Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen many news stories concerning the potential ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is an HVAC company thinking about gas stoves? We'll tell you in a moment! First of all, we wanted to try and cut through the hype, confusion and inaccurate info to share a review 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. However, 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 pointless to purchase a gas stove, despite what lawmakers are talking about.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the focus of arguments due to some recent investigations that have implied that emissions from gas stoves may be hazardous to your health. Namely, it’s causing respiratory illness and asthma.

Fact #3:

The air inside 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 pollutants could be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

While gas stoves may play a role in poor indoor air quality, they certainly are not the only culprit. Others may 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 natural 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 emit 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 humidity 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 up” 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 known by industry experts as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have widely embraced these standards to determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures so that you can minimize 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 measured or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly reliant on climate conditions outdoors, the square footage of the home and other factors. The precise ventilation performance in the average home fluctuates widely.

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 choose between your gas stove and the possibility for lower indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real secret to this debate.

First, each time you prepare a meal with a gas stove, you really should use the fan on your range hood so the combustion byproducts like smoke and CO gas are safety released 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 much more effective whole-home ventilation strategies that will dramatically improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still allowing you to be the "Bobby Flay" chef in your home. Read on to find out 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 these appliances and which solution might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 919-578-4329.