Burn mark inside microwave. Manufacturer wants it. Cause for concern?
June 20, 2013 3:39 PM Subscribe
I have a Panasonic microwave that is about 1 1/2 years old. I called support regarding the door latch having issues, but I mentioned a burn mark while talking to the CSR. They escalated immediately to a supervisor and now want me to ship it back. They also asked if I have contacted medical staff, lawyer or home insurance.
Should I be concerned/worried? The microwave functions fine as it is. Should I get it checked by some lab before I send it back? Should I get myself checked out?
What's the make and model? Purely for curiosity's sake, but you might be able to surf up some information on product recalls. And yes, you probably should not use it. You should also not sign any documents unless you A> Check them out for any sneaky fine print, or B> have a lawyer and a need to burn money.
IANAL, BTW.
posted by endotoxin at 4:22 PM on June 20, 2013
IANAL, BTW.
posted by endotoxin at 4:22 PM on June 20, 2013
They're worried about microwaves leaking out, and... cooking you. Which is a serious risk if the shielding is leaking; not a joke.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:23 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:23 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
Dude, if they're THAT concerned, ship it back.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:32 PM on June 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:32 PM on June 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
Maybe I'm cynical, but do you think it's possible they're trying to dodge liability? I'd certainly stop using it immediately, but you might want to get it looked at by a knowledgable 3rd party before you send it back to them (if you plan on sending it back at all).
posted by Betelgeuse at 4:47 PM on June 20, 2013
posted by Betelgeuse at 4:47 PM on June 20, 2013
Maybe I'm cynical, but do you think it's possible they're trying to dodge liability? I'd certainly stop using it immediately, but you might want to get it looked at by a knowledgable 3rd party before you send it back to them (if you plan on sending it back at all).
You would know if you had been cooked. Liability is a non-issue, send it back.
posted by Unified Theory at 5:08 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
You would know if you had been cooked. Liability is a non-issue, send it back.
posted by Unified Theory at 5:08 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
Liability to you, I mean. They're concerned about a defect that could possibly reflect problems in manufacturing or safety on a larger scale.
posted by Unified Theory at 5:10 PM on June 20, 2013
posted by Unified Theory at 5:10 PM on June 20, 2013
Pictures with a witness before you send it in id you are worried about being bamboozled. My worry would be what do we eat now w/o the microwave?
posted by Cranberry at 5:10 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Cranberry at 5:10 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
My understanding of microwaves is that the waves are a certain size that cannot escape the oven as long as the holes in the shielding are small enough. So no amount of scorching on the inside would reflect a hazard to humans as long as the shielding is intact (and there's no indication it isn't in this case). So yes, there may be a malfunction causing scorching in the oven but I can't imaging a scenario where a properly shielded modern oven would pose a danger to people from its microwaves.
posted by Unified Theory at 7:00 PM on June 20, 2013
posted by Unified Theory at 7:00 PM on June 20, 2013
Agree with other posters that they're probably worried about incorrect focusing or damaged shielding. You should stop using this microwave and seek medical attention. This is not a boilerplate warning: microwave burns are sometimes not immediately painful. Your flesh actually burns (suffers thermal injury) a few degrees below the temperature at which you feel pain. Radiation burns are one of the few things that can exploit this little gap, because the energy is transmitted without involving a hotter medium that stimulates your pain receptors.
Also, any time a corporate representative asks whether you've sought medical or legal advice, that's often a good hint you should do exactly that.
Wikipedia on microwave burns.
posted by d. z. wang at 7:10 PM on June 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
Also, any time a corporate representative asks whether you've sought medical or legal advice, that's often a good hint you should do exactly that.
Wikipedia on microwave burns.
posted by d. z. wang at 7:10 PM on June 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
Does your wifi and/or your cordless phone still work when the microwave is on? Then there isn't nearly enough microwave energy leaking out to cause any problems at all. The problem with microwave radiation is burns, especially under the skin if you are close enough. There should be no possible long term health risk.
Send it back, and they will probably send you something nice in exchange.
FWIW, I also have a Panasonic microwave, and it still works great after many years.
posted by gjc at 7:10 PM on June 20, 2013
Send it back, and they will probably send you something nice in exchange.
FWIW, I also have a Panasonic microwave, and it still works great after many years.
posted by gjc at 7:10 PM on June 20, 2013
Obviously unplug and quit using, but it seems far more likely to me that they were screening to see if they had a liability case on their hands because the unit had burnt, electrocuted, or otherwise injured someone, or caused a fire. Odds that anyone in the house has radiation poisoning seem low, unless they're in the habit of staring through the window while it's cooking.
I'd send it back ( they're sending a call tag and replacing it, right?)
posted by randomkeystrike at 8:21 PM on June 20, 2013
I'd send it back ( they're sending a call tag and replacing it, right?)
posted by randomkeystrike at 8:21 PM on June 20, 2013
Most scorching in microwaves is caused by a sustained spark which occurs when charge builds up on a metal point. Metal utensils shouldn't go in the microwave for this reason. But metal bowls are safe, because the charge can't really build up in any point-location enough to cause a spark to leap onto one of the 6 walls of the microwave. Ever see bright flashes of light in your microwave? It's hard to miss when it happens. Not good for the microwave, but AFAIK harmless. (burned plastic + food = bleh)
Defective door latches are usually the greater danger for microwave leakage; the part of the latch that prevents the microwave from turning on is a critical bit of safety gear. Door latch alone may not be an issue, but door latch + charge build-up probably set off some alarms.
The man who discovered the cooking power of microwaves did so because he was experimenting with an unshielded emitter when he reached for a chocolate bar in his pocket, and found it had melted. He was unharmed. You would have burned flesh on the surface of your body, or inflamed and uncomfortable burns inside you if you had experienced this. I suppose you could wait a day or two for some kind of symptom of this to show up before you surrender the microwave, but barring that, you might've gotten a harmless warming at worst.
Randomstrikekey: "Radiation poisoning?" Microwaves can't make food radioactive, therefore they can't make anything outside the microwave oven radioactive. You'd have greater radiation poisoning by swallowing a smoke detector, which actually does contain radioactive americium.
Also, looking out for your safety and dodging liability are the same thing here-- the efforts that serve one goal serve the other.
posted by Sunburnt at 9:21 PM on June 20, 2013
Defective door latches are usually the greater danger for microwave leakage; the part of the latch that prevents the microwave from turning on is a critical bit of safety gear. Door latch alone may not be an issue, but door latch + charge build-up probably set off some alarms.
The man who discovered the cooking power of microwaves did so because he was experimenting with an unshielded emitter when he reached for a chocolate bar in his pocket, and found it had melted. He was unharmed. You would have burned flesh on the surface of your body, or inflamed and uncomfortable burns inside you if you had experienced this. I suppose you could wait a day or two for some kind of symptom of this to show up before you surrender the microwave, but barring that, you might've gotten a harmless warming at worst.
Randomstrikekey: "Radiation poisoning?" Microwaves can't make food radioactive, therefore they can't make anything outside the microwave oven radioactive. You'd have greater radiation poisoning by swallowing a smoke detector, which actually does contain radioactive americium.
Also, looking out for your safety and dodging liability are the same thing here-- the efforts that serve one goal serve the other.
posted by Sunburnt at 9:21 PM on June 20, 2013
Good customer service is great lawsuit insurance. A lot of the time they ask questions like these because they want to reimburse you for any expenses you incurred as a result of the incident. Something similar happened to me twice. The first time I was sitting on a stool that collapsed and took me down with it. I hurt my back and was in pain for about a month. I was only calling for a refund/replacement and to see if they wanted mine back to see how it failed, but they asked about and paid for my doctor visit too. They just sent a check. They did ask me for documentation. At the time I was uninsured so it was a big help and I was grateful. If they had been asses to me, I might have sued out of pique.
The second time, Taco Bell gave me food poisoning. I called to complain because if they had multiple complaints it could help them investigate? Probably would have been better off telling some government agency than them. They sent me a $20 gift card as an over-refund/semi-gesture. They wanted to pay for my doctor too, but I didn't go to a doctor that time. I never used the gift card because after losing so much weight in two days, I was no longer willing to eat their food.
posted by evariste at 12:04 AM on June 21, 2013
The second time, Taco Bell gave me food poisoning. I called to complain because if they had multiple complaints it could help them investigate? Probably would have been better off telling some government agency than them. They sent me a $20 gift card as an over-refund/semi-gesture. They wanted to pay for my doctor too, but I didn't go to a doctor that time. I never used the gift card because after losing so much weight in two days, I was no longer willing to eat their food.
posted by evariste at 12:04 AM on June 21, 2013
Related: doctors learn that saying "I'm sorry" for mistakes often avoids having to see you in court.
posted by evariste at 12:32 AM on June 21, 2013
posted by evariste at 12:32 AM on June 21, 2013
They should issue a call tag for UPS or other courier to come to your place and pick it up. If you don't have appropriate packing materials, you can ask for them to be provided. You can also tell them you'll send it back after you receive a replacement.
They really want that microwave, so allow them to make shipping it as convenient as possible for you.
posted by wryly at 11:34 AM on June 21, 2013
They really want that microwave, so allow them to make shipping it as convenient as possible for you.
posted by wryly at 11:34 AM on June 21, 2013
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posted by scruss at 3:51 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]