Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

Recently, we have seen numerous 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? Hold that thought! First, we wanted to try and cut through the drama, confusion and inaccurate info to share a review 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. But several 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 worthless to invest in a gas stove, whether or not they are actually banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the focus of debate 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 excellent. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has studied this issue in-depth, sharing findings that indicate indoor levels of airborne pollutants could be two to five times — and on occasion more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Even though gas stoves may contribute to 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, 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.
• Construction Materials and Furnishings: Paints, carpeting, fiberglass, particle board and fabrics may emit 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.
• Nearby Soil: Radon gas and humidity may enter the home through the basement or crawl space from the foundation surrounding the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: It may seem counter-intuitive, 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 well-known practices for residential ventilation and acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are known by industry experts as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have widely adopted these standards to identify minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in an effort to reduce any negative 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 tested or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly reliant on the local environment outdoors, the square footage of the home and other factors. The true ventilation performance in your average American home is not easily determined.

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 be forced to decide between your gas stove and the potential for lower 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 ventilated 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 dramatically improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still enabling you to be the #1 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 option might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 866-397-3787.