In short
- Visit and diagnosis, one Ottawa firm's list: $89 + tax, applied to the repair if you go ahead.
- Range hood repairs on that list: $150–$350 in most cases, parts and labour.
- Over-the-range and built-in microwaves: $180–$400 on the same firm's 2026 guide. Some firms do not service countertop units.
- A microwave holds a charge after unplugging. Health Canada says adjustments and repairs belong to qualified service technicians.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visit and diagnosis | $89 + tax | One Ottawa firm; applied to the approved repair |
| Range hood motor capacitor | $130–$280 | Same firm, parts and labour |
| Range hood blower or fan motor | $150–$350 | Same firm |
| Range hood speed switch or control board | $180–$350 | Same firm |
| Hood light socket or switch | $130–$260 | Same firm |
| OTR or built-in microwave: door switch, fuse, magnetron, turntable motor | $180–$400 | Same firm’s 2026 guide |
Sources. B&M Canada Appliances, Range hood repair cost, Microwave repair and 2026 price guide, seen 29.10.2026. Capital Appliance Repair, Microwave repair, seen 29.10.2026. Safety: Health Canada, Microwave ovens, seen 29.10.2026.
Two appliances, one visit
An over-the-range microwave combines cooking and ventilation. If it loses its fan or cooktop light, the fault may sit in the vent assembly, its switches or the wiring, and the fix looks like a range hood repair. A hood on its own is a simpler machine: a motor, a capacitor, a blower wheel, switches and lights. Say in the request which one you have, and whether it is under-cabinet, chimney, island or built in.
Microwave faults the technician tests
- Cold food. The light, tray and fan run, the food stays cold. One Ottawa firm names the high-voltage diode, the capacitor, the magnetron, the transformer or a door interlock switch.
- Sparks. Food residue or a damaged waveguide cover, chipped cavity paint or a failing magnetron.
- Dead keypad or blank display. A blown fuse, often a sign that a door switch failed, the keypad membrane or the control board.
- Turntable stuck. The motor, the coupler or the roller ring.
- Stops mid-cycle. A door switch, an overheating cut-out or a control fault.
Why the cabinet stays closed
Health Canada’s page says leakage can rise when the door or seal is damaged, advises against using an oven whose door is bent or will not close, says the interlocks should not be tampered with, and says adjustments and repairs belong to qualified service technicians. B&M adds that the capacitor can hold a dangerous charge long after the unit is unplugged. The safe step for you is to unplug the unit, or switch off the breaker for a built-in, and stop using it if it sparks or smokes.
Range hood faults
A hood that will not start, runs slowly, rattles or has a dead light usually has one failed part. The motor capacitor, the speed switch, the blower wheel or the fan motor account for most cases, with the light socket as the cheap end. Heavy grease on the blower wheel adds cleaning time before the repair can begin. Chimney, island and downdraft hoods take longer to open than an under-cabinet hood, so labour moves the bill as well.
What the price depends on
B&M’s range hood page puts most repairs at $150–$350, with a capacitor or light socket at the low end and a blower motor or control board at the high end. Its 2026 guide puts over-the-range and built-in microwave repairs at $180–$400. The visit fee, $89 + tax, is credited to the repair on that list. Some firms add an after-hours fee or a travel charge, so ask both on the call.
Repair or replace
B&M’s rule of thumb for a hood younger than about ten: repair while the bill stays under half of a comparable new one, and a built-in hood tied into cabinetry and ducting favours repair. Over-the-range and built-in microwaves cost more to buy and need matching cut-outs or wall plates, so repair usually wins. Countertop units are the reverse. The rule is explained on repair or replace, and the cooking appliances below the hood are on oven and stove repair and cooktop repair. Look at warranties and recalls before booking a paid visit on a newer unit.
Who takes microwave and hood work
Some Ottawa firms refuse countertop microwaves outright, so the type matters. Your request goes to one independent company in your area, which tells you on the phone whether it services your unit and what it charges to look. The Desk only routes the request.
Questions to ask the company
- Do you service over-the-range and built-in microwaves, and my brand?
- Is your call-out fee credited to a microwave or hood repair I approve?
- If my microwave is a countertop model, will you repair it or tell me to replace it?
- For an over-the-range unit: can the technician work with it left on the wall, or does it come down?
- How long are a new magnetron or hood motor and your labour covered?
Have this ready for the call
- The rating label: inside the microwave door frame or on its back; on a hood, along the inside edge
- Over-the-range, built-in, drawer, countertop, or a hood type: under-cabinet, chimney, island, downdraft
- What it does: no heat, sparks, dead keypad, turntable stuck, weak airflow, loud fan, light out
- A photo of any scorch mark or error code
- A cleared area below the unit and a stable step stool for the technician if the unit is high
Questions people ask
My microwave runs but the food stays cold. What does that point to?
The light, fan and turntable run on low-power circuits, and heating needs the high-voltage side. One Ottawa firm names the high-voltage diode, capacitor, magnetron, transformer or a door switch as the usual suspects. The technician tests them safely, because the capacitor can hold a charge.
Is it safe to keep using a microwave with a damaged door?
Health Canada says leakage can rise if the door or seal is damaged or dirt builds up around the seal, and advises against using an oven whose door does not close or is bent, warped or damaged. It also says not to tamper with the safety interlocks, so a door that closes badly is a reason to send the request.
Does the hood fan also run when the microwave above the stove is on?
On an over-the-range microwave the vent fan is part of the microwave. A weak fan or a dead light can come from the fan assembly, its switch or the wiring, and the repair resembles a hood repair. Say in the request that the unit is over the range and note which of the fan, the light or both has failed.
Is a countertop microwave worth repairing?
B&M says countertop units are often cheaper to replace than to repair, especially for no heat on an older unit. Capital Appliance Repair does not service countertop models at all. Built-in and over-the-range units are the ones that repay a repair.
My range hood is loud but the airflow is weak. Is it the motor?
Weak airflow with noise can come from a loose or greasy blower wheel, a failing capacitor or a motor on its way out. A stuck flap on the outside vent can also make a working fan seem weak. The technician checks the fan at each speed and the power supply.
