Is This Really The End for Gas Stoves?

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

Fact #1:

There are an estimated 40 million gas stoves in the U.S. 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 efforts to reduce CO2, specifically in new construction homes. This will make it much less worthwhile to invest in a gas stove, despite what lawmakers are talking about.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have been the focus of debate due to some recent reports 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 ideal. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) references studies that indicate indoor levels of airborne pollutants could 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, 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 produce 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.
• The Soil: Radon gas and moisture may enter the home via the basement or crawl space from the soil surrounding the home.
• Well-Insulated Homes: While there are significant energy efficiency benefits, homes that are well insulated are “more restrictive” and as a consequence won’t have as much infiltration from natural, outdoor air.

Fact #4:

There are well-known guidelines for residential ventilation and acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels. These guidelines are more commonly known as the ASHRAE 60.2 standard. Local building codes have largely embraced these standards to determine minimum ventilation requirements and other measures so that you can reduce adverse 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 predicated on the weather outdoors, the square footage 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 choice. 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 potential for poorer 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 ventilated out of your home. But let’s be honest: how often do any of us use the fan on the range hood?

Which takes us to our next point. There are more suitable whole-home ventilation solutions that will consistently improve your indoor air quality and home comfort while still allowing you to be the "Bobby Flay" chef in your home. Read on to learn more about the possible 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 615-953-9885.