Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In recent months, we have seen several news stories concerning 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! First of all, 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 approximately 40 million gas stoves in the kitchens of American families and no, “the Man” is not coming for your gas stove. But dozens of cities — and some states — are already moving away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce CO2, particularly in new construction homes. This will make it much less worthwhile to invest in a gas stove, even if they haven’t been banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the subject of controversy due to multiple recent studies that have suggested that emissions from gas stoves may be hazardous to your health. Namely, worsening 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 on occasion more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Even though gas stoves may help lead to poor indoor air quality, they are definitely not the only factor. Others might 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 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 unhealthy 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: It may seem counter-intuitive, 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 suitable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are more commonly known as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have generally adopted these standards to determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures so that you can 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 assessed or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly predicated on the local environment outdoors, the square footage of the home and other factors. The true ventilation performance in your average American home fluctuates widely.

Fact #5:

It’s still entirely your preference. You don’t have to rip out your gas stove and replace it with electric, and you also don’t have to choose between your gas stove and the prospect for poorer 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 is our next point. There are better whole-home ventilation products that will consistently improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still allowing you to be the top chef in your home. Read on to learn more about the potential solutions for your home.

So, why is a HVAC company thinking 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 925-384-1303.