Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

In the past few months, we have seen a number of news stories concerning the possible ban of gas stoves used for cooking. So why is a heating and cooling company thinking about gas stoves? We'll tell you in a moment! First of all, we wanted to try and cut through the excitement, 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. However, many cities — and some states — are already transitioning away from natural gas as part of a growing decarbonization, particularly in new construction properties. This will make it pointless to buy a gas stove, whether or not they are actually banned.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the focus of debate due to some recent studies that have implied that emissions from gas stoves may be dangerous to your health. Namely, worsening respiratory illness and asthma.

Fact #3:

The air found in our homes (and businesses) is much less than perfect. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has studied this issue in-depth, sharing findings that indicate indoor levels of pollutants can be two to five times — and sometimes more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.

While gas stoves may contribute 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 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: Home cleaning products may produce VOCs or other chemicals.
• Nearby Soil: Radon gas and stormwater runoff may enter the home through the basement or crawl space from the foundation around the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: It may seem counter-intuitive, but homes that are well insulated are “sealed up” and as a result won’t have as much infiltration from fresh, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are well-known practices 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 establish minimum ventilation requirements and other measures so that you can minimize any harmful effects on your health, resolving both health and safety problems for you and your family.

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

Fact #5:

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 lower indoor air quality. Proper and consistent ventilation is the real key to this debate.

First, each time you prepare meals 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 is our next point. There are much more effective whole-home ventilation strategies 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 find out 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 option might be best for your home, contact Service Experts at 716-427-6807.