There’s been a lot of debate recently about the safety of using natural stoves inside residential homes due to potential health risks. The main concern from some U.S. policymakers is that when used, gas stoves release high enough levels of NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide) to cause respiratory problems to those living in the home.
On the other side, associations like the American Gas Association (AGA) have come to a different conclusion. While they recognize there are combustion emissions when using gas ranges, ovens, and cooktops, they state, “There are no documented risks to respiratory health from natural gas stoves from the regulatory and advisory agencies and organizations responsible for protecting residential consumer health and safety.“
So who’s right? Are natural gas stoves actually dangerous to use?
To answer these questions, let’s first take a look at the history of natural gas stoves.
The History of Natural Gas Stoves
Natural gas stoves have long been a popular choice for many homeowners, particularly in areas where natural gas is readily available. They’re known for their efficiency, convenience, reliability, and low operating costs compared to propane and electric stoves.
Since 2012, natural gas stove sales have almost doubled, and the trend looks to continue, with the global market for gas stoves projected to increase by 63% by 2030.
Market Growth for Gas Stoves 2024-2030
Natural gas stoves have been in use for over a century, with the first patent for one issued in 1826 to James Sharp. In the early 20th century, they became more widely available as natural gas distribution networks expanded across the United States. These early natural gas stoves were relatively simple in design. They consisted of a burner and a simple valve to control the flow of gas.
In the 1950s and 60s, natural gas stoves began incorporating new features such as automatic ignition, timers, and thermostatic controls. These advancements made them more convenient and efficient to use. In the 1970s and 80s, the popularity of natural gas stoves increased as more households converted to natural gas for heating.
Today, natural gas stoves are the preferred cooking appliance choice for most new home builders and existing homeowners. They’re also the number one energy source used to cook in commercial kitchens, with 76% of all U.S. restaurants using natural gas.
Let’s take a look at why their popularity continues to grow.
The Benefits of Natural Gas Stoves
There are three main reasons why homeowners and restaurants prefer using natural gas to cook:
- Precise Temperature Control
- Quick and Efficient Cooking
- Cooking Without Power
Precise Temperature Control
One of the main benefits of using natural gas stoves is their ability to provide precise temperature control. With a gas stove, users can easily adjust the heat level to their exact needs, which is perfect for cooking delicate dishes or getting the perfect sear on a steak.
Electric stoves don’t allow homeowners to get this much precision in temperature control, making it challenging for them to see consistent cooking results.
Quick and Efficient Cooking
Another benefit of using natural gas stoves is their efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Natural gas is cheaper than electricity and can provide a consistent and reliable heat source for cooking.
With a constant flame for quick stovetop cooking and a gas burner in the oven for quick pre-heating, the time it takes to cook a meal for a family on a busy weeknight is drastically shorter than with electric stoves.
This means homeowners save money on their energy bills while having a reliable and efficient cooking experience.
Cooking Without Power
Even if you lose power, you still have a way to cook food. This is because gas stoves use minimal electricity. The only electrical components on a full gas range are the control panel and the automatic ignition.
While you won’t be able to use the oven, you can still light a gas stove burner manually. Each burner on a cooktop can be lit with a match or lighter stick, and since the knobs are manually controlled, you’ll have no problems adjusting the flame.
Even with all the benefits of cooking with gas, many people are still hesitant to use natural gas stoves because they don’t know if they’re safe to use.
Are Natural Gas Stoves Dangerous?
First and foremost, it’s important to understand natural gas stoves are designed with safety in mind. They’re built with strict safety standards and regulations and are tested extensively before being sold to consumers.
So why are there all of a sudden so many questions surrounding the safety of natural gas stoves and the potential ban on gas stoves in general?
One of the main discussion points among policymakers who want to ban natural gas stoves for homeowners and businesses is they believe the levels of nitrogen dioxide released from these stoves can cause asthma in children. However, this has not been supported by any studies.
In fact, according to the study, “Cooking Fuels and Prevalence of Asthma: A Global Analysis of Phase Three of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC),” it’s noted that there is no evidence of any association between the use of gas as a cooking fuel and either asthma symptoms or asthma diagnosis in children. This study analyzed 512,707 primary and secondary school children from 108 centers in 47 countries.
In a more recent study from 2023 titled “Gas cooking and respiratory outcomes in children: A systematic review,” researchers concluded that existing literature doesn’t provide sufficient evidence to establish a causal link between gas cooking, indoor NO2 exposure, and respiratory issues like asthma and wheezing in children.
To get a better grasp on this, let’s look at how gas stoves work.
How Natural Gas Stoves Work
Natural gas stoves operate by burning a mixture of natural gas and air, producing a flame used to cook food. The burners on the stove are designed to mix the gas and air in the correct amounts for complete combustion.
Just like any other gas appliance, natural gas stoves emit water vapor and carbon dioxide when burned. Trace amounts of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) can also be present when the burners are on, but these natural byproducts would typically be vented out of a home through a range hood or downdraft system.
These vent systems are simple and efficient ways to maintain indoor air quality.
However, if there’s an incomplete combustion (not enough oxygen to mix with the fuel during the combustion process), high levels of NO2 and carbon monoxide (CO) will become present.
The good news is, there are things you can do to keep your gas stove working like it should and most gas stoves come with safety features to keep you and your family safe.
Natural Gas Stove Safety
- Thermocouples: A thermocouple is a safety device that detects the presence of a flame on each gas burner. If the flame is extinguished, the thermocouple will automatically shut off the gas supply, preventing gas leaks.
- Automatic Ignition: Older natural gas stoves used to have a pilot light that would stay lit even when you weren’t using it. Sometimes, these pilot lights would go out, creating gas leaks inside homes. Today, gas stoves come with automatic electric ignitions so the gas can only be turned on when someone is at the stove.
- Safety Knobs: Gas stoves are equipped with safety knobs that require to be pushed in before they can be turned on. This mechanism ensures that the gas stove won’t turn on accidentally if a knob is bumped into it or if a child tries to play with it, preventing potential gas leaks.
These days, it’ll be hard to find a gas stove without all three of these main safety features. While this is a good thing, there are still some potential safety risks when using them.
Let’s go over some safety tips for using a natural gas stove.
Safety Tips for Using a Natural Gas Stove
1. Always Keep Stovetops Clean and Free of Grease and Food
A dirty stovetop can block the flow of air needed for complete combustion. This can generate high levels of carbon monoxide poisoning during cooking, which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Another reason to keep stovetops clean is to reduce the risk of fires. If grease has built up around the burner, you run the risk of the flame catching the grease on fire and creating a huge problem quickly.
2. Check the Flames on the Burners
When cooking, take a look at the color of the flame. A blue flame indicates the burner is working as it should and burning clean. If you notice a yellow or orange flame, that tells you there’s an issue and may be a sign of incomplete combustion, which leads to producing carbon monoxide. Anytime you notice a yellow or orange flame, have a licensed professional come out to take a look.
3. Never Ignore the Smell of Gas
If you smell gas coming from your natural gas stove, immediately turn off the gas valve to it. This is usually behind the stove so you may have to pull it out to get behind it. If you can’t access the valve quickly, open up as many windows and doors as you can, and go outside. Allowing fresh air to circulate into your home will help dissipate the gas.
Once outside, call your local gas company or 911 and tell them you have a gas leak. Make sure you don’t use any electrical switches or turn anything else on or off before going outside because they can create a spark and potentially ignite the gas.
Photo Credit: BBQGuys – How to Check for Gas Line Leaks
4. Properly Vent Your Natural Gas Stove
In most U.S. states, gas stoves aren’t required to be vented, but it’s always a good idea to have a range hood or downdraft system to remove the byproducts produced from burning natural gas as well as any smoke or steam generated while cooking. These vent systems should be properly installed to vent outdoors and cleaned regularly to prevent the buildup of grease, which can reduce their effectiveness and sometimes lead to fires.
5. Keep an Eye on What You’re Cooking
The majority of kitchen fires are started because someone was cooking and stepped away to do something else. If you need to step away from the stove for any reason, either turn the burner off or turn it to a low setting to prevent anything from burning or overflowing into the natural gas flame. It’s also a good idea to set timers for slow cooks and make sure the handles of your pots and pans are facing away from the edge of your range.
6. Install Safety Locks on the Knobs
Installing safety locks on your stove knobs is a good idea to keep children or pets from turning it on when you’re not around. While most stoves have a push-and-turn knob function that will prevent younger kids from turning them, having an extra layer of security never hurts. These locks are easy to install and will give you peace of mind.
7. Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector
Carbon monoxide is a fatal gas you can’t see or smell. Because of this, it’s a good idea to have a carbon monoxide detector somewhere on the same floor as your kitchen. CO detectors are designed to alert you when high levels of carbon monoxide are in your home. They give you enough warning to get out of your home before experiencing any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
8. Have Your Natural Gas Stove Installed by a Licensed Professional
Installing a gas stove may seem simple but if you don’t have any experience with installing gas piping, just leave it to someone who does. To guarantee your gas stove is safe to use and installed correctly, it’s always recommended to hire a licensed contractor to do the work. Additionally, you should have their work inspected by your local inspection office to make sure it was done correctly.
Final Thoughts
Natural gas stoves offer efficiency, control, and culinary excellence, making them a favored choice in kitchens across the U.S. While there have been concerns about emissions such as NO2, there is currently no substantial evidence to support a ban on their use. As long as they are used, maintained, and ventilated properly, natural gas stoves are a safe and practical option for home cooking.
By following safety tips like keeping the stovetop clean, checking the gas flame, properly venting the stove, and staying vigilant while cooking, you can minimize any potential risks and enjoy the advantages of cooking with a gas stove without compromising your health and safety.
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