Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In recent months, we have seen numerous news stories concerning the potential ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is an HVAC company thinking about gas stoves? More on that question later! 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 an estimated 40 million gas stoves in the kitchens of American families and no, “the government” is not coming for your gas stove. However, several cities — and some states — are already moving away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce emissions, particularly 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 target of debate due to several recent studies that have implied that emissions from gas stoves may be harmful to your health. Namely, worsening respiratory illness and asthma.

Fact #3:

The air found in 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 on occasion more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Even though gas stoves may contribute 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, 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 emit 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 humidity may enter the home through the basement or crawl space from the soil around the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: While there are significant energy efficiency benefits, homes that are well insulated are “more restrictive” and as a consequence won’t have as much infiltration from fresh, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are formal guidelines 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 generally embraced these standards to determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures so that you can minimize any harmful 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 dependent on climate conditions outdoors, the size of the home and other factors. The precise ventilation performance in your average American 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 be forced to decide between your gas stove and the possibility for poorer indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real key to this debate.

First, each time 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 safety 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 #1 chef in your home. Read on to learn more about the available 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 these appliances and which system might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 912-208-2399.