Do Gas Stoves Have a Short Future?

Recently, some news stories have been about the prospective ban on using gas stoves for cooking. So why would a company that deals in plumbing, heating, and air conditioning choose gas stoves? Soon, we'll let you know! To give an evaluation of the facts—and only the facts—we first tried to cut through the hysteria, misinformation, and drama.

Fact #1: 

nearly 40 million gas stoves are used in American households, and no, "the Fed" is not coming for your stove. But many cities and states are already moving away from natural gas as part of growing decarbonization, particularly in newly constructed homes. This will make gas stoves obsolete, even if they are still legal.

Fact #2:

Gas stoves have come under scrutiny due to a recent study that suggested that their emissions may be harmful to your health. In particular, it's contributing to respiratory issues like asthma.

Fact #3: 

The indoor air quality in our homes and workplaces is subpar. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that indoor pollution levels can occasionally be two to five times higher than outside levels, exceeding 100 times the latter.

Gas stoves might be part of the problem, but they aren't the only ones. Other people could be:

• People and animals live in the house, giving off carbon dioxide (CO2), smells, tobacco smoke, and pet dander, a common allergen.

• Extra fuel (or wood/oil burning) apparatus space heaters, fireplaces, furnaces, and water heaters, among other fuel-burning devices.

• Building supplies and furniture Another common indoor allergy is volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be released from paints, carpets, fiberglass, particle board, and fabrics through a process called "outgassing."

• Cleaning products: Household cleaning products may generate VOCs or other pollutants.

• The Ground: Radon gas and dampness may flow into the house through the basement or crawl space from the home's foundation.

• Even though well-insulated homes save a lot of energy, they are "closed up," which means less fresh air from the outside will get in.

Fact 4: 

There are clear guidelines for what is considered good indoor air quality (IAQ) and how much ventilation a home needs. The ASHRAE 60.2 standard is a common name for these suggestions. Most local building codes have used these suggestions to set minimum requirements for ventilation and other safety measures to protect people's health. This takes care of your and your family's health and safety concerns.

• However, the total effectiveness of the ventilation system is not formally assessed or audited. Even if it were, a lot would depend on the weather outside, how big the house was, and other factors. In a normal home, true ventilation performance varies substantially.

• However, the choice is yours. You don't have to replace your gas stove with an electric one or decide whether to keep your gas stove despite the potential for worsening indoor air quality. Proper and ongoing ventilation is the genuine response to this argument.

• To adequately ventilate smoke and CO gas from your home, you should always turn on the range hood fan anytime you use a gas stove to cook. How many of us, though, actually use the range hood fan?

• We now get to our next subject. Better choices for whole-house ventilation will greatly improve the quality of the air inside and make you feel more comfortable while still letting you cook delicious meals in your kitchen. To find out more about the different house possibilities, keep reading.

So why would an HVAC company write about gas stoves? The "V" in HVAC stands for ventilation, and "There's an Expert for That"! To learn more about these appliances and which system might be the best option for your home, get in touch with Service Experts at HVAC Repair Guide.