Why Do Oven Doors Shatter and How to Prevent It? – TRUTH HERE !
Willie Mae Truesdale was startled by a sudden explosion emanating from her kitchen. Upon investigating, she was met with the startling sight of her glass oven door shattered into countless pieces strewn across the floor. “It was truly shocking; one had to witness it firsthand to comprehend,” she recounted.
“It was as though something inexplicable had occurred. Glass fragments littered the floor,” she described. Adding to the bewilderment was the fact that her oven had not been in use at the time. What’s more alarming is that Truesdale’s experience is not unique; she is just one among many homeowners who have encountered the phenomenon of exploding oven doors.
The Strange Phenomenon of Exploding Glass Oven Doors
Cheryl, a suburban mother, found herself in a similar predicament during the COVID-19 lockdown. While attempting to bake brownies, she noticed they turned out undercooked, discovering her relatively new oven’s temperature was off by about 25 degrees. Following the lockdown, she sought professional assistance to rectify the issue. However, before the repairs could be made, she initiated a self-cleaning cycle. As the cycle neared its end, a deafening explosion ensued, causing the inner glass of the door to shatter within the oven.
Michelle Wheat had a harrowing encounter with her oven door exploding, resulting in glass scattered throughout her kitchen. Like Truesdale, Wheat’s three-year-old oven was inactive at the time. Thankfully, none of her four young children were harmed by the shattered glass. Notably, while Truesdale’s oven was from Frigidaire and Cheryl’s from Bosch, reports of exploding glass doors extend beyond these brands. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received approximately 450 reports of similar incidents since 2019.
Unfortunately, each of these women encountered difficulties with the manufacturers following the incidents. Despite Truesdale’s oven being under warranty, Frigidaire’s technician attributed blame to the family, necessitating out-of-pocket expenses for a new door. Fortunately, Cheryl received a replacement oven from Bosch following media intervention. In Wheat’s case, her oven was no longer under warranty, resulting in additional expenses to replace the shattered glass.
Exploring the Causes of Oven Door Shattering
Mark Meshulam of Chicago Window Expert suggests two possible scenarios for spontaneous oven glass breakage. One involves soda lime glass, commonly used in oven doors, which becomes tempered through rapid heating and cooling. The other type, borosilicate glass, known for its heat resistance, is less prone to such breaks. Meshulam also highlights nickel sulfide inclusions, minuscule flaws within the glass, as potential culprits, exacerbated by high-heat events like self-cleaning cycles.
Despite these occurrences, Meshulam assures the safety of oven self-cleaning features for the majority of users. He suggests that microscopic flaws are often responsible for explosions even when the oven is inactive, with the potential for delayed shattering long after the initial damage occurs.
Tips for Prevention
While some instances of damage may occur during production or installation, homeowners can take steps to minimize risks at home. Avoiding aggressive cleaning methods and minimizing physical impact can help prevent microscopic scratches or chips that may lead to future complications.