Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

Recently, we have seen numerous news stories pertaining to the potential ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating and cooling company talking about gas stoves? We'll tell you in a moment! First, we wanted to try and cut through the excitement, confusion and inaccurate info to present a recap of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are an estimated 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 transitioning away from natural gas as part of a growing decarbonization, particularly in new construction properties. 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 focus of arguments due to multiple recent investigations that have indicated that emissions from gas stoves may be harmful 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 perfect. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed reports that indicate indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Even though gas stoves may contribute to poor indoor air quality, they obviously aren’t the only cause. 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 unhealthy 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.
• 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: Naturally there are energy savings benefits, but homes that are well insulated are “sealed tighter” and as a result won’t have as much infiltration from fresh, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are formal practices for residential ventilation and acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are often referred to as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have largely adopted these standards to establish minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in order to decrease adverse 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 assessed or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly predicated on climate conditions outdoors, the size 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 trash your gas stove and replace it with electric, and you also don’t have to choose between your gas stove and the possibility for poorer indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real secret to this debate.

First, whenever you prepare a meal 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 honestly: how often do any of us use the fan on the range hood?

Which leads to our next point. There are more suitable whole-home ventilation strategies that will significantly 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 possible solutions for your home.

So, why is a HVAC company talking 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 solution might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at (713) 352-7887.