Thread: Alert over new wave of exploding fridges

Alert over new wave of exploding fridges caused by 'environmentally-friendly coolant'
By CHRIS BROOKE
Last updated at 8:46 AM on 01st September 2009


Luckily no-one was hurt when Kathy Cullingworth's fridge exploded but the damage bill was £10,000

A series of violent fridge explosions is believed to have been caused by leaks of 'environmentally-friendly' coolant.

Safety standards for manufacturers might have to be reviewed following the blasts, which have destroyed several kitchens.

At least four similar explosions have been reported in the last three years in the UK, two of them since May.

The problem appears to result from a widespread switch to 'Greenfreeze' technology over the past 15 years and the use of isobutane and propane hydrocarbon gases as refrigerants.

Previously CFCs and HFCs were used in fridges but these gases damaged the ozone layer and contributed significantly to global warming. There are now more than 300million Greenfreeze fridges around the world.

They are designed with safety features to ensure the flammable natural gas inside the pipework cannot leak into the fridge.

However, if this happens there is a risk of a powerful blast as the gas could be ignited by a spark when the thermostat switches off.

Graeme Fox, an air-conditioning and refrigeration contractor, said: 'During the day when the fridge door is frequently opened there isn't a problem.

'But at night, when everyone is sleeping and the door remains shut, this leaked highly flammable gas can build up in the fridge cabinet.'

Mother-of-two Kathy Cullingworth, 55, is taking legal advice after her Creda fridge exploded three weeks ago at her home in Normanton, West Yorkshire. The Mail told how it caused more than £10,000 of damage.

An independent engineer confirmed the fridge contained isobutane refrigerant and a leak is suspected.

A similar fate befell Carline Preece and her family at their home in West Bromwich.

Fortunately Mrs Preece, 44, her husband Michael, 45, and their four children were in bed when the fridge blew at 6am.

Mrs Preece thought an earthquake had struck. She said: 'The doors were ripped in half, the front door has a gaping hole in it and all the windows were blown open by the force.'

Jane Gartshore, president of the Institute of Refrigeration, said there is a 'theoretical possibility' that such explosions can be caused by a leak of isobutane.

But she stressed: 'There are hundreds of millions of these fridges and these incidents are very, very rare.'

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Originally Posted by crippen

the flammable natural gas inside the pipework

Originally Posted by crippen

the gas could be ignited by a spark when the thermostat switches off.

21st century green gas meets 18th century control technology

I vote for using R744.

Quote=Alert over new wave of exploding fridges

Hundreds of millions of these fridges in use and just a few explosions. It will definitely be on the BBC soon and grabbing headlines in the Sunday`s.

Originally Posted by crippen

But she stressed: 'There are hundreds of millions of these fridges and these incidents are very, very rare.

What the fuck,, it only takes one, if that one is in your kitchen..

And most of the bullshit about Freon is just that Bullshit, that hole in the ozone moves, gets bigger and smaller all the time.
Same as Al Gore and his Global warming from man made shit CO2 and bullshit.

Man has not been around long enough to have caused 3 or 4 Ice ages and the following Global Warming after each one in the last 700,000 years.

Originally Posted by bretby

and grabbing headlines in the Sunday`s.

depends if my viral email with pics that I will claim are of micheal jacksons cock piercing hits first

Originally Posted by baldrick

Originally Posted by bretby

and grabbing headlines in the Sunday`s.

depends if my viral email with pics that I will claim are of micheal jacksons cock piercing hits first

Let me guess.........News Of The World