When it comes to essential appliances in modern households, the microwave oven is definitely one that cannot be overlooked. This device is used to heat or reheat food that has gone cold, or to defrost food that has been stored in the refrigerator for a long time. While it may be familiar, not everyone knows how to use a microwave oven properly, especially when it comes to its placement.
Many households believe that placing the microwave oven near the sink is convenient for use. However, in reality, this is a dangerous mistake. This has been advised against by many experts, as well as microwave oven manufacturers and distributors, as it can directly affect the lifespan of the appliance and even pose a risk of fire, serious electric shock.
The microwave oven should not be placed near or too close to the sink or other water sources (Illustrative image)
An article on the Homes and Gardens website explains that, in essence, the sink and the microwave oven are two opposites. One operates using water and has a water source, while the other uses electricity. Therefore, when they are placed side by side, they can have an impact on each other, potentially leading to a fire. “Water and moisture can be detrimental to the components of the microwave oven, increasing the risk of damage or malfunction,” explains Homes and Gardens.
In addition to the sink, this website also advises against placing the microwave oven near other water sources such as backup water faucets, washing machine water lines, dishwasher water lines, etc. In other words, the microwave oven should not be placed near these positions.
Other positions where the microwave oven should not be placed
In addition to not being placed near the sink, experts also provide a list of other positions that users should avoid placing the microwave oven in. Let’s see if your family is making any mistakes in the placement of this appliance and adjust it accordingly.
1. Position above the stove
Many households save space by building shelves directly above the stove to place the microwave oven. However, Homes and Gardens points out the disadvantages of this method, as it can make cleaning the appliance difficult and taking things out of the microwave oven can be dangerous, especially for people of modest height.
Placing the microwave or oven above the stove is not advisable (Illustrative image)
Furthermore, experts say that placing two devices that generate a large amount of heat near each other (in this case, the microwave oven and the stove) can cause damage and deterioration to both devices. Therefore, users should not place the microwave oven above or too close to the stove.
2. Enclosed cabinet position
Similar to the above method, many users often place the microwave oven inside a cabinet in order to save kitchen space as well as better protect the device. However, this practice has serious drawbacks. The microwave oven operates based on microwave waves and requires ventilation holes during operation.
Storing it in an enclosed cabinet prevents these ventilation holes from functioning properly. The heat from the device after it has been used cannot dissipate optimally, which can cause damage to the device.
If you place the microwave oven in a cabinet, the cabinet should be open rather than closed (Illustrative image)
Meaghan Thomas, an expert from Pinch Spice, further emphasizes that things will be worse if the user places the microwave oven inside a cabinet and next to spices: “The heat emitted from the microwave oven can dry out the oil layer in the spices, causing them to degrade in quality and deteriorate more quickly”.
3. Position on top of the refrigerator
The top of the refrigerator is also a position chosen by many users to place the microwave oven. However, in reality, according to recommendations from experts, this arrangement is potentially dangerous for objects and users. Based on the principles of operation, both the microwave oven and the refrigerator are two electronic devices that generate a large amount of heat, especially the microwave oven.
Therefore, when placed too close together or stacked on top of each other, the heat generated from one device can affect the other device, inadvertently increasing the temperature of both devices. This can lead to malfunctions, sparks, and reduce the lifespan of both devices. In addition, the weight of the microwave oven can also damage the device underneath if it does not have sufficient load-bearing capacity.
The microwave oven should not be placed on top of the refrigerator (Illustrative image)
4. Position too close to the wall and other electronic devices
The fourth position on the list of positions where the microwave oven should not be placed is too close to the wall or other electronic devices. Ideally, the edges of the microwave oven should have a gap to allow the device to dissipate heat optimally. The microwave oven should be placed at a height of at least 80cm from the floor, within reach of humans for convenient use; a minimum distance of 40cm above and 10-15cm away from the wall to allow for ventilation and heat dissipation.
For families that choose to install built-in microwave ovens in kitchen cabinets, please refer to the following advice. The edges of the device should be at least 5-15cm away from the edges of the cabinet.
Ideal position to place the microwave oven on the kitchen counter (Image from HC Electrical Appliance)
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