Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen several news stories concerning 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, 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 Man” is not coming for your gas stove. But many cities — and some states — are already transitioning away from natural gas as part of a growing decarbonization, especially in new construction homes. This will make it worthless to buy a gas stove, despite what lawmakers are talking about.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the subject of debate due to multiple recent reports that have implied 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 could be two to five times — and sometimes more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Even though gas stoves may play a role in poor indoor air quality, they certainly are not the only culprit. Others could 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 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 release 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 humidity may enter the home through the basement or crawl space from the foundation bordering the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: Naturally there are energy savings benefits, but homes that are well insulated are “sealed tighter” and as a result won’t have as much infiltration from fresh, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are formal 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 largely followed these standards to identify minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in an effort to minimize any harmful effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for everyone.

That being said, the ultimate performance of your ventilation is not directly tested or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly dependent on climate conditions outdoors, the square footage of the home and other factors. The true ventilation performance in your average American home is not easily determined.

Fact #5:

It’s still entirely your choice. You don’t have to trash your gas stove and replace it with electric, and you also don’t have to pick between your gas stove and the possibility for lower indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real answer 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 ventilated out of your home. But let’s be honest: how often do any of us use the fan on the range hood?

Which leads to our next point. There are more suitable whole-home ventilation products that will consistently improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still enabling you to be the top chef in your home. Read on to learn more about the possible 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 solution might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 440-252-1375.