Why can the refrigerator explode without warning?

Refrigerator, a familiar and common appliance in most families, but few people know it can explode suddenly and without warning.

Many accidents with serious consequences are caused by exploding refrigerators. Therefore, refrigerator explosion incidents are also called by many as "ignored disasters" because there are no warning signs that make users unprepared.

Why can the refrigerator explode without warning? Picture 1

The reason the refrigerator exploded

Refrigerators cool by circulating refrigerant through a compressor to achieve a cooling effect, similar to an air conditioner. The commonly used refrigerant for refrigerators is R-600a (isobutane), a colorless, odorless, flammable and explosive substance when mixed with air.

R600a has high cooling efficiency, low environmental pollution and low production cost. Normally, this substance is placed tightly in the pipeline, but there are still cases where the gas leaks, causing it to come into contact with the air and create a chemical reaction that leads to an explosion.

After a period of use, many refrigerator freezer compartments often freeze or snow on the edges. In order to pry this layer of ice, to help the refrigerator cool better, many users often use a sharp object to pry this layer of ice and accidentally tear the wall of the freezer compartment. This causes refrigerant to leak.

In addition, another cause of refrigerator fires is open solder joints. The location of the cabinet in a closed environment, poor heat dissipation, high temperature or in a humid environment causes metal gas lines to corrode, leading to fire and explosion.

How to prevent refrigerator explosion

1. Do not clean the ice in the freezer compartment with sharp objects.
2. Choose a suitable refrigerator location. Do not place the refrigerator in a place that is too tight, close to the wall or too humid, and away from flammable items.
3. Consider replacing if the refrigerator is too old.

Warning signs that the refrigerator is in danger of exploding

Most refrigerator explosions happen suddenly, with no obvious warning signs, but the danger can be detected by paying attention to the sound of the refrigerator.

Normally, the refrigerator compressor when running will make a steady, humming sound. But if the user hears a harsh sound from the refrigerator, or no noise at all, it is possible that the refrigerant gas line is blocked. At that time, the user needs to unplug the power, and ask a repairman to check.

David Pac

Update 24 July 2023