Lower your cooling bills this summer

Use these tips to save money and keep cool during the summer.

1. Weather-proof your home. Most people associate weather proofing and drafts as an activity you do when preparing for winter. However, weather proofing is just as valuable in the summer especial when drafts lead to cool air leaking out and hot air seeping in.

• Air infiltration will also cause your in-room air conditioner or HVAC system to work harder to cool more which in turn increase your electric bills.
• Check for drafts around windows, doors and vents to the exterior, like extraction fans or clothes dryer vents. Use a stick of incense to detect air movement and to see if you have a draft.
• Check the weather stripping on your windows and doors and replace if needed.
• Use spray foam or the proper calk (there are several kinds and this story helps explain them well) around windows and doors to fill small gaps and holes. Also check around outlets, cable jacks, telephone lines and dryer vents for gaps that causes air to escape.

1. The recommended minimum setting for energy efficiency during the summer is 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a programmable thermostat to decrease the temperatures in your home only when you are in it. According to this article from The Rancho Cordova Post, a programmable thermostat can save you over $100 per year over the non-programmable kinds.
2. If you are going to be away from home for more than four hours, turn the AC off. If you are going to be gone less than two, keep the AC level the same.
3. Purchase a whole house fan or ceiling fan to circulate cool air throughout your home.
4. Skip the oven and cook using a microwave or grill outside in order to reduce the residual heat caused by a stove.

5. Properly maintain your air conditioner

• Change or clean the air filter (if you have a reusable filter.) It is recommended that you clean of change the air filter on your air conditioner at least twice a month during cooling season.
• Clean the dust off of your air conditioners coils with a coil brush. Remove the cover and use a soft brush, vacuum, or compressed air to clean the coils. The coils need to be clean for proper heat transfer.
• Straighten any AC fins that might have gotten bent over the year or while in storage.
• Dirty air conditioner parts and a dirty filter can cause your unit to work harder. Not only does this wear on the unit, it costs you more money to run the unit in the first place.
• When purchasing a new in-room air conditioner, buy only what you need. Measure the size of the room first and then multiply the length by the width and that total is your square footage. You can use a chart or calculation provided by a manufacturer (usually available on their website) to determine how many BTUs you need your air conditioner to handle. You will also want to take into account how shady or sunny the room will be. Add ten percent more for a sunny room, and take ten percent away for shaded rooms.

6. Unplug your phone charger and small appliances when not in use.

7. Only run your dishwasher and washing machine when you have full loads.
8. Lines dry your clothes and skip the clothes dryer for the summer and even into the fall.
9. Check with your local utility company to see if they offer any rebates of credits for purchasing programmable thermostats, Energy efficient air conditioning units, attic insulation. In Florida, the City of Ocala Electric 10. Utility is offer rebates on home heating and cooling upgrades and other energy-efficient appliances. Check with your local utility company to see what they offer.
11. Any energy-efficient improvements you make to your home might be viable for the federal tax credit. Areas covered include windows and doors, insulation, and HVAC improvements, check the EnergyStar.Gov Website to see what you need to do in order to qualify.

Appliance Parts:

• Kenmore Air Conditioner Parts
• GE Air Conditioner Parts
• Maytag Air Conditioner Parts
• Whirlpool Air Conditioner Parts
• Samsung Air Conditioner Parts

Don’t always go by the manufacturer’s label when considering refrigerator capacity

When you start shopping for a new refrigerator, consider the difference between what manufacturer’s report as refrigerator capacity and what space you can actual use for storage inside your refrigerator. ConsumerReports.org has a 10 to 25 percent difference in their review of refrigerators because they don’t count the small amount of space below and along side of refrigerator crisper drawers.  Appliance makers’ capacity figures must include all the space, but that doesn’t mean its actual “useable space.”

Refrigerator Crisper Drawer Sale price: $21.52. Fits Maytag and other brands.

The more drawers and shelving the refrigerator has the less usable space you will have.  Some people prefer this, because it might help keep items more organized, but if you need a lot of space you might want to buy a fridge without extra, built-in shelves and drawers.

Even if you buy a base model, keep in mind, you can buy more storage and organizational items for your refrigerator as you need them. Stores selling refrigerator parts should have these accessories in stock. Be sure to get the brand, make and model of your appliance to make sure they have the right appliance parts you need.

Think about the Frigidaire refrigerator parts you have now and consider the different types of foods you buy. If you are currently maxed out on space, then you might want to include additional capacity into your buying decision. Take measurements or get them off the refrigerator itself.  Be sure to take outside measurements of your refrigerator to see if it can fit into the room itself, especially if it is going under any cabinetry.

Frigidaire Refrigerator Parts to fix your broken Frigidaire Appliance. Buy your Frigidaire Refrigerator accessories here too. www.apwagner.com

When it comes to how big of a refrigerator you should buy, consider this good rule of thumb from http://www.myhomeideas.com , “8 cubic feet of refrigerator space for two people; add 1 cubic foot for each additional family member.”

Be sure to leave some space behind your refrigerator in order to reach the condenser coils for cleaning on the back of the refrigerator. An inch or two should be sufficient if you use a condenser coil cleaning brush. If there are no coils, you can push it closer to the wall.

Food safety and your home: is your refrigerator spoiling your food and making you sick?

The recent rash of stories about tainted food products has heightened awareness of the need for better food safety and monitoring.  While we depend on food makers, growers and producers along with government agencies such as the FDA to keep us safe, we need to also insure that the food we buy is prepared and cared for properly once we leave the market.

According to this story from MSN Health and Fitness, “Food Safety Fears? Look in Your Fridge,” “experts say that it is far more common to get a foodborne illness (food poisoning) from food that has become contaminated in our homes.”

Here are some tips from the story to make sure that you are storing food properly.

• “The temperature inside your refrigerator should be 40ºF or below, and your freezer 0ºF or below. Temperatures beyond this allow harmful bacteria to multiply.” Purchase a refrigerator/freezer thermometer in order to check for proper temperatures.
• If your refrigerator or freezers temperatures often go beyond the safe limits, your refrigerators door seal or gasket might have a crack or leak in it. Check the seal around the door. The story says to, “Close the door and then tug on it gently. There should be some resistance as you open it.”
• “If the refrigerator door seals dry out and crack, that allows condensation to build, which is a perfect breeding ground for mold.”
• Store milk and eggs inside the refrigerator rather than in the door compartment of the refrigerator. Studies have found that the door compartment of the refrigerator is warmer than the rest of the fridge.
• Clean out your fridge on a regular basis. Toss expired food and old leftovers. Clean and dry your refrigerator, paying special attention to produce bins where bacteria are likely to grow.
• Make sure your refrigerator is running and cooling properly. If you refrigerator feels warm or your freezer is packed with ice, it may be signs that something is wrong and it should be fixed right away. There are some things you can do and fix yourself so that your refrigerator is cooling correctly.

As for preparing food to be eaten, here are a few tips from The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse that appeared in an article from U.S. News and World Report, “Health Tip: Prepare Food Carefully”

• “Don’t leave any food out for more than two hours. Either refrigerate or freeze leftovers, or throw them away after two hours.”
• “Don’t allow food to thaw at room temperature. Ideally, let it thaw over time in the refrigerator. For a quick defrost, run the food under cool water or put it in the microwave.”

There are other great tips in this short article, read it and make sure you are following them all.

For more information:

• Maintenance Tips for Refrigerators
• Maintenance Tips for Freezers
• Refrigerator Cleaners
• Refrigerator Replacement Parts
• Replacement refrigerator door seals
• The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
• U.S. News and World Report, “Health Tip: Prepare Food Carefully”
• MSN Health and Fitness, “Food Safety Fears? Look in Your Fridge”

Appliance auctions allows the public to buy new appliances for half the cost

Looking to pick up new, brand-name appliances for half its normal retail value price? Then consider checking out an auction.

According to a story in the Washington Times, due to the housing bust, appliances and building materials once meant for new home constructions are now being sold at auction.  Southern Sales Services of Jessup, Maryland, holds auctions of such materials every four to six weeks in the Maryland/D.C. area. The public is allowed to bid on new appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves, washer and dryers from name-brand appliance manufacturers at half the cost they would normally sell at retail.

To attend one of these auctions, you must register in person at the day of the auction to get a bidding number. Be sure to bring  a valid photo ID. To find out about future auctions, sign up online to get on Southern Sale’s mailing list.

The website also offers some very helpful guidelines if you plan to attend the auction. For instance, if you pay cash for your purchase, you will receive a 2% discount.

The auctions run all weekend with Friday being a “viewing” day where potential buyers can browse the inventory and stake out what items they plan to bid on during the auction day which is usually Saturday.

Bidding can be particularly fierce, so be sure to research the items you wish to bid on, before hand, so you are not overpaying.

For more information

• Homeowners, remodelers cull deals from housing collapse
• Southern Sales Service Auction Essentials

Blog round up: Win four new Frigidaire kitchen appliances; Zero-interest appliance loans and rebate programs

Enter for your chance to win four new, professional series kitchen appliances by Frigidaire. The stainless steel kitchen appliances — oven, refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave – are the grand prize in the “Sister Schubert’s On a Roll Recipe Contest”.

As you can tell by the name, it’s a recipe contest, and the T. Marzetti Company wants you to submit your original recipes made with any variety of Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls. Entries will be judged on originality, taste appeal, simplicity and appearance, and can be entered in one of four categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Anytime Snacks, Holiday & Parties and Dinnertime Meals.

The first runner-up prize isn’t too shabby either, $1,000 in cash; the first 500 entries will receive a $1.00-off Internet coupon for any Sister Schubert’s item.

Visit these websites for more details: www.sisterschuberts.com or www.onarollcontest.com.

Zero-interest appliance loans and appliance rebate programs for Fort Collins, Colorado

Fort Collins Utilities are offering lots of incentives to get people to switch to energy-efficient appliances.

Here’s a story about all the appliance-related programs available to folks in Fort Collins, Colorado. According to an article by the Coloradoan.com Website, Fort Collins Utilities are offering zero-interest loans to their customers to buy new clothes and dish washers. For more information visit their website: www.fcgov.com/zilch.

Fort Collins Utilities are also crediting utility accounts ($25 – $50) for customers purchasing a qualified Energy Star dishwasher or high-efficiency clothes washer. Visit www.fcgov.com/rfr or www.fcgov.com/washer-rebates for more details.

Fort Collins Utilities will also pick up your old appliance for free and dispose of it in an environmentally-friendly way.  Old freezers, dishwashers and/or clothes washers will be recycled, and not end up in landfills. Customers will also receive a $35 bill credit by recycling their older appliances. For more information go online to http://www.fcgov.com/conservation/res-frige.php, or to schedule a pick up, e-mail them at utilities@fcgov.com or call (970) 221-6700.

Read this article to see how much money you could save on your electric bills by switching to a new energy efficient appliance:  ”Stock up while helping wash away landfill waste“.

So are your area utility companies offering you money back or helping you to recycle your appliance? Let me know in the comments!

How Do Gas Ranges Work?

Most gas ranges are designed with very similar set ups. The information below will help you understand how most gas ranges and ovens work. Before looking at the problems with gas ranges, it is important that you have an understanding of how they work. If you have a gas wall oven, ignore the parts about the cooktop. If you have a separate gas cooktop, ignore the parts about the oven. A range is just a cooktop on top of an oven that shares a gas and power supply.

Gas ranges basically take natural gas or propane and turn it into concentrated heat that you can use for cooking and baking. There are burners on the cooktop and one or two burners in the oven which burn gas that has been ignited by a pilot, spark ignitor, or glow ignitor.

On the cooktop you usually have 4 to 6 burners with grates over them that allow you to cook in pots and pans. Gas flows from the main gas valve to a manifold that has a corresponding number of burner valves. The gas is brought from the burner valve to the burner through a venturi tube. The burner control knobs that you see on the control panel attach directly to the burner valve. This valve controls how much gas is sent to the burner. To get a larger flame, you send more gas to the burner. The venturi tube between the burner valve and the burner allows the gas to properly mix with air for clean combustion. The air and gas mix then flows into the burner where the pilot flame or ignitor ignites it. On models with a spark ignition, there is usually a spark switch attached to the burner valve, a spark module and the spark ignitor. When you turn the valve, the switch tells the spark module to send electricity to the spark ignitor to create the spark to ignite the gas. Almost all older cooktops with unsealed burner units allow you to raise the entire top for cleaning and service.

In order to control how close your food is to the flame, there is at least one adjustable rack in the oven. In the oven, there is at least one burner on the bottom. If there is a broiler below the oven, this is the only burner in the oven. If you have a utility drawer or nothing below the oven, there is probably a second burner on the top of the oven that is used during broiling. The burner is a tubular device through which the gas flows before it’s ignited. It has a lot of little holes on its sides that lets the gas burn and provide heat evenly throughout the oven. The gas gets to the oven burners through a safety valve. The gas safety valve does precisely what the name implies. It prevents gas from being introduced to the burner when there’s a possibility that it won’t get ignited properly. There are a few different variations in their operation, but the purpose is always the same, to prevent accidents, and allow gas to get to the burner when it is safe.

In order for the gas in the oven to burn it needs to be ignited. The most common ignition systems in use currently are the spark ignition and glow-bar ignition systems. Pilot flame systems tend to have hard to find parts.

Many ovens use the glow-bar ignition system to light the oven or broiler. During normal operation, the glow-bar will glow yellow-hot. A weak or faulty ignitor may still glow, but only glows red through orange. Replace a faulty ignitor. Some glow-bar systems have a fuse in the system, under the cooktop or in the console itself. Check for continuity in these systems.

Spark ignition systems use a spark module to generate a high-voltage spark which is used to ignite a pilot light. This module is used for the burners on the stove as well as the burner in the oven. As the pilot light heats a capillary tubes’ bulb liquid, it expands and puts pressure on a diaphragm. The diaphragm then opens the gas safety valve, releasing gas to the burner. This gas then gets ignited by the pilot light flame.

Pilot ignition systems in the oven use a flame sensor to determine whether or not the pilot is lit. This sensor sits in the middle of the pilot flame. The position of the sensor is very important. The pilot flame has two parts to it, the outer yellow flame, and the inner blue flame. The sensor needs to be in the hottest part of the pilot flame, located right at the tip of the blue flame to operate properly. If the sensor detects that the pilot is lit, only then will it allow the gas safety valve to open and let gas flow to the burner.

There are several different systems that manufacturers use to control pilot light systems. The capillary pilot system uses a liquid filled bulb that is connected via a capillary to the gas safety valve or flame switch. When the bulb’s liquid gets heated up, it expands and puts pressure on a diaphragm. The diaphragm then opens the gas safety valve or closes the flame switch. The flame switch system uses hydraulic pressure from the capillary to physically close a switch. This completes a circuit to the gas safety valve. If there is no pilot flame, the gas safety valve will not open. In the hydraulic capillary system, the hydraulic pressure from the capillary physically opens the gas safety valve itself. If there is no pilot flame, the gas safety valve will not open. The millivolt pilot system uses a bi-metal pilot generator. When the copper and steel bi-metal strip is heated, it produces an electrical current. This bi-metal strip generates about 750 millivolts. This current allows the gas safety valve to open. If there is no pilot flame, then there is no current and the gas safety valve will not open.

The oven thermostat is usually integrated with the gas valve for the oven. It is located behind the knob that controls the gas valve. You can often adjust your oven thermostat using a small screwdriver. The adjusting screw is located on the thermostat valve stem. Remove the knob and you’ll see the screw underneath it. You want to turn the oven on and run it through at least two cycles while watching a calibrating thermometer in the oven for high and low temperatures. Adjust the screw as necessary to fine tune the temperature.

In the past, clocks were usually manual and worked with the selector switch and thermostat to set a time for the oven to come on, and a time for it to turn off. Clocks today are usually electronic, and in some cases, have taken over the control functions of the thermostat and selector switch. They connect to an oven temperature sensor to determine what the oven temperature is. The oven temperature sensor is located in the oven and attaches to the clock with high temperature wiring. Then the control sends more or less electricity to the broil and/or bake elements as needed. These types of clock are usually referred to as Electronic Oven Controls (EOC) or Electronic Range Controls (ERC). The keypad that you use to set the EOC, along with the EOC itself can only be replaced, not repaired. On some models the keypad is available separately from the EOC, and on the others it is one integrated part.

Most ranges have a light inside the oven compartment. The switch on the oven door turns the light on when you open it. Some models also have a manual switch on the range top that will let you turn the light on. Some models also have a light on the backsplash with a switch located near or on the control panel.

It is very important to use the proper pan size and pan material for the cooking you are doing. It’s common for people to use over-sized pans, but the outer edge of the pan or pot should be no more than one inch outside of the surface cooking area. Aluminum cooking pans are great heat conductors. Stainless steel by itself is a slow heat conductor, but if other materials like copper or aluminum are sandwiched between layers of stainless steel, it becomes a very good heat conductor. Cast iron heats slowly, but once hot, it cooks very evenly. Glass and ceramic are slow heat conductors but are easy to clean. Porcelain enamel is created when a glassy material is fused with a metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, or cast iron. The heating characteristics depend on the metal used.

Cast iron cooking pans should be seasoned properly before use for ease of cleaning and rust prevention. One way to season a cast iron pan is to rub a thin layer of vegetable oil all over the pan, and heat it up very hot, then just wipe it down with a clean cloth or paper towel after it cools off.

How Do Electric Ranges Work?

Most electric ranges are designed with very similar set ups. The information below will help you understand how most electric ranges and ovens work. Before looking at the problems with electric ranges, it is important that you have an understanding of how they work.

Electric ranges basically take electricity and turn it into concentrated heat that you can use for cooking and baking. There are elements on a cooktop and elements in the oven that heat up when electricity travels through them.

On the cooktop you usually have 4 to 6 elements that heat up for cooking in pots and pans. There are three types of elements that are used today. The most economical and popular is the coil element. This type of heating element is flat or slightly rounded coiled wire. Heating elements are usually made from nichrome, an alloy of nickel and chrome. When the heating element receives electricity, it glows red hot. In most cases, these types of element plug into receptacles which allow them to be removed for cleaning or replacement. A few older models have wired-in coil elements. These bypass the receptacle. Ranges with coil elements have drip pans below them. These help reflect heat and provide an area that can collect any spills. These drip pans can be cleaned or replaced when they get dirty.

Another type of burner is commonly referred to as Euro burners. These burners are solid and smooth. They heat with electricity also, but do not glow red when in use. They can get very hot, so be careful when cooking with this type of burner.

The third style that is gaining in popularity is the radiant element. This style has a glass or ceramic top which covers the heating elements. Be careful to use flat cooking pots and pans. If you don’t use flat pots and pans, the temperature limiter may kick in, turning the heating element off to help prevent damage to the cooktop, and to help prevent a fire.

All of these types of elements have their temperature controlled by an infinite switch (sometimes referred to as a surface burner switch). Theoretically they can be set at an infinite number of settings. Simply by turning the switch between low and high settings, you can increase and decrease the electrical current to the electric burner. This will adjust the temperature of the heating element.

Most cooktops with the coil style elements allow you to raise the entire top for cleaning and service purposes. On these type of models the manufacturers like to put the model and serial number tag for the appliance here.

Operation of the oven is almost as basic. In the oven, there are two elements. The one on the top of the oven is used for broiling and the one on the bottom of the oven is used for baking. There are two main controls on older electric ranges. The racks inside the oven can be adjusted to hold the food at a desired distance from the heat source.

The thermostat controls the temperature, and the selector switch lets you select between bake, broil, self-clean, and timed-bake. Some of the selector switch features may be part of the thermostat or more than one control. The thermostat is located directly behind the knob that you set the oven temperature with. It is attached to a thin copper tube which goes down into the oven compartment. There its sensor detects the oven temperature and sends signals back to the control for more or less heat.

In the past, clocks were usually manual and worked with the selector switch and thermostat to set a time for the oven to come on and a time for it to turn off. Clocks today are usually electronic, and in some cases have taken over the control functions of the thermostat and selector switch. They connect to an oven temperature sensor to determine what the oven temperature is. The control sends more or less electricity to the broil and/or bake elements as needed. These types of clocks are usually referred to as Electronic Oven Controls (EOC) or Electronic Range Controls (ERC). The keypad that you use to set the EOC, along with the EOC itself can only be replaced, not repaired. On some models the keypad is available separately from the EOC and on the others it is one integrated part.

Some ovens are referred to as convection ovens. Convection style ovens have a circulating fan that moves the air all around the inside of the oven. Because the air is constantly moving and mixing itself, it makes sure of an even cooking temperature throughout the oven, and this will help cook your foods more evenly and thoroughly. Some of these ovens include a heating element built right into the circulating fan. This can help to prevent hot spots caused by a stationary heating element. Many other ovens put the heating element under the ovens’ floor. Convection ovens usually have a control that allows you to turn this feature off.

Most ranges have a light inside the oven compartment. The switch on the oven door turns the light on when you open it. Some models also have a manual switch on the range top that will let you turn the light on. Some models also have a light on the backsplash with a switch located near or on the control panel.

It is very important to use the proper pan size and pan material for the cooking you are doing. It’s common for people to use over-sized pans, but the outer edge of the pan or pot should be no more than one inch outside of the surface cooking area.

Aluminum cooking pans are great heat conductors, but may leave marks on the smoothtop surface. Remove these marks as soon as possible. Stainless steel by itself is a slow heat conductor, but if other materials like copper or aluminum are sandwiched between layers of stainless steel, it becomes a very good heat conductor. Cast iron heats slowly, but once hot, it cooks very evenly. Glass and ceramic are slow heat conductors but are easy to clean. Porcelain enamel is created when a glassy material is fused with a metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, or cast iron. The heating characteristics depend on the metal used.

Cast iron cooking pans should be seasoned properly before use for ease of cleaning and rust prevention. One way to season a cast iron pan is to rub a thin layer of vegetable oil all over the pan, and heat it up very hot, then just wipe it down with a clean cloth or paper towel after it cools off.

How Do Air Conditioners Work?

An air conditioner takes warm air and makes it cooler by transferring the heat using evaporation principles. When you turn on your air conditioner, the thermostat control measures the air temperature. If the air temperature is warmer than the setting on the thermostat, it sends power to the compressor.

After the compressor gets power from the thermostat, it starts pumping and compresses a refrigerant gas, causing it to become a hot, high-pressure gas. Next, this hot gas flows through a set of condenser coils where it dissipates its heat to the surrounding air which is pushed past the coils by a fan, and then condenses into a liquid. Following that, the liquid flows through what’s called a capillary tube. During this process, the liquid refrigerant evaporates to become a cold, low-pressure gas. This cold gas flows through a set of evaporator coils which allows the gas to absorb heat, and by absorbing that heat; it cools down the air which passes over the coils, and then this cold air gets pushed into the room or building by the air conditioner’s fan. When warm, moist air goes over these coils, they collect condensation, which drips off and flows through a drain tube into a drip tray. This water usually flows to the back of the unit where it is sometimes thrown by the condenser coil fan onto the condenser coils to help cool the hot coils down. You may even hear the sound of the water getting splashed around. This part of the process also reduces the humidity levels in the room or house.

A fan blows the air from the room over the cold evaporator coils and back into the room at a cooler temperature to cool the room. It also blows warm outside air over the condensor coils so they don’t get too hot. The selector switch controls how fast the fan motor goes and therefore how much air is moved.

Once the thermostat measures the temperature of the room to be slightly lower than the control setting, it sends an electrical current which turns off the compressor. The fan may continue to blow the air between cooling cycles. Once the thermostat measures that the temperature is again above the desired temperature, the compressor shuts off until it gets the start signal, and the process begins again.

How Do Microwave Ovens Work?

Warning! Microwave ovens carry high-voltage! Do not attempt repairs without taking the proper precautions. We do not recommend home repair of this appliance. Serious risk of injury and the risk of death come with opening up a microwave oven. There is a high-voltage capacitor inside this appliance. Warning!

Microwave ovens use microwave energy to cook or heat food. A microwave passes microwave radiation, at a common frequency of 2.45 GHz, which is equal to a wavelength of 12.24 cm, through foods. This radiation is really just a high frequency radio wave. The fat, water, and other molecules in the food act as electric dipoles. A dipole has a negative charge at one end, and a positive charge at the other. The dipoles try to align themselves with the alternating electrical field generated by the microwave radiation by rotating themselves. This causes a lot of bumping between the molecules, which creates heat by friction.

A common misperception is that food cooks from the inside out with microwaves. This is not true. The microwaves actually penetrate deeper initially, up to a couple of centimeters deep, than does the heat from convection and radiant heat cooking. This makes it appear that the food gets cooked from the inside out.

The cooking area is enclosed by a Faraday cage, which keeps the radiation safely inside the oven, and away from people and pets. The mesh you see on the door allows visible light to pass through, letting you watch the food cook, while blocking the microwaves. This can happen because the frequency of the microwaves is much larger than that of visible light. The legal limit of microwave leakage for new microwaves in the United States is 1 mW/cm² at 5 cms. This is way below the exposure limits thought to be harmful to humans.

When cooking or reheating foods in a microwave oven, especially a convection microwave oven, you need to allow at least 1″ clearance between the food containers and all the walls and door. This will allow proper air circulation for optimum microwave performance.