Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In recent months, we have seen a number of news stories pertaining to the potential ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is an HVAC company thinking about gas stoves? We'll tell you in a moment! To begin with, we wanted to try and cut through the drama, confusion and inaccurate info to provide a recap of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are approximately 40 million gas stoves in the United States and no, “the Fed” is not coming for your gas stove. Yet dozens of cities — and some states — are already moving away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce emissions, particularly in new construction properties. This will make it much less worthwhile to invest in a gas stove, despite what lawmakers are talking about.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the focus of debate due to several recent investigations that have indicated that emissions from gas stoves may be hazardous 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 perfect. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has studied this issue in-depth, sharing findings that indicate indoor levels of airborne pollutants can be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Although gas stoves may contribute to poor indoor air quality, they obviously aren’t the only cause. Others could 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.
• Construction Materials and Furnishings: Paints, carpeting, fiberglass, particle board and fabrics may produce harmful 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 via the basement or crawl space from the foundation surrounding the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: While there are significant energy efficiency benefits, homes that are well insulated are “more restrictive” and as a result won’t have as much infiltration from natural, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are well-known guidelines for residential ventilation and acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are often referred to as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have widely followed these standards to establish minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in order to minimize any harmful effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for everyone.

That being said, the overall performance of your ventilation is not directly measured or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly dependent on the weather outdoors, the square footage of the home and other factors. The precise 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 choose between your gas stove and the prospect for poor indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real secret to this debate.

First, each time you cook with a gas stove, you ought to use the fan on your range hood so the combustion byproducts like smoke and CO gas are properly discharged out of your home. But to be candid: how often do any of us use the fan on the range hood?

Which takes us to our next point. There are better whole-home ventilation strategies that will consistently improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still enabling you to be the master chef in your home. Read on to find out more about the possible 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 308-210-4398.