Recently, we have seen several news stories regarding the potential ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating, air conditioning and plumbing company talking about gas stoves? More on that question later! To begin with, we wanted to try and cut through the hype, confusion and misinformation to provide a summary of the facts and only the facts:
There are approximately 40 million gas stoves in the U.S. and no, “the Man” 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 emissions, particularly in new construction homes. This will make it worthless to buy a gas stove, even if they haven’t been banned.
Gas stoves have been the focus of controversy due to several recent studies that have implied that emissions from gas stoves may be hazardous to your health. Namely, it’s causing respiratory illness and asthma.
The air inside 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 occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.
Although gas stoves may help lead to poor indoor air quality, they certainly are not the only culprit. Others may be:
There are common guidelines for residential ventilation and acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are more commonly known as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have widely followed these standards to identify minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in order to minimize adverse effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for everyone.
That being said, the overall performance of your ventilation is not directly measured or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly predicated on climate conditions outdoors, the size of the home and other factors. The true ventilation performance in the average home fluctuates widely.
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 prospect for poorer indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real key to this debate.
First, anytime 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 discharged 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 solutions that will consistently improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still allowing you to be the master chef in your home. Read on to learn more about the possible solutions for your home.
Comparison of Whole-Home Residential Ventilation Options
System Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Exhaust Fans | Easy and Inexpensive | Commonly, manually controlled Not energy efficient Not the most reliable for proper ventilation costs |
Outside Air Dampers | Relatively inexpensive Integrated into the HVAC System Adjustable Automatic Ventilation | Not energy efficient May cause air pressurization inside the home May add excess moisture/humidity into the home May negatively impact comfort in cold and more humid climates |
Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) | Energy Efficient Balanced Ventilation throughout the home Adjustable Automatic Ventilation | Pricey May need distribution ducting Installation may be problematic in retrofit applications |
So, why is a HVAC company talking 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 Parker Pearce Service Experts at .
The conventional path of going to college after high school doesn’t suit everyone. If you’re eager to start a career, particularly in a skilled trade like heating and air conditioning, you might be looking for alternatives that provide financial security and room for professional... Continue reading
With the celebration of Earth Day a short time ago and spring cleaning on the minds of many homeowners, it’s the perfect time to make homes more earth-friendly and energy efficient. The fact is, with only a few small, economical changes, homeowners could be on their way to saving 20% or more on... Continue reading
You have likely heard that installing a programmable thermostat can reduce your heating and cooling costs. While this is certainly true, you don’t instantly save just by replacing your old manual thermostat for a programmable one. To make the most of your savings, you must select, set up and use... Continue reading
© 2023 Service Experts, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, and the Service Experts logo and design are registered trademarks of Service Experts LLC and used under license by SE Canada Inc. All Rights Reserved. *Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.