Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

Recently, we have seen many news stories concerning the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is an HVAC company talking about gas stoves? We'll tell you in a moment! To begin with, we wanted to try and cut through the hype, confusion and inaccurate info to share a summary 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. But many cities — and some states — are already transitioning away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce CO2, especially in new construction homes. This will make it worthless to invest in a gas stove, whether or not they are actually banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the subject of controversy due to some recent studies 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 within our homes (and businesses) is much less than ideal. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has studied this issue in-depth, sharing findings that indicate indoor levels of airborne pollutants may be two to five times — and sometimes more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Although 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, tobacco smoke and pet dander (a common allergen).
• Other Combustion Appliances: Other 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 unhealthy 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 moisture may enter the home via the basement or crawl space from the foundation around the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: It may seem counter-intuitive, but homes that are well insulated are “sealed up” and as a result won’t have as much infiltration from natural, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are common practices for residential ventilation and satisfactory indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are often referred to as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have widely embraced these standards to establish minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in an effort to decrease adverse 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 assessed or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly predicated on the local environment outdoors, the square footage of the home and other factors. The actual ventilation performance in a typical home is not easily determined.

Fact #5:

It’s still entirely your preference. You don’t have to say goodbye to 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 prospect for lower indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real secret to this debate.

First, each time 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 properly released out of your home. But to be candid: 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 solutions that will dramatically improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still allowing you to be the top chef in your home. Read on to find out more about the potential solutions for your home.

So, why is a HVAC company writing 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 210-404-4233.