How to Clean the Grease Filter on a Panasonic NN-SU696S Microwave — Step-by-Step Instructions
Step-by-step instructions for the Panasonic NN-SU696S (countertop microwave, 1.3 cu ft). Parts and access points can differ slightly by production year — the steps below cover the common layout for this platform, and the model notes flag its quirks.
The filters are on the underside of the microwave, outside the cabinet, and are designed to be removed by the owner. Never remove the outer metal cabinet of a microwave. The high-voltage capacitor inside stores a charge that can kill you, and it holds that charge after the unit is unplugged. Every step in this guide stays outside the cabinet or inside the cooking cavity — if a repair needs the case off, it is a job for a technician.
Tools
- Sink or large basin
- Degreasing dish soap
- Soft brush
- Baking soda (optional)
Parts
- None — unless a filter is bent or torn, then a replacement mesh filter $10–$25
Step by step
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1 Make sure the cooktop below is cold
You will be reaching over it. If anything has just been cooking, wait.
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2 Release the filters
Look under the microwave for one or two metal mesh panels. Each has a small tab or catch — push it toward the back or slide it sideways, then drop the filter down and out.
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3 Soak them in hot degreasing water
Fill the sink with the hottest water you can and a generous squeeze of degreasing dish soap. A few tablespoons of baking soda helps on badly loaded filters. Soak for ten minutes.
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4 Brush through the mesh
Work a soft brush over both faces. You are looking for light to pass through the mesh again — that is the test that it is actually clean.
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5 Rinse and dry completely
Rinse thoroughly and shake dry, or leave them on a towel. Do not refit them wet.
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6 Refit the right way round
Slide the back edge in first, then click the catch. A filter fitted crooked will rattle every time the fan runs.
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7 Set a reminder
Every one to three months for a household that cooks regularly. This single habit is the difference between a vent fan that lasts fifteen years and one that burns out in six.
Panasonic NN-SU696S notes & error codes
Panasonic’s H-series codes are self-diagnosis results specific to their designs and generally point at the high-voltage section. On a countertop unit, an H-code is usually where the repair conversation ends — worth knowing before paying a diagnostic fee.
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| F## codes | Numbered control fault codes shown on the display |
| H## codes | Panasonic self-diagnosis codes; the H9x series relates to the high-voltage or inverter section |
Full details for this machine — common problems, causes, and costs — are in the Panasonic NN-SU696S repair guide. The general version of these instructions is here.
If the fan is still weak with genuinely clean filters, the problem is further in — a failing blower motor, a stuck exterior damper flap, or a blocked duct run. That is a service call rather than a cleaning job. If you'd rather skip it entirely, find a microwave repair pro near you →
What this repair costs professionally
Sources
Where the safety, regulatory and warranty claims on this page come from. Repair costs are our own figures based on Arizona market rates and OEM parts pricing.
- Microwave Ovens — Radiation-Emitting Products U.S. Food & Drug Administration The federal requirement for two independent door interlocks plus a monitoring system, and the 21 CFR 1030.10 leakage limit — why an interlock must never be bypassed.
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