Willie Mae Truesdale was startled by a loud explosion coming from her kitchen. When she rushed to investigate, she discovered her glass oven door shattered into pieces on the floor.
It was a shocking and unbelievable sight for her. Surprisingly, her oven wasn’t even turned on at the time. Truesdale is not alone in experiencing this terrifying incident. Many homeowners have reported their oven doors exploding. It’s a curious case that demands attention and understanding.
The Surprising Phenomenon of Exploding Glass Oven Doors
Cheryl, a suburban mom, also encountered a distressing situation with her oven. While baking brownies, she realized that they were turning out soggy in the middle. Upon further inspection, she discovered that her oven’s temperature was off by about 25 degrees. In an attempt to solve the problem, Cheryl decided to run a self-cleaning cycle. However, towards the end of the cycle, she heard a deafening explosion, and the inner glass of the oven door shattered into the oven.
Michelle Wheat had a similar experience where her oven door exploded, covering her kitchen in shards of glass. Just like Truesdale, Wheat’s oven was not in use at the time. It’s important to note that oven door explosions have been reported in ovens from different brands, including Frigidaire and Bosch. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has received approximately 450 reports of such incidents since 2019.
Unfortunately, all three women faced difficulties with the manufacturers after the explosions occurred. Truesdale’s oven was still under warranty, but Frigidaire’s technician blamed her family for the explosion, even though the oven was turned off. Consequently, she had to pay for a new door out of her own pocket. Fortunately, Cheryl’s oven was replaced by Bosch after NBC reached out to them for comment. However, Wheat’s oven was no longer under warranty, and she had to pay $100 for the technician’s visit, only to be informed that the glass needed replacement, costing her family an additional $314. Frigidaire suggested that Wheat purchase an extended warranty for future incidents. These struggles with the manufacturers left the homeowners frustrated and unsupported.
What Causes Oven Doors to Shatter?
According to Mark Meshulam of Chicago Window Expert, there are two possible scenarios for oven glass to break spontaneously. One is the use of soda lime glass, which is similar to window glass and is rapidly heated and cooled during the manufacturing process to make it tempered. The other type is borosilicate glass, more commonly found in laboratory glassware or the older Pyrex glass, which is highly resistant to heat and cold. The shift towards using soda lime glass in oven doors has led to an increase in these types of breakages as it is less tolerant of the thermal cycles that glass goes through.
Another possible cause of these explosions is a flaw known as a nickel sulfide inclusion, which is a tiny defect in the glass. Meshulam describes it as a ball with strange properties that, over time, tries to break free, sometimes during high heat events like oven cleaning cycles. Despite these potential causes, Meshulam assures people that the ovens’ self-cleaning feature is generally safe. The majority of people will never encounter this problem in their lifetime. Furthermore, he believes that microscopic chips and flaws in the glass are responsible for oven explosions even when the oven is not in use. The most frightening aspect is that the door can shatter long after the initial damage occurs.
Prevention Tips
While some points of damage may occur during production, shipping, or installation, there are steps homeowners can take to prevent damage at home. Avoid using harsh scouring tools and opt for soft sponges and brushes instead. Be mindful not to place dishes or trays on the door when removing food from the oven. Refrain from slamming or kicking the door closed and make sure trays and racks are properly positioned without using the door to push them back. Additionally, ensure that the dish inside the oven does not touch the door, and avoid hanging wet towels on the handle, as exposing the glass to two different temperatures can weaken it over time.
By following these simple prevention tips, homeowners can reduce the risk of oven door explosions. It’s important to maintain caution and care when handling oven doors to ensure the safety of both the appliance and the individuals in the household.
