When Willie Mae Truesdale heard a loud explosion from her kitchen, she couldn’t believe her eyes. The glass door of her oven had shattered into pieces, despite the fact that the oven was not even turned on. This terrifying experience is not unique to Truesdale – many homeowners have had their ovens explode unexpectedly.
Cheryl, a suburban mom, encountered a similar ordeal during the COVID-19 quarantine. While baking brownies, she noticed that her oven was not functioning properly. To get it fixed, she decided to run a self-cleaning cycle. However, to her horror, there was a sudden explosion, with the glass door shattering inside the oven.
Even Michelle Wheat had her share of glass door explosions in her kitchen. Like Truesdale, her oven was off when it happened. Thankfully, none of her four young children were harmed. It is worth noting that this issue is not limited to a single brand. Frigidaire, Bosch, and other manufacturers have all received reports of glass door explosions. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has documented approximately 450 incidents since 2019.
To make matters worse, all three women faced difficulties dealing with the manufacturers. Truesdale’s oven was still under warranty, but the technician from Frigidaire unfairly blamed her family for the explosion. She had to pay for a new door out of her own pocket. Fortunately, Bosch replaced Cheryl’s oven after NBC reached out to them for comment.
Wheat’s oven was no longer under warranty, and she had to pay $100 to a technician, only to be told that the glass was broken and needed replacement, costing the family an additional $314. Frigidaire’s solution to this problem was for Wheat to purchase an extended warranty. The frustrated mother of six rightly expressed her disappointment, stating, “This should not have happened.”
The Causes of Oven Door Shattering
According to Mark Meshulam, an expert from Chicago Window Expert, there are two main scenarios that can lead to oven glass breaking spontaneously. One type of glass used for oven doors is soda lime glass, which is heated and cooled rapidly to become tempered. The other type is borosilicate glass, commonly found in laboratory glassware or old Pyrex glass, which withstands high temperatures well.
Meshulam explains that the shift to soda lime glass has resulted in an increase in these types of breaks, as it is not as tolerant of the thermal cycles that the glass goes through. Additionally, the explosions could be caused by a nickel sulfide inclusion – a tiny flaw within the glass that is about a tenth of a millimeter in diameter.
Over time, this flaw can create internal pressure, and a high heat event like the oven cleaning cycle can trigger the spontaneous failure of the glass. Nonetheless, Meshulam reassures people that ovens’ self-cleaning features are generally safe. He believes that microscopic chips and flaws are the culprits behind oven explosions when they are not in use. However, what makes this possibility even more terrifying is that the door can shatter long after the initial damage occurs.
Tips for Prevention
While some instances of damage may occur during production, shipping, or installation, there are ways to prevent damage to oven doors at home. Avoid aggressive cleaning techniques and excessive physical impact, as they can result in microscopic scratches or chips on the glass. These simple habits can go a long way in ensuring the safety and longevity of your oven.
