hole in it, it can arc and flash. This is a very common cause.

2. Inspect the cavity walls and roof Look for burnt-on food, grease build-up, or any chipped paint/enamel. Carbonised food deposits can cause arcing, and damaged cavity coating can do the same.

3. Check the turntable area Remove the glass tray and roller ring and clean thoroughly underneath. Food debris trapped there can sometimes burn and flash.

4. Look for damage to the rack support or interior fittings If any internal plastic trim, supports or paintwork have overheated or burnt, that can trigger sparking.

5. Do a simple test only after cleaning Put a mug of water in and run it briefly. If it still flashes, stop immediately. Don’t continue using it “to see if it clears”.

Because it’s only 6 months old, it should still be under guarantee, so I’d strongly suggest contacting the retailer or Russell Hobbs for service or replacement rather than attempting internal repairs yourself.

Important: isolate the appliance from the mains before inspecting anything beyond normal removable parts. Do not remove the cover, as microwaves contain high-voltage components. Any internal, mains or specialist repair should be left to a qualified engineer.

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