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 talking about gas stoves? More on that question later! First of all, we wanted to try and cut through the excitement, confusion and misinformation to present a summary of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are approximately 40 million gas stoves in the kitchens of American families 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 homes. This will make it pointless to buy a gas stove, even if they haven’t been banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the target of debate due to several recent reports that have indicated that emissions from gas stoves may be hazardous to your health. Namely, leading to 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 airborne pollutants can be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Even though gas stoves may play a role in poor indoor air quality, they certainly are not the only culprit. Others may 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 natural gas (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 release 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.
• Nearby Soil: Radon gas and humidity may enter the home via the basement or crawl space from the soil surrounding 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 common practices 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 determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures so that you can decrease adverse effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for you and your family.

That being said, the final performance of your ventilation is not directly tested or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly predicated on the local environment outdoors, the size of the home and other factors. The precise ventilation performance in the average home may vary.

Fact #5:

It’s still entirely your preference. You don’t have to say goodbye to 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 answer to this debate.

First, each time you prepare meals 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 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 better whole-home ventilation strategies that will dramatically 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 possible 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 system might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 843-619-3781.