There is nothing in Whirlpool refrigerators that can explode. They use R-134a as the refrigerant. It isn't flammable. Also, I don't believe that any American manufacturers use R-600 (isobutane), which is used in Europe. I don't know what the Asian manufacturers use. I was responsible for the design and testing of Whirlpool refrigerators for a number of years before I retired. We considered R-600 and rejected it because it was flammable. If the explosion was centered at the refrigerator, there must have been something flammable stored in it.

Thank you.


Thank you very much. Sensible and helpful.

I wouldn't put my TNT in the oven either. :mornincoffee:

How about if the fridge was transported on its side.....maybe? the gases moved? I read that on the internet...

No.

who said the refrigerator exploded? why r u chasing your tails??

Taken directly from the on-line news:
It was a Whirlpool side-by-side refrigerator that exploded Saturday making a Village of Fernandina home uninhabitable.

The model number of the refrigerator is WRS32FDAM.

The owners of the home on Thunderbird Way, David and Sandra Hess, were out at the time of the explosion and fire which left the interior of their home severely damaged.

In the aftermath of the incident, they initially were staying with friends but have located a rental property not too far from their residence.

The kitchen was heavily damaged in the explosion.
The kitchen was heavily damaged in the explosion.

According to Consumer Reports, appliance fires, not related to human error, are more common than one might think.

Jack Sanderson, president of Fire Findings, a forensic engineering laboratory in Benton Harbor, Mich. in 2012 told Consumer Reports that more refrigerators are ending up in his labs for analysis.

“It usually has to do with components associated with new compressors,” he says. “I can’t tell you what the problem is exactly, but manufacturers have obviously made a design change that’s having unintended consequences.”

People don’t normally think of refrigerators as posing much fire danger, but Sanderson says they have heaters and draw plenty of current. And once the electrical components catch fire, he says, plastics in the rest of the appliance provide more fuel.

Report
 

Thanks for this post. Although I believe a refrigerator explosion is still very rare, apparently it does happen, and as far as I know, this is the first reported such incident in The Villages.

Iam sure we will hear more discussion and get more facts about this in the future. If the resident had been home, this could have been a real tragedy.

that tells the story as opposed to the OP a possible cause.

A few pic's
 

the damage

Has anyone found out the brand and model?





.

Read post #21. It clearly says what brand and model.

From what I have seen, my UNINFORMED guess, there was something in the refrigerator that leaked an explosive gas, which was then ignited by the compressor contacts (or anything that generated an arc), ice maker for example.
I have not had a chance to research this, but I suspect there are items that have flammable propellants that might be found in the refrigerator and a small leak could allow the gases to accumulate until an explosive level was reached.
It appears also that the flammable coolants are used in Europe, not in the USA, and I believe the Whirlpool units use R134a, which is NOT flammable.
Hopefully, there will be a follow-up report from the fire marshal that will detail what happened.

Something in the fridge making gas...like what?

If this was truly the frig and not due to contents, I have to believe it is extremely rare. Recently I had a bathtub enclosure glass door explode in a guest bath. When I talked to the manufacturer, their response “yea that happens sometimes.” What??? Went online and found this can happen with tempered glass. Thankfully, no one was in the bathroom at the time. Rare events DO happen to somebody. I hate being one of them.

TOTV is a great resource. The only place I’ve ever read of exploding refrigerators. Educated consumer is a safe consumer.

As to this frig, I do hope there is a thorough investigation so the rest of us can make any necessary corrections in our own kitchens, if needed.

Exploding Shower Doors A Problem In Texas & Nationwide « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

Tempered Glass Shower Doors Are Shattering For No Reason

Well, we have Ready Whip in the fridge, and guess what the propellant is NOT listed, tried to call, but they are closed, but any aerosol (cheezewiz?) that might have a flammable propellant, not sure I can think of anything else.

The other possibility, a very low grade fire (very little oxygen, but lots of combustible gas) occurred that finally found its way into the cooled area and some oxygen, and boom.....

I will stop with supposition and wait for the follow-up report.