Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen numerous news stories concerning the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating and cooling company thinking 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 review of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are an estimated 40 million gas stoves in the U.S. and no, “the government” is not coming for your gas stove. Yet dozens of cities — and some states — are already transitioning away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce CO2, particularly in new construction properties. This will make it worthless to invest in a gas stove, despite what lawmakers are talking about.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the subject of arguments due to some recent investigations that have implied that emissions from gas stoves may be dangerous to your health. Namely, leading to 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 completed reports that indicate indoor levels of airborne pollutants can be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Although gas stoves may contribute to poor indoor air quality, they are definitely not the only factor. Others may 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 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 stormwater runoff may enter the home via the basement or crawl space from the foundation surrounding the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: While there are significant energy efficiency benefits, 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 common 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 followed these standards to determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in order to decrease any negative 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 tested or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly dependent on the local environment outdoors, the size of the home and other factors. The true ventilation performance in a typical home fluctuates widely.

Fact #5:

It’s still entirely your choice. 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 potential for poor 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 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 to be candid: how often do any of us use the fan on the range hood?

Which is our next point. There are better whole-home ventilation solutions that will consistently improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still enabling you to be the master chef in your home. Read on to learn 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 option might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 866-397-3787.