Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen several news stories regarding the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating and cooling company writing about gas stoves? More on that question later! To begin with, we wanted to try and cut through the drama, confusion and misinformation to provide a review of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are an estimated 40 million gas stoves in the U.S. and no, “the Fed” is not coming for your gas stove. But many cities — and some states — are already moving away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce CO2, especially in new construction homes. This will make it much less worthwhile to purchase a gas stove, whether or not they are actually banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the target of arguments due to some recent investigations that have indicated that emissions from gas stoves may be harmful to your health. Namely, leading to respiratory illness and asthma.

Fact #3:

The air within our homes (and businesses) is much less than perfect. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed reports that indicate indoor levels of pollutants could be two to five times — and sometimes more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

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

• Occupants Within the Home: People and pets at home produce carbon dioxide (CO2), odors, vape smoke and pet dander (a common allergen).
• Other Combustion Appliances: Other gas (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 release harmful substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), another common indoor allergen, through what’s known as “outgassing.”
• Cleaning Compounds: Household cleaning products may produce VOCs or other chemicals.
• The Soil: Radon gas and moisture may enter the home through 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 “sealed tighter” and as a result won’t have as much infiltration from natural, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are formal standards for residential ventilation and satisfactory indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are more commonly known as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have widely embraced these standards to identify minimum ventilation requirements and other measures so that you can decrease any negative effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for everyone.

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

Fact #5:

It’s still entirely your choice. 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 possibility for poorer indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real secret to this debate.

First, whenever 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 safety discharged out of your home. But honestly: how often do any of us use the fan on the range hood?

Which leads to our next point. There are better whole-home ventilation products that will significantly improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still allowing you to be the "Bobby Flay" chef in your home. Read on to find out more about the potential solutions for your home.

So, why is a HVAC company writing about gas stoves? Well, the “V” in HVAC stands for “Ventilation” and “There’s an Expert for That”! To learn more about gas stoves and which solution might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 318-588-8163.