Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In recent months, we have seen many news stories regarding the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating, air conditioning and plumbing company talking about gas stoves? We'll tell you in a moment! To begin with, we wanted to try and cut through the drama, confusion and inaccurate info to share a summary of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are an estimated 40 million gas stoves in the United States and no, “the Fed” is not coming for your gas stove. However, dozens of cities — and some states — are already moving away from natural gas as part of a growing decarbonization, especially in new construction properties. This will make it much less worthwhile to invest in a gas stove, whether or not they are actually banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the target of arguments due to multiple recent reports that have indicated that emissions from gas stoves may be hazardous 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 completed reports that indicate indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times — and on occasion more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Although gas stoves may play a role in poor indoor air quality, they obviously aren’t the only cause. 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 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 produce 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 well-known standards for residential ventilation and satisfactory indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are often referred to 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 adverse effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for the entire household.

That being said, the ultimate performance of your ventilation is not directly measured or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly reliant on the weather outdoors, the size of the home and other factors. The true ventilation performance in your average American 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 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 cook with a gas stove, you 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 to be candid: 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 consistently improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still allowing you to be the #1 chef in your home. Read on to learn 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 option might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 901-235-1196.