Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

Recently, we have seen numerous news stories concerning the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating, air conditioning and plumbing company writing about gas stoves? We'll tell you in a moment! First, we wanted to try and cut through the hype, confusion and inaccurate info to provide a summary of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are close to 40 million gas stoves in the kitchens of American families 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 a growing decarbonization, specifically in new construction properties. This will make it much less worthwhile to invest in a gas stove, whether or not they are actually banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the target of controversy due to several recent studies that have indicated that emissions from gas stoves may be dangerous to your health. Namely, it’s causing respiratory illness and asthma.

Fact #3:

The air within our homes (and businesses) is much less than excellent. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed reports that indicate indoor levels of airborne pollutants can be two to five times — and sometimes more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

While gas stoves may contribute 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 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 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.
• The Soil: Radon gas and stormwater runoff may enter the home via the basement or crawl space from the soil around the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: It may seem counter-intuitive, 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 well-known standards for residential ventilation and acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are more commonly known as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have largely adopted these standards to identify minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in order to minimize any harmful effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for everyone.

That being said, the ultimate performance of your ventilation is not directly tested or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly predicated 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 preference. 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 possibility for lower indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real secret to this debate.

First, anytime 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 released out of your home. But let’s be honest: how often do any of us use the fan on the range hood?

Which leads to our next point. There are much more effective whole-home ventilation products that will significantly improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still enabling you to be the top chef in your home. Read on to find out 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 gas stoves and which solution might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 602-906-0111.