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Original poster

I really need a logical explanation for this!!!

37 replies

Diamondsinthesky5 · 15/06/2022 23:36

Just wondered if anyone had a logical explanation for this or if it’s happened to anyone else?!

We have a walk in shower which has a glass door on it. Randomly one night it smashed and shattered. I was drifting off to sleep and heard what sounded like an explosion and thought someone had smashed something off the window. I woke up and ran in and found the entire glass shower door shattered.

There wasn’t any (obvious) damage to it and nothing different to usual in terms of temperature changes. That shower also hadn’t been used for about 24 hours. I have no idea what could cause it, does anyone else know?

I’ve managed to spook myself out (watching too many scary films!) as we only moved into this house recently and was working a specific pattern of shifts that would have me showering after work at an unusual time (2am). I actually had gone straight to bed and hadn’t showered like usual as I was tired but the shower door smashed at 2am and i would have been using the shower if I hadn’t decided just to go to bed. It’s just a concidence I know, but my brain keeps trying to convince me it’s spooky and I need a logical explanation😂

OP posts:
worraliberty · 15/06/2022 23:40

First hit on Google has some theories

Oddly enough someone reported this happening in my local FB group yesterday too.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/06/2022 23:42

It's something that can happen to glass shower doors, particularly if they've been fitted with a bit too much tension or suchlike.

Don't worry, it's just physics.

Sliceofpi · 15/06/2022 23:43

It’s a coincidence, my take on it is ,the frame round the shower was over tightened, at 2am the house was cooling down, metal and glass have different specific heats, so one cools down quicker than the other, causing tension, which then shatters the glass. Was it safety glass? If so it wouldn’t have been too dangerous or did it break into big sharp shards?
disclaimer not a glassologist but also don’t believe in woo.

CounsellorTroi · 15/06/2022 23:46

There are lots of boring and mundane explanations for spontaneous glass shattering. It won’t be anything woo.

Lagertha6 · 15/06/2022 23:47

Diamondsinthesky5 · 15/06/2022 23:36

Just wondered if anyone had a logical explanation for this or if it’s happened to anyone else?!

We have a walk in shower which has a glass door on it. Randomly one night it smashed and shattered. I was drifting off to sleep and heard what sounded like an explosion and thought someone had smashed something off the window. I woke up and ran in and found the entire glass shower door shattered.

There wasn’t any (obvious) damage to it and nothing different to usual in terms of temperature changes. That shower also hadn’t been used for about 24 hours. I have no idea what could cause it, does anyone else know?

I’ve managed to spook myself out (watching too many scary films!) as we only moved into this house recently and was working a specific pattern of shifts that would have me showering after work at an unusual time (2am). I actually had gone straight to bed and hadn’t showered like usual as I was tired but the shower door smashed at 2am and i would have been using the shower if I hadn’t decided just to go to bed. It’s just a concidence I know, but my brain keeps trying to convince me it’s spooky and I need a logical explanation😂

Oh good job you were not in it. If its a new house burn some sage just to be on the safe side.

Defo a defective shower door. Don't worry.

MrsMoastyToasty · 15/06/2022 23:52

Google thermal shock.

We had it happen to an internal pane of glass on a double glazed window.

Tigertigertigertiger · 15/06/2022 23:53

It’s a thing. Happened in my parents’ house

SomethingOnce · 15/06/2022 23:54

Call 555-2368, they’ll send someone out.

Hawkins001 · 15/06/2022 23:56

I'm no expert, but I'm guessing air line fracture in the glass or eventual shatter from constant expanding and contracting. Basically a dodgy glass door.

Immaterialatthispoint · 15/06/2022 23:57

Our glass bathroom scales went bang spontaneously a few months ago. I don’t believe in woo, but did decide to take it as a sign not to weigh myself too much 😂

Pantsomime · 15/06/2022 23:57

one corner will have been stressed with by not hanging properly/ level or something being over tightened

Aquamarine1029 · 15/06/2022 23:58

I know four people who this has happened to in their homes, and another who was sleeping in a hotel room when it happened. It's totally a thing. Stop overthinking it.

mrwalkensir · 15/06/2022 23:59

We had it happen in a new upstairs extension (about a year in) - think it was the build settling causing stress on the fittings. Not unusual....

Elfeatenbydog · 16/06/2022 00:04

Ooh I’ve read about this happening before so did a quick Google search and there are a few articles about it, describing similar to your experience! Seems to be an issue with either the production or installation of the glass? Must have been so scary though. Would have completely freaked me out!!

www.thespruce.com/glass-shower-door-shattered-by-itself-3972517

ThreeLittleDots · 16/06/2022 00:11

this happened to my glass chopping board

CandleSchtick · 16/06/2022 00:17

It's something that can happen to glass shower doors, particularly if they've been fitted with a bit too much tension or suchlike

This. It happened to a friend of mine, she just happened to be in the bathroom, at the basin, feet away from the shower and the door just shattered and rained glass all over the floor. She had to pick her way out, in shock. Insurance people said it's something that does happen from time to time.

Moodycow78 · 16/06/2022 00:24

Shower doors spontaneously going has happened to a few friends and family it's not uncommon it'll have just been overtightened at some point 💐

WildImaginings · 16/06/2022 00:24

Nickel sulphide inclusion
Thermal stress
Improper installation
Edge damage during installation

I see lots of glaziers reports for shattered/cracked glass in my job! If it's shattered then NSI is a likely contender. There is often a distinctive 'figure eight' pattern to be found at the point where the shatter originated.

SpaceFarce · 16/06/2022 00:31

Yeah this happened to my shower cubicle (one side only, not the door) too, and to one of my friends’ doors. It’s just physics - uneven pressure, minute shifts in the walls/ceiling of your house etc. Nothing scary.

FavouritePi · 16/06/2022 00:50

This happened to a relative, they'd had the shower for absolutely years, heard an explosion one evening and the door had shattered.

If the shower isn't that old then maybe look to contact the manufacturer if you have their details.

OnGoldenPond · 16/06/2022 00:59

This happened to a Pyrex measuring jug when I was holding it!

Exploded into a million pieces, I was left with a handful of fresh air instead of the handle. Did have a couple of scratches on my face but thank God nothing went in my eyes.

Yaya26 · 16/06/2022 01:13

ErrolTheDragon · 15/06/2022 23:42

It's something that can happen to glass shower doors, particularly if they've been fitted with a bit too much tension or suchlike.

Don't worry, it's just physics.

Yes this was m thoughts too

WestHamAreMassive · 16/06/2022 01:34

I was in Reiss in Bluewater years ago and a huge glass panel exploded into a million pieces right next to me! Cut on my toe but otherwise uninjured.

Squiff70 · 16/06/2022 01:43

I've never heard of this happening before, however the OP's comment about not being able to see any obvious damage when the whole shower screen is shattered on the floor did make me laugh.

Grotbag81 · 16/06/2022 01:44

I had a garden table do this right in front of us the whole thing just shattered into pieces - no one was hurt.