Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen many news stories regarding 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 hype, confusion and misinformation to present a recap of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are close to 40 million gas stoves in the kitchens of American families and no, “the Fed” is not coming for your gas stove. But dozens of cities — and some states — are already transitioning away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce CO2, especially in new construction homes. This will make it worthless to buy a gas stove, whether or not they are actually banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the target of arguments due to several recent investigations 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 found in our homes (and businesses) is much less than ideal. 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 occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Although gas stoves may contribute to 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 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 release unhealthy substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), another common indoor allergen, through what’s known as “outgassing.”
• Cleaning Compounds: Home cleaning products may produce VOCs or other chemicals.
• The Soil: Radon gas and humidity may enter the home through the basement or crawl space from the foundation around the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: It may seem counter-intuitive, but homes that are well insulated are “more restrictive” 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 largely adopted these standards to determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in an effort to reduce 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 tested or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly reliant on climate conditions outdoors, the size of the home and other factors. The true ventilation performance in the average home is not easily determined.

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 prospect for poor indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real secret to this debate.

First, whenever you prepare meals 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 released out of your home. But let’s be honest: how often do any of us use the fan on the range hood?

Which is our next point. There are more suitable whole-home ventilation strategies 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 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 these appliances and which solution might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 330-269-7235.