Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In recent months, 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! First, we wanted to try and cut through the excitement, confusion and misinformation to share 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 Man” is not coming for your gas stove. But several cities — and some states — are already transitioning away from natural gas as part of a growing decarbonization, especially in new construction properties. This will make it worthless to purchase a gas stove, despite what lawmakers are talking about.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the focus of controversy due to some recent studies that have indicated that emissions from gas stoves may be harmful to your health. Namely, leading to respiratory illness and asthma.

Fact #3:

The air within our homes (and businesses) is much less than perfect. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) references studies that indicate indoor levels of airborne pollutants could be two to five times — and on occasion more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

While 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, tobacco 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: Many popular 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 soil 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 natural, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are formal practices 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 largely adopted these standards to determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in an effort to reduce adverse effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for the entire household.

That being said, the overall performance of your ventilation is not directly assessed or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly reliant on the local environment outdoors, the square footage of the home and other factors. The actual ventilation performance in your average American home may vary.

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 pick between your gas stove and the potential for poor indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real key 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 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 more suitable whole-home ventilation solutions that will consistently improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still enabling you to be the #1 chef in your home. Read on to find out 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 solution might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 804-548-4480.