What Causes a Cooker to Burst? Common Reasons and How to Prevent It

A cooker bursting isn’t something that happens often-but when it does, it’s terrifying. You’re cooking dinner, the stove’s humming along, and then-boom. A loud bang, a flash, maybe smoke or flames. It’s not a movie scene. It’s real, and it’s more common than people think. Most cooker explosions happen because of preventable issues. If you’ve ever wondered why your cooker might burst, you’re not alone. Here’s what actually causes it, and how to keep your kitchen safe.

Gas Leaks Are the Top Culprit

The most frequent cause of a cooker bursting is a gas leak. Modern gas cookers use natural gas or propane, both highly flammable. If there’s a crack in the gas line, a loose connection, or a worn-out valve, gas can build up inside the cooker’s cavity or under the burners. When the ignition sparks-even a tiny one from a faulty igniter or a static shock-it lights that gas like a fuse. The result? A sudden, violent burst.

In Vancouver, where many homes rely on natural gas, gas leaks are often overlooked. People assume their cooker is fine if it lights up. But a small leak doesn’t always mean no flame-it just means gas is escaping slowly, unnoticed, until enough accumulates. A 2023 report from BC Gas Safety found that 68% of gas appliance incidents in the Lower Mainland were linked to aging or poorly maintained cookers.

Blocked Ventilation and Pressure Build-Up

Not all cookers are gas-powered. Electric cookers, especially those with sealed oven cavities, can also burst-but for a different reason: pressure. If the oven’s ventilation system is blocked, steam and hot air can’t escape. That trapped pressure builds up over time. The oven door, seals, or even the glass panel can crack or pop open under the strain.

This often happens when people line the oven bottom with aluminum foil, block the vents behind the back panel, or leave a large pot of water boiling for hours without checking. It’s easy to think, “It’s just steam,” but steam at 212°F (100°C) exerts serious force. In one documented case in Surrey, a family’s electric cooker exploded after a 12-hour slow-cook session with the vent covered by a baking tray. The door flew off and shattered into the kitchen.

Faulty Ignition Systems and Repeated Failed Starts

Modern cookers have automatic igniters. But if the igniter is weak, dirty, or broken, it might not spark right away. Instead of lighting the gas immediately, it lets gas flow for several seconds-sometimes up to 15 or 20 seconds. That’s long enough for a pocket of gas to form. When the spark finally happens, it ignites the whole pocket at once.

This is especially common in older models. If your cooker takes more than 3-4 tries to light, or if you smell gas before it ignites, that’s not normal. It’s a warning sign. You might think, “It’ll light eventually,” but each failed start increases the risk. A 2024 study by the Canadian Appliance Safety Council found that 41% of gas cooker explosions occurred after repeated failed ignition attempts.

Using the Wrong Fuel or Modifications

Some people try to convert their cookers to use a different fuel-like switching from natural gas to propane without proper retrofitting. Others use camping gas canisters or refill valves meant for portable stoves. These aren’t designed for built-in appliances. The pressure is wrong. The flow rate is off. The regulator doesn’t match.

Even a small DIY tweak can turn a safe appliance into a bomb. In 2025, a home in Burnaby had a cooker explosion after the owner tried to hook up a propane tank from a BBQ grill to the gas line. The pressure was triple what the cooker’s valve could handle. The result? A fireball that damaged the kitchen and required a full rebuild.

Old or Damaged Components

Cookers don’t last forever. Most last 10-15 years before parts start to degrade. The gas valve seals harden. The ignition wires corrode. The oven door hinges weaken. The glass panels develop micro-cracks from repeated heating and cooling. These aren’t visible until it’s too late.

Older cookers, especially those made before 2010, often lack modern safety sensors. No gas leak detectors. No automatic shutoffs. No pressure relief valves. If you’ve had the same cooker since the 2000s, it’s not just outdated-it’s a ticking time bomb. A 2025 inspection by Vancouver’s Home Safety Initiative found that 73% of cookers over 15 years old had critical safety failures.

How to Prevent a Cooker Burst

• Check for gas smell regularly. If you smell rotten eggs (the added odorant in gas), turn off the gas supply, open windows, and call a professional. Don’t turn on lights or use your phone.
• Never block vents. Keep the oven’s back panel and bottom vents clear. No foil, no pans, no clutter.
• Test your igniter. If it takes more than 3 tries to light, or if you hear gas hissing before ignition, get it serviced.
• Don’t DIY fuel changes. Only licensed technicians should modify gas lines or fuel types.
• Replace cookers over 15 years old. Even if it still works, the safety features are outdated.
• Install a gas detector. A simple $40 gas alarm near the kitchen can give you early warning. Many BC municipalities now require them in new builds.

What to Do If Your Cooker Explodes

If it happens:

1. Evacuate everyone from the house immediately.
2. Call 911 from outside. Don’t use your phone inside.
3. Turn off the main gas valve if it’s safe to reach.
4. Do not re-enter until firefighters give the all-clear.
5. Call a certified appliance repair technician-not a handyman-for inspection and replacement.

Many people think they can just clean up and keep using the cooker. Don’t. Even if it looks fine, internal damage can cause delayed failures. A cracked gas line or warped valve might not leak right away-but it will soon.

When to Call a Professional

You don’t need to be an expert to spot danger. If any of these sound familiar, call a technician today:

• You smell gas near the cooker, even faintly.
• The cooker takes longer than usual to heat up.
• The flame is yellow instead of blue (blue is normal; yellow means incomplete combustion).
• The oven door doesn’t seal properly or feels loose.
• The control panel is flickering or unresponsive.

Most appliance repair services offer free safety inspections. It takes 30 minutes. It could save your life.

Final Thought: Safety Isn’t Optional

A cooker isn’t just an appliance. It’s a high-pressure, gas-fed machine. It’s not meant to be ignored. People think explosions are rare-but they’re not. They’re just quiet until they’re not. The difference between a safe kitchen and a dangerous one isn’t luck. It’s maintenance. It’s awareness. It’s replacing that old cooker before it’s too late.