Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen several news stories pertaining to the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating, air conditioning and plumbing company talking about gas stoves? More on that question later! First, we wanted to try and cut through the hype, confusion and inaccurate info to present a review of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are close to 40 million gas stoves in the kitchens of American families and no, “the Man” is not coming for your gas stove. However, dozens of cities — and some states — are already moving away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce CO2, specifically in new construction homes. This will make it much less worthwhile to buy a gas stove, even if they haven’t been banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the focus of arguments due to several recent reports that have indicated that emissions from gas stoves may be dangerous to your health. Namely, it’s causing respiratory illness and asthma.

Fact #3:

The air found in our homes (and businesses) is much less than ideal. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has studied this issue in-depth, sharing findings that indicate indoor levels of pollutants can be two to five times — and on occasion more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Although gas stoves may help lead to poor indoor air quality, they are definitely not the only factor. Others might be:

• Occupants Within the Home: People and pets at home produce carbon dioxide (CO2), odors, cigarette smoke and pet dander (a common allergen).
• Other Combustion Appliances: Other fuel (or wood/oil burning) appliances such as space heaters, fireplaces, furnaces and water heaters.
• Building Materials and Furnishings: Paints, carpeting, fiberglass, particle board and fabrics may produce unhealthy substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), another common indoor allergen, through what’s known as “outgassing.”
• Cleaning Compounds: Home cleaning products may produce VOCs or other chemicals.
• The Soil: Radon gas and humidity may enter the home through the basement or crawl space from the soil around the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: Naturally there are energy savings benefits, but homes that are well insulated are “sealed up” and as a consequence won’t have as much infiltration from natural, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are formal guidelines for residential ventilation and suitable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are often referred to as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have widely adopted these standards to establish minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in an effort to reduce any harmful effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for the entire household.

That being said, the final performance of your ventilation is not directly measured or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly predicated on climate conditions outdoors, the size of the home and other factors. The actual ventilation performance in your average American home fluctuates widely.

Fact #5:

It’s still entirely your preference. You don’t have to trash your gas stove and replace it with electric, and you also don’t have to be forced to decide between your gas stove and the potential for lower indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real key to this debate.

First, anytime you prepare a meal with a gas stove, you should use the fan on your range hood so the combustion byproducts like smoke and CO gas are safety discharged out of your home. But let’s be honest: how often do any of us use the fan on the range hood?

Which is our next point. There are more suitable whole-home ventilation strategies that will consistently improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still allowing you to be the "Bobby Flay" chef in your home. Read on to learn more about the available solutions for your home.

So, why is a HVAC company talking about gas stoves? Well, the “V” in HVAC stands for “Ventilation” and “There’s an Expert for That”! To learn more about these appliances and which solution might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 251-202-7503.