Microwave ovens operating at 2450 mhz emit radiation with a wavelength of about 12 centimeters and the holes in the mesh of the door are typically on the order of 1 2 millimeters in diameter.
Microwave hole inside glass door.
The moisture leaves the microwave compact oven through ventilation ducts including the door.
If there is a small crack in the glass itself then you can still use your microwave.
This means that stains and condensation can form between the two glass panels in the door.
The glass on the door is mostly for cosmetic purposes and doesn t play a huge part in the function.
The holes are absolutely not a microwave leakage problem because they are only in the plastic inner skin and have not affected the metal screen at all.
The only bad thing they might even conceivably do is make the interior harder to clean.
What really protects you is the metal mesh or screen that is behind the glass.
Since the holes are small compared to the wavelength of the microwaves little radiation can leak out.
That s because in essence microwave ovens are like convenient faraday cages from which microwaves cannot escape.
Aluminum foil being metallic would help in restoring the sanctity of this cage to some extent.
If that is damaged then you have a problem.
Posted by dakotapaul at 1 42 pm on july 13 2009.