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60" Wolf Gas Range with Proper Ventilation
Should We Ditch Gas Ranges?
In the news recently we have seen and heard how harmful gas ranges can be, but why are we talking about this right now? Gas ovens have been around since the 1800’s and were standard in most homes until fairly recently. Are these harmful side effects something new? What are we supposed to do? Bill & Rod’s Appliance would like to explore with you to see what is happening and discover what can be your best course of action going forward.
Has natural gas always been harmful?
Natural gas ranges have come a long way from those early days of use, but the burn off from the gas remains the same. Those biproducts from the natural gas burn off are Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Formaldehyde; all of which carry a host of side effects to your health. However, there are 2 factors that have contributed to the rise of accumulation of these gases:
- Homes are more airtight than ever before. Better windows, better door seals, and better insulation have done an incredible job of increasing energy efficiency of our homes. This has caused less air to mix into our homes, raising the levels of gases trapped in our homes.
- Higher BTU (British Thermal Units) ratings on ranges has increased the rate and intensity in which natural gas is burned off during use. Residential gas ranges typically 5000 BTUs into the 80’s but manufacturers began to increase those ratings. Many today come standard with 15,000 BTUs with professional style ranges hitting 30,000 – 35,000 BTUs. Many of these more powerful burners are located as the front burners and ventilation completely misses them from collection.
Café Gas Range
What can be done?
There are simple solutions that can be employed that Bill & Rod’s Appliance recommends to help with mitigating the gases accumulating in your home from all sources. Even if your home is not a new build or recently remodeled.
- If you have a vent above your range that is externally exhausted, you can replace it with a deeper hood. This will enhance collection of the gases and expel them from your home. When choosing your hood from Bill & Rod’s Appliance, make sure that it would extend from the back wall past the front burners.
- If you have a vent above your range that is externally exhausted, check the CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute) rating. If it is under 600 CFM on the rating, it is not enough to remove those gases. If your range is larger than 30” wide you should choose a hood that is moving 900 CFM - 1200 CFM to collect the burn off.
- If you have a microwave or non-externally exhausted hood, you will want to crack a window while running the fan to circulate the air and pull in fresh air. Allow the window to remain open 5-10 minutes after cooking to continue expel the gases. While this is not a perfect solution it will help diminish the accumulation of the gases.
KitchenAid Gas Range with Microwave Hood Above
Now for something completely different:
If the idea of all these gases has really got you worried about using a natural gas range, there is another option for cooking. Here at Bill & Rod’s Appliance we are strong supporters of induction cooking. Induction technology uses electromagnetic fields to heat your cookware and is controlled much like gas. When you want heat you have it, when you want it gone you can quickly dial it back. It does take some time to get used to the controls, but once our customers do, they truly enjoy it. This does take a change to your electrical connection on a 50-amp circuit. Check out our post about induction technology to see if it is a fit for you.
Also, you can stop by our showrooms to see all the options available for induction cooktops and ranges. Our expert sales team will be here to help you make the best choice for your family’s needs and wants.
Conclusion:
So what is the answer then, should we ditch our gas ranges? The simple answer is, no. There are things that you should and can do to mitigate the levels of gas in your home. If you stay with natural gas appliances, you will want to make these changes for the health of your family. If you are able to make the switch to induction we highly recommend that. It is efficient, clean, and gives you the ability to control as if you are still cooking with gas.
About Us:
Bill & Rod’s Appliance has come a long way since 1963, and that’s because of you, the customer. We started with just a small storefront, and now we have an entire 10,000 square foot showroom in Livonia and 6300 square foot showroom in White Lake with appliances and grills that fit any need. We carry all the industry’s top brands because we only carry brands we would sell to our friends or family, and we run the business the same way. Buy with confidence with our price match guarantee on appliances and grills that you are always getting the best price. Our top-notch installers work directly for us and will make certain you are satisfied with your appliance installation. We look at each customer as a chance to build a new relationship, and that’s the type of service you will get. Bill & Rod’s Appliance also has expert service and appliance parts department with trained technicians dedicated to making your life easier. We know a new appliance isn’t needed, and sometimes you need that one part or the right expert to work their magic to fix your appliance, and at Bill & Rod’s Appliance, we got you covered. We serve a wide area, so if you are in Livonia, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Canton, Westland, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Northville, Plymouth, Novi, Milford or White Lake, give us a call and let us take some of the stress out of buying an appliance! We are family owned and operated for 3 generations with the same family, and the legacy of quality stands firm. Bill & Rod's Appliance is small enough to care, but big enough to compete. Come join our family and see the difference today!
Livonia Showroom: 15870 Middlebelt Rd., Livonia, MI 48154
White Lake Showroom: 8010 Cooley Lake Rd., White Lake, MI 48386
Website: https://www.billandrodsappliance.com/
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Online Parts Store: https://billandrods.partstoday.com/
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