Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In recent months, we have seen many news stories regarding the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating and cooling 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 misinformation to share a recap of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are an estimated 40 million gas stoves in the United States and no, “the Man” is not coming for your gas stove. Yet several cities — and some states — are already transitioning away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce CO2, particularly in new construction properties. 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 arguments due to some recent reports that have indicated that emissions from gas stoves may be dangerous 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 completed reports that indicate indoor levels of pollutants can be two to five times — and sometimes more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Even though gas stoves may help lead to poor indoor air quality, they certainly are not the only culprit. 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 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 produce 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 moisture may enter the home via the basement or crawl space from the soil bordering the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: Naturally there are energy savings benefits, but homes that are well insulated are “more restrictive” and as a result won’t have as much infiltration from fresh, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are common guidelines 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 largely embraced these standards to determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in an effort to reduce any harmful effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for you and your family.

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 weather outdoors, the square footage of the home and other factors. The precise ventilation performance in your average American home fluctuates widely.

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 pick between your gas stove and the potential for lower indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real key to this debate.

First, anytime you prepare meals with a gas stove, you should 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 is 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 "Bobby Flay" chef in your home. Read on to learn more about the available 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 217-689-2469.