Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen many news stories regarding the potential 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 of all, we wanted to try and cut through the drama, confusion and inaccurate info to present a recap of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are approximately 40 million gas stoves in the U.S. and no, “the Man” is not coming for your gas stove. Yet dozens of cities — and some states — are already moving away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce CO2, especially in new construction properties. This will make it pointless to buy a gas stove, even if they haven’t been banned.

Fact #2:

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

Fact #3:

The air inside our homes (and businesses) is much less than perfect. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has studied this issue in-depth, sharing findings that indicate indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times — and sometimes more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Although gas stoves may play a role in poor indoor air quality, they are definitely not the only factor. 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.
• Construction Materials and Furnishings: Paints, carpeting, fiberglass, particle board and fabrics may release unhealthy 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.
• Nearby Soil: Radon gas and stormwater runoff may enter the home via the basement or crawl space from the foundation around the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: While there are significant energy efficiency benefits, homes that are well insulated are “sealed up” and as a consequence won’t have as much infiltration from fresh, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are well-known practices for residential ventilation and suitable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are often referred to as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have widely embraced these standards to identify minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in an effort to reduce any harmful effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for everyone.

That being said, the final performance of your ventilation is not directly tested 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 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 prospect for poor 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 ought to use the fan on your range hood so the combustion byproducts like smoke and CO gas are properly discharged 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 significantly improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still allowing you to be the #1 chef in your home. Read on to find out more about the potential 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 system might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 352-414-4006.