Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In recent months, we have seen several news stories pertaining to the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating, air conditioning and plumbing company thinking about gas stoves? Hold that thought! First, we wanted to try and cut through the excitement, confusion and inaccurate info to share a recap of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are close to 40 million gas stoves in the United States and no, “the Fed” is not coming for your gas stove. But many cities — and some states — are already moving away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce CO2, particularly in new construction homes. This will make it much less worthwhile to purchase a gas stove, whether or not they are actually banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the target of controversy due to multiple recent reports that have indicated that emissions from gas stoves may be hazardous to your health. Namely, worsening respiratory illness and asthma.

Fact #3:

The air within our homes (and businesses) is much less than ideal. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed reports that indicate indoor levels of pollutants can be two to five times — and sometimes more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

While gas stoves may contribute to 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 fuel (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 emit unhealthy 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 moisture may enter the home through the basement or crawl space from the soil surrounding the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: Naturally there are energy savings benefits, but homes that are well insulated are “more restrictive” and as a consequence won’t have as much infiltration from fresh, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

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

That being said, the final performance of your ventilation is not directly measured or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly dependent on the local environment outdoors, the square footage of the home and other factors. The true ventilation performance in a typical 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, anytime 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 to be candid: 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 products 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 learn 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 system might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 403-279-5760.