My microwave oven is almost 10 years old. I didn't notice a change in
the way it works, but I am still concerned whether there is a
"radiation leak" after so many years in operation. Any expert advice
will be appreciated.

thanks

wrote in message
oups.com...
My microwave oven is almost 10 years old. I didn't notice a change in
the way it works, but I am still concerned whether there is a
"radiation leak" after so many years in operation. Any expert advice
will be appreciated.

thanks


I wouldn't worry about it. Even a microwave oven with a damaged seal is
unlikely to cause health problems. Don't fall into the trap of believing
urban myths about 'radiation', which people associate with radioactive
particles and mutation :-) There's no link that I'm aware of with microwave
ovens and cancers etc.

Microwave oven energy is just a very strong radio wave. It could in theory
cause health problems and cataracts, but I've yet to hear of a single case
of serious health problems from consumer microwave oven 'leaks'. If you
aren't confident, take it to someone who can test it for leaks or look out
for a microwave oven leakage tester, I know Radio Shack/Tandy used to sell
them years ago before they realised they were pointless. However, I really
wouldn't worry about it. The fact is that the microwave oven is mature
technology, is considered a very safe appliance and microwave oven leakage
detectors never took off because worries about leakage hazards are largely
scaremongering and urban myth.

Incidentally, probably the worst thing that would happen if your microwave
oven leaked would be interference on nearby radios, TVs and cordless phones!

Dave

wrote in message
oups.com...
My microwave oven is almost 10 years old. I didn't notice a change in
the way it works, but I am still concerned whether there is a
"radiation leak" after so many years in operation. Any expert advice
will be appreciated.

thanks


Take a look here, it should answer your question.

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/microwave.html#6

Hi!

My microwave oven is almost 10 years old. I didn't notice a change in
the way it works, but I am still concerned whether there is a
"radiation leak" after so many years in operation. Any expert advice
will be appreciated.

There's nothing to be concerned about unless the oven has been physically
damaged (e.g. "dropped") in that time. Microwave ovens are very reliable and
age generally does not affect their safety. (Unless of course the oven has
been abused over time.)

William

"Dave D" bravely wrote to "All" (06 Feb 06 16:51:19)
--- on the heady topic of " Microwave oven safe after 10 years?"

DD From: "Dave D"
DD Xref: core-easynews sci.electronics.repair:357655

DD wrote in message
DD oups.com...
My microwave oven is almost 10 years old. I didn't notice a change in
the way it works, but I am still concerned whether there is a
"radiation leak" after so many years in operation. Any expert advice
will be appreciated.

thanks


DD I wouldn't worry about it. Even a microwave oven with a damaged seal
DD is unlikely to cause health problems.


Microwaves are good for us! We even get them for free from space!

Okay, unlikely to cause a health problem in the immediate but what
about 10 years on? So if it doesn't hurt you today should we then
consider it 100% safe? How are you going to link a cancer with that
early exposure you forgot all about? No way, right?!

A*s*i*m*o*v

.... High Voltage Electronics: Life's a glitch, then you fry.

On 6 Feb 2006 08:23:32 -0800, wrote:

My microwave oven is almost 10 years old. I didn't notice a change in
the way it works, but I am still concerned whether there is a
"radiation leak" after so many years in operation. Any expert advice
will be appreciated.

thanks


The only thing likely to cause leaks would be if the door isn't
closing properly. This isn't likely to be a problem unless it has
been dropped, or improperly repaired.

My microwave is 29 years old!
Andy Cuffe

"William R. Walsh" wrote in
news:TJMFf.780281$xm3.289100@attbi_s21:

Hi!

There's nothing to be concerned about unless the oven has been
physically damaged (e.g. "dropped") in that time. Microwave ovens are
very reliable and age generally does not affect their safety. (Unless
of course the oven has been abused over time.)

William



I think there's an inverse relationship between age and reliability of
mircowaves. The older the microwave, the more likely it is to still
work.

Puckdropper
--
www.uncreativelabs.net

Old computers are getting to be a lost art. Here at Uncreative Labs, we
still enjoy using the old computers. Sometimes we want to see how far a
particular system can go, other times we use a stock system to remind
ourselves of what we once had.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

"Asimov" wrote in message
...
Microwaves are good for us! We even get them for free from space!

Okay, unlikely to cause a health problem in the immediate but what
about 10 years on? So if it doesn't hurt you today should we then
consider it 100% safe? How are you going to link a cancer with that
early exposure you forgot all about? No way, right?!


My point is that scientists seem happy that microwave ovens do not pose a
health risk, and there are no recorded cases that I'm aware of where
microwave oven radiation has been demonstrated to have caused direct injury
or cancers to the operator. tests have been done on animals with MW
radiation, and no link has yet been established with cancer.

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/microwave.html#5

We either accept that, or we don't. The person more inclined to take the
latter stance is going to end up doing a lot of unnecessary worrying. A
small nick in a door seal is not likely IMO to release sufficient radiation
to cause problems, especially taking into account the inverse square law. If
a damaged seal really was a major health risk then I think there'd be a lot
of publicity featuring dire public warnings to check the seal integrity
every so often, and an abundance of cheap detectors, or perhaps even
detectors bundled free with the ovens.

The fact is, no-one is getting their knickers in a twist about microwave
oven radiation. Maybe in 20 years time a link will be proved with cancers
and there'll be a huge overhaul in MW oven safety, but until then, I
personally am content that they are safe.

Dave

Hi!

I think there's an inverse relationship between age and reliability of
mircowaves. The older the microwave, the more likely it is to still
work.

You might be right! I've got a 1985 model Kenmore (made by Sanyo) in the
kitchen that still works like new. The only thing I've ever had to replace
is the light bulb...not because it burned out, but because the glue holding
it into the socket came undone and then the little wires linking base and
socket broke.

Down in the basement I've got a 1986 model GE oven that was collected for
free because its owner complained of "slow heating". Cleaning the dust out
of the air inlet helped...it seemed the magnetron was overheating and
cutting out. I also put a light bulb in this one. It still works like a
champ.

My grandmother has a "downright classic" Litton-made oven that seemingly
predates digital timers. It has only ever required a few lamps and periodic
lubrication of the fan motor.

Meanwhile I've got at least two Sharp ovens...both maybe 3 years old. One is
dead to the world (haven't looked at it yet, but it is probably something
simple) and the other will not acknowledge its START button. (Instant cook
modes will start and run for however long is specified, but nothing (not
even jumpering the contacts on the circuit board that represent the start
button) will make it start when START is 'pressed'. I suppose this may be
more difficult to work out and I'm not sure it is worth it.

Old computers are getting to be a lost art. Here at Uncreative Labs, we
still enjoy using the old computers. Sometimes we want to see how far a
particular system can go, other times we use a stock system to remind
ourselves of what we once had.

I don't subscribe to S.E.R on the majority of my IBM PS/2 systems, but I
have a great number of them still out and running today. For a while I had a
PS/2 Model 65SX running as a web server!

http://www.walshcomptech.com/comp_coll.htm

William

My grandmother has a "downright classic" Litton-made oven that seemingly
predates digital timers. It has only ever required a few lamps and periodic
lubrication of the fan motor.



My family had one of those growing up, it was huge! If I remember right
it was 1200W and could nuke a hotdog in under 10 seconds. It never did
fail, but by the time it was around 15 years old it was getting a bit
cosmetically tattered and it was given away after a kitchen remodel.

I actually wouldn't mind having an old Amana Radarrange, those are cool,
my aunt has one of the very first sold with a digital timer, it has a
stainless cavity.

wrote:

My microwave oven is almost 10 years old. I didn't notice a change in
the way it works, but I am still concerned whether there is a
"radiation leak" after so many years in operation.

As long as it wasn't dropped, smashed, sawed, or drilled and the door
interlock is working properly (that is, oven doesn't run when door open
even slightly), it's safe because the door uses a choke seal, which is
very tolerant of misalignment, gaps, and even dirt. Amana once
demonstrated just how tolerant in a commercial where they hit the door
with a shot put on a pendulum and then chopped into the door opening
with an axe, and the leakage remained below federal limits. It's much
older microwave ovens, made before about 1975, that can become
hazardous with age because many have door seals made of metal braid or
metal fins that can deteriorate badly with use.

In article ews.net,
says...
I think there's an inverse relationship between age and reliability of
mircowaves. The older the microwave, the more likely it is to still
work.

My parents have an old Litton from '79 or '80, I think. It has a glass
panel touchpad, a wire tray so you could have 2 levels, and a
temperature sensor. The power transformer was replaced when relatively
new, and I've replaced one of the door interlock switches a few times
(they gum up), but as far as I know, it's still working.

--
If there is a no_junk in my address, please REMOVE it before replying!
All junk mail senders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the
law!!
http://home.att.net/~andyross

On Wed, 8 Feb 2006 16:12:33 -0600, Andrew Rossmann wrote:


In article ews.net,
says...
I think there's an inverse relationship between age and reliability of
mircowaves. The older the microwave, the more likely it is to still
work.

My parents have an old Litton from '79 or '80, I think. It has a glass
panel touchpad, a wire tray so you could have 2 levels, and a
temperature sensor. The power transformer was replaced when relatively
new, and I've replaced one of the door interlock switches a few times
(they gum up), but as far as I know, it's still working.

Hell with that, I used to have one with the mechanical timer that I bought
used around '85. Instead of having to press 7-10 button to turn it on,
you'd just give the knob a quick twist, each twist being good for about 3-4
minuts on the dial. A separate wheel bumped the time by increments of 10
minutes. The variable power setting was handled by a separate knob and could
be adjusted at any time.

That microwave got retired after having put into storage without being
cleaned first. When it was taken out of storage, the food grime had
turned into a frightening new life form growing all over the interior walls.

On 7 Feb 2006 21:36:56 -0800, wrote:


wrote:

My microwave oven is almost 10 years old. I didn't notice a change in
the way it works, but I am still concerned whether there is a
"radiation leak" after so many years in operation.

As long as it wasn't dropped, smashed, sawed, or drilled and the door
interlock is working properly (that is, oven doesn't run when door open
even slightly), it's safe because the door uses a choke seal, which is
very tolerant of misalignment, gaps, and even dirt. Amana once
demonstrated just how tolerant in a commercial where they hit the door
with a shot put on a pendulum and then chopped into the door opening
with an axe, and the leakage remained below federal limits. It's much
older microwave ovens, made before about 1975, that can become
hazardous with age because many have door seals made of metal braid or
metal fins that can deteriorate badly with use.

I placed a fruit fly inside a glass container in a 700W M/W oven
After 1 minute the insect was still a live
After 2 minutes it had lost 1 wing
After 3 minutes was death.

What does this prove?
A cooked insect can't fly ?

Some people believe that small objects are not affected by the waves
if they are small relative to the wave length. You probably need more
that a quarter of the wave in order to create standing waves or
something like that.