You might have already heard from your local news outlet about ovens exploding with no obvious cause. Many consumers claim their oven glass shattered without warning. So why does it happen? How do you avoid the same from happening to your oven? Read on, and Samsung Repairs will tell you what you need to know about your oven glass.
Reasons why oven glass shattered
How common is oven glass shattering? From 2015 to 2018, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received over 700 complaints of oven doors exploding or shattering. The ovens seem to spontaneously “explode without warning regardless of make or model.” Here are possible reasons why your oven glass door can shatter.
Rapid Temperature Change
Like most glass materials, glass oven doors are subject to the laws of physics. Particles in glass expand and contract when heated and cooled, causing the glass to form cracks, which eventually shatter and “explode.” Rapid temperature changes can be caused by accidentally spilling cold water into a hot oven door or resting a cold dish on the door.
Faulty Manufacturing
While Viking ovens undergo extensive quality testing, there is no surprise that a few faults can go unnoticed. Quality control specialists, after all, are only humans. Faulty glass manufacturing can cause the material to undergo extreme stresses under extreme temperatures, causing it to shatter over time.
Aggressive Cleaning
Believe it or not, aggressively cleaning your oven door can damage the glass. Scrubbing too hard can cause excess pressure, making the glass vulnerable to cracking. Strong cleaning chemicals can also weaken the structure of glass as they strip away its protective layers.
Damage from Transport, Repair, or Installation
It is important to be careful when transporting appliances, especially with a glass-door oven. Improper transporting can damage the glass and cause it to crack under the stresses of high temperatures. Improper installation and repair can also damage the glass panel on your oven door. Hence, finding an expert oven repair specialist is crucial to ensure your oven is in good hands.
How to prevent your oven door glass from shattering
Oven glass door shattering is something you don’t want to experience. Thankfully, you can take steps to prevent damaging your glass oven door that might cause it to shatter. These steps include:
Open and close the door gently.
Always use the oven door with extreme care whether you are in a hurry or not. Slamming it close can cause the glass to crack, leading to it shattering over time. Fortunately, modern ovens come with a soft-closing oven door. A mechanism forces the door to close gently, even when you accidentally force it shut, eliminating the problems with an oven glass door cracked.
Push oven racks in.
Ovens have racks that allow you to roast and bake on different levels. These racks are removable and can slide out for easier access to what you are baking. Before shutting the oven door, ensure the racks are inside the oven compartment to avoid damaging the glass door panel.
Do not place things on an open oven door.
It can be tempting to use the oven door to rest dishes. Doing so can damage the glass door due to the pressure caused by the weight of the dish. No matter what kind of doors or oven tempered glass you have, avoid resting dishes on an opened oven door.
Use only cleaning products designed for glass oven doors.
Many commercial glass cleaning chemicals can strip the protective layer on your glass oven door. Choose cleaning products designed specifically for use with glass oven doors.
The first thing to do when your oven door explodes or shatters is to turn off the oven, especially when you have a gas-powered model. The explosion can cause a gas leak that poses a safety risk. Here’s what you can do when your oven door shatters:
- Replace the door. You can refer to your oven’s user manual on how to replace the oven door. The hinges are usually accessible when you open the oven door. You can order a replacement door from the manufacturer or take the broken door to the nearest service center to ensure you get the right model.
- Replace your oven. If you think your oven is too old for repairs, you can always replace it with the latest model. Replacement might be expensive, but it guarantees your oven is problem-free.
- Call an expert. You can call Samsung Repairs for reliable oven services. Our appliance technicians can handle various appliance problems, including range issues and broken oven doors. You can also come to us for consultation and recommendations based on the condition of your oven.
Is it common for oven doors to shatter?
Glass oven doors undergo strict quality control before they are delivered to your home. Manufacturers ensure the materials, including the glass door, are up to standards, guaranteeing they are problem-free. However, even the most durable ovens are not built to last forever.
Over the years of constant use, your glass oven door will eventually break. If you’re unlucky, yours might shatter without warning. But do note that glass oven door shattering is not a common occurrence. In fact, within three years, from 2015 to 2018, the CPSC has only received around 700 complaints about oven glass door shattering.
This statistic makes up less than a tenth of the total ovens in the United States. Most of these incidents are preventable and are mostly due to human error. For example, homeowners might unknowingly use a strong cleaning product on their oven doors. Or perhaps the oven sustained damage during installation or repair.
So if you own an oven at home, you don’t have to worry about your oven door shattering or “exploding.” You can avoid such a controllable problem if you read this guide. Otherwise, you can call Samsung Repairs to guarantee your oven is in good working condition. Book our services for regular maintenance or repairs.
You can contact our experienced appliance technicians through our repair hotline or by filling out our online form for a callback. Our licensed professionals can serve you 24/7, even on weekends and holidays, for emergency services. You can also browse our collection of blogs to learn more about your kitchen appliances.