If my microwave has bubbling in the interior paint do I have to replace it?

[Fluffycloudland77]

Eventually, yes. Hopefully, someone more knowledgeable will come along and explain all the science stuff, which personally I'd like to know.

I have ruined more microwaves than I have any other household appliance. And I'm firmly convinced that it's all to do with the corrosive vapours from foods containing tomatoes (because they're acidic, right?). DH and I do, sometimes, forget to use the cover thingy to prevent splattering (note: we're talking microwave ovens, not sexual practices). But despite our attempts at safe microwaving we've had to, yet again, buy a new microwave oven.

I think (but do you really want to trust me?) that you'll be okay if you cover the food to prevent bits of paint falling in. But the moment that the microwave starts arcing is when you throw out the microwave and phone for a takeaway.

What's "arcing"? And is it very noticeable?

the only fault I've had, is when the mica or plastic window inside (that the waves come through) has been allowed to be dirty, and the food fragments burn into it and damage it. However you can buy replacement windows, and repair shops will cut a replacement to size from a sheet of the material. It is charged by the square inch as it is quite an expensive material.

If you have bubbling paint inside yours, I would be thinking that it is paint on steel, and it is going rusty under the paint. I've never had one like that, only stainless inners, though some are plastic if they're not combi ovens.

I have only seen arcing where someone has put a metal item inside the microwave, including "gold" rimmed plates.