Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen several news stories concerning the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating, air conditioning and plumbing company talking about gas stoves? We'll tell you in a moment! To begin with, we wanted to try and cut through the hype, confusion and misinformation to present a recap of the facts and only the facts:

Fact #1:

There are an estimated 40 million gas stoves in the United States and no, “the government” is not coming for your gas stove. But several cities — and some states — are already moving away from natural gas as part of a growing decarbonization, especially in new construction homes. This will make it pointless 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 investigations that have implied that emissions from gas stoves may be hazardous to your health. Namely, worsening respiratory illness and asthma.

Fact #3:

The air inside our homes (and businesses) is much less than perfect. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) references studies that indicate indoor levels of airborne 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 are definitely not the only factor. Others may be:

• Occupants Within the Home: People and pets at home produce carbon dioxide (CO2), odors, vape 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 release harmful substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), another common indoor allergen, through what’s known as “outgassing.”
• Cleaning Compounds: Home cleaning products may produce VOCs or other chemicals.
• Nearby Soil: Radon gas and humidity may enter the home via 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 tighter” and as a consequence won’t have as much infiltration from fresh, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are well-known standards for residential ventilation and satisfactory indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are known by industry experts as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have generally adopted these standards to establish minimum ventilation requirements and other measures in an effort to decrease adverse effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for the entire household.

That being said, the overall performance of your ventilation is not directly tested or audited. Even if it was, it’s highly dependent on the local environment outdoors, the size of the home and other factors. The actual ventilation performance in your average American home is not easily determined.

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 be forced to decide between your gas stove and the prospect for lower indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real answer to this debate.

First, whenever 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 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 better 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 writing 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 solution might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 215-278-9690.