Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen numerous news stories concerning the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating, air conditioning and plumbing company talking about gas stoves? We'll tell you in a moment! First, we wanted to try and cut through the hype, confusion and inaccurate info to share a review of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

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

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the target of controversy due to multiple recent investigations that have suggested that emissions from gas stoves may be dangerous to your health. Namely, worsening respiratory illness and asthma.

Fact #3:

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

Although gas stoves may play a role in poor indoor air quality, they are definitely not the only factor. Others could 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 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 unhealthy substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), another common indoor allergen, through what’s known as “outgassing.”
• Cleaning Compounds: Many popular cleaning products may produce VOCs or other chemicals.
• Nearby Soil: Radon gas and humidity may enter the home through the basement or crawl space from the foundation around the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: Naturally there are energy savings benefits, but homes that are well insulated are “sealed tighter” and as a consequence won’t have as much infiltration from fresh, 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 followed these standards to establish minimum ventilation requirements and other measures so that you can decrease any negative effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for the entire household.

That being said, the overall performance of your ventilation is not directly assessed or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly dependent on climate conditions outdoors, the size of the home and other factors. The true ventilation performance in a typical home is not easily determined.

Fact #5:

It’s still entirely your choice. You don’t have to rip out 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 possibility for lower indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real secret to this debate.

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

Which takes us to our next point. There are more suitable whole-home ventilation strategies that will significantly improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still allowing you to be the master chef in your home. Read on to learn 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 these appliances and which system might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 304-760-5088.