Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen several news stories pertaining to the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is an HVAC company talking about gas stoves? Hold that thought! First of all, we wanted to try and cut through the excitement, confusion and inaccurate info to provide a summary of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are close to 40 million gas stoves in the U.S. and no, “the Fed” is not coming for your gas stove. However, dozens of cities — and some states — are already moving away from natural gas as part of efforts to reduce emissions, particularly in new construction homes. This will make it pointless to invest in a gas stove, despite what lawmakers are talking about.

Fact #2:

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

Fact #3:

The air within our homes (and businesses) is much less than excellent. 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 on occasion more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

Even though gas stoves may play a role in poor indoor air quality, they obviously aren’t the only cause. Others might 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 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 emit harmful 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.
• The Soil: Radon gas and moisture may enter the home through the basement or crawl space from the soil around the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: It may seem counter-intuitive, but homes that are well insulated are “sealed tighter” and as a result won’t have as much infiltration from natural, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are formal standards for residential ventilation and suitable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are often referred to as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have widely embraced these standards to determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures so that you can minimize adverse effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for the entire household.

That being said, the ultimate performance of your ventilation is not directly tested or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly reliant on the local environment outdoors, the square footage of the home and other factors. The actual ventilation performance in a typical home may vary.

Fact #5:

It’s still entirely your preference. You don’t have to say goodbye to your gas stove and replace it with electric, and you also don’t have to choose between your gas stove and the prospect for poor indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real answer to this debate.

First, each time you prepare a meal with a gas stove, you should use the fan on your range hood so the combustion byproducts like smoke and CO gas are safety released 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 much more effective whole-home ventilation products 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 find out more about the available 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 587-404-0790.