Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In recent months, we have seen numerous news stories pertaining to the potential ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is an HVAC company thinking about gas stoves? More on that question later! First of all, we wanted to try and cut through the drama, confusion and inaccurate info to provide a recap of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are close to 40 million gas stoves in the U.S. and no, “the government” is not coming for your gas stove. Yet dozens of cities — and some states — are already transitioning away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce emissions, specifically in new construction homes. This will make it worthless to purchase a gas stove, even if they haven’t been banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the target of arguments due to some recent reports that have implied that emissions from gas stoves may be dangerous to your health. Namely, leading to respiratory illness and asthma.

Fact #3:

The air found in our homes (and businesses) is much less than excellent. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) references studies that indicate indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

While gas stoves may play a role in 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, tobacco smoke and pet dander (a common allergen).
• Other Combustion Appliances: Other 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 emit harmful 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.
• The Soil: Radon gas and stormwater runoff may enter the home through the basement or crawl space from the soil bordering 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 common standards for residential ventilation and suitable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are known by industry experts as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have largely followed these standards to determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in order to decrease any negative effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for you and your family.

That being said, the overall performance of your ventilation is not directly tested or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly predicated on climate conditions outdoors, the size of the home and other factors. The actual ventilation performance in the average home fluctuates widely.

Fact #5:

It’s still entirely your preference. You don’t have to trash your gas stove and replace it with electric, and you also don’t have to choose between your gas stove and the possibility 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 really should use the fan on your range hood so the combustion byproducts like smoke and CO gas are properly released out of your home. But honestly: how often do any of us use the fan on the range hood?

Which takes us to our next point. There are much more effective whole-home ventilation products 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 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 Service Experts at 301-476-4577.