Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen a number of news stories concerning the potential ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating, air conditioning and plumbing company talking about gas stoves? We'll tell you in a moment! First of all, we wanted to try and cut through the excitement, confusion and misinformation to provide a review of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are an estimated 40 million gas stoves in the United States and no, “the government” is not coming for your gas stove. But dozens of cities — and some states — are already moving away from natural gas as part of a growing decarbonization, especially in new construction properties. This will make it much less worthwhile to buy a gas stove, despite what lawmakers are talking about.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the subject of arguments due to some recent reports 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) references studies that indicate indoor levels of pollutants can be two to five times — and sometimes more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Although gas stoves may play a role in poor indoor air quality, they obviously aren’t the only cause. Others may 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.
• Building 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: Household cleaning products may produce VOCs or other chemicals.
• The Soil: Radon gas and stormwater runoff 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 consequence 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 more commonly known as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have generally followed these standards to determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures so that you can decrease adverse effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for the entire household.

That being said, the ultimate performance of your ventilation is not directly measured or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly predicated on the weather outdoors, the square footage of the home and other factors. The actual ventilation performance in a typical home may vary.

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 pick between your gas stove and the prospect for poorer indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real key 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 safety ventilated 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 #1 chef in your home. Read on to find out more about the possible 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 system might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 780-800-7092.