re: How long should breakers last?

quote:

---

I had a dual function AFCI/GFCI breaker that would spark when the microwave was running. This was a dedicated 20 amp circuit to the microwave. I replaced the breaker with a normal 20 amp breaker and no issues.

---

You may want to find a GFCI breaker but not a combo breaker because if it was the microwave over the stove there is a chance that it also feeds an outlet near the sink and that outlet certainly needs GFCI protection. If you were able to find a normal breaker relatively easy you can probably find a GFCI breaker. If there are no outlets on the circuit near the sink and you can't find one outside on that circuit or maybe in the garage you are probably fine with a regular breaker but if it was a combo during the inspection phase of construction it probably needs to be a GFCI. If you can't find a breaker you can install an outlet. GFCI nuisance trips are RARE (they weren't in the first several generations), AFCIs that do not constantly trip are not close to rare.