Microwave, OTG or oven: what's the difference, and what goes wrong with each
Short answer
A microwave heats food with microwaves from a magnetron. An OTG (oven, toaster, grill) and an electric oven heat with glowing elements, so they bake and brown. A convection microwave does both. Microwaves usually fail at the magnetron, diode or door switches. OTGs and ovens usually fail at a heating element, thermostat or timer. All of these can usually be repaired at home.
Check these first
Find the label
The sticker on the back or inside the door shows the type, model and power.
Note what happens
Does it turn on? Does the light come on? Does it get warm at all? This tells the technician which part to check.
Microwave safety
Never open the cover of a microwave. A capacitor inside holds a dangerous charge even when unplugged.
Call a technician if
- Your microwave runs but food stays cold
- Your OTG or oven doesn't heat, or heats on one side only
- It sparks, smells of burning or trips the power
Call for oven repair in Kathmandu
981-383-6219- Open 7 days, Saturday included, 9 AM – 6 PM
- Talk to us in Nepali or English
Common faults by type
Solo and grill microwave: not heating (magnetron, high-voltage diode, capacitor), sparking (damaged waveguide cover), dead display or touch panel, turntable not turning.
Convection microwave: all of the above, plus the convection heater and fan.
OTG: burnt heating element, thermostat, timer knob, or a damaged power cord.
Built-in electric oven: elements, thermostat, convection fan, door seal, control board.
Questions
Is OTG better than a microwave?
They do different jobs. An OTG bakes, toasts and grills. A microwave reheats and cooks quickly. A convection microwave can do some of both.
Do you repair both microwaves and OTGs?
Yes. We repair microwaves, convection microwaves, OTGs and electric ovens at your home in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.