Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen a number of news stories regarding the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is an HVAC company talking about gas stoves? Hold that thought! First, we wanted to try and cut through the hype, confusion and misinformation to share a recap of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are approximately 40 million gas stoves in the kitchens of American families and no, “the Fed” is not coming for your gas stove. Yet several cities — and some states — are already moving away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce CO2, specifically in new construction homes. This will make it much less worthwhile to buy a gas stove, whether or not they are actually banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the focus of debate due to some recent investigations that have suggested 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 excellent. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has studied this issue in-depth, sharing findings that indicate indoor levels of airborne pollutants can be two to five times — and on occasion more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Although gas stoves may contribute to poor indoor air quality, they obviously aren’t the only cause. Others might 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 natural gas (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 release harmful substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), another common indoor allergen, through what’s known as “outgassing.”
• Cleaning Compounds: Household 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 soil bordering the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: Naturally there are energy savings benefits, but homes that are well insulated are “sealed tighter” and as a consequence won’t have as much infiltration from natural, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are common practices for residential ventilation and suitable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are known by industry experts as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have generally adopted these standards to determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in an effort to decrease any negative effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for you and your family.

That being said, the ultimate performance of your ventilation is not directly assessed or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly predicated on the weather outdoors, the size of the home and other factors. The true ventilation performance in your average American home may vary.

Fact #5:

It’s still entirely your choice. You don’t have to rip out 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 secret to this debate.

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

Which takes us 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 enabling you to be the top chef in your home. Read on to learn more about the possible solutions for your home.

So, why is a HVAC company talking 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 727-219-2471.