Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

Recently, we have seen numerous news stories concerning the potential ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is an HVAC company talking about gas stoves? Hold that thought! First of all, we wanted to try and cut through the excitement, confusion and inaccurate info to present 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 government” is not coming for your gas stove. However, many cities — and some states — are already transitioning away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce CO2, particularly 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 focus of arguments due to multiple recent reports 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 inside our homes (and businesses) is much less than ideal. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) references studies that indicate indoor levels of airborne pollutants may 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 obviously aren’t the only cause. 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 fuel (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 emit harmful 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 stormwater runoff may enter the home via the basement or crawl space from the soil bordering the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: While there are significant energy efficiency benefits, 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 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 identify minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in order to decrease 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 tested or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly reliant on the local environment outdoors, the size of the home and other factors. The precise ventilation performance in a typical 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 be forced to decide between your gas stove and the potential for poor indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real answer to this debate.

First, anytime 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 ventilated out of your home. But honestly: 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 dramatically improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still enabling you to be the master chef in your home. Read on to find out 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 these appliances and which solution might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 226-773-3357.