Gas Appliances and Health Concerns

[Rebecca]

Does anyone have experience with/knowledge about natural gas ranges?

A house we are seriously considering has one (gas oven, too), and I've NEVER cooked with gas so feel nervous about this. Apparently there is no outlet to switch in an electric range.

I googled "natural gas health hazards" and WHOA, there are lots of sites talking about gas appliances being a "PREVENTABLE SOURCE OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION," and about how the toxic chemicals in the gas (benzene, toulene, etc.) get ON YOUR FOOD and IN YOUR LUNGS.

AND that greenhouse gasses accumulate because when natural gas is burned, the combustion produces moisture that can make your house more susceptible to molds and such. And cause lung problems and immune system problems.

Plus you have to have all your appliances and gas lines checked every year, plus have a carbon-monoxide detector ... I didn't realize electrical appliances were so EASY.

But gas is so WIDELY used ... does anyone know if the pollutant/health hazard aspect is really true?

The google hits make it harder to determine, as the gas companies are gung-ho on gas (of course) but the health people say NO WAY.

Love to know others' experience with gas appliances or any thoughts on this!

:sunshine:

[Jeff California]

We have a gas stove and have never had it checked. Didn't hear about the "every year" thing. Been here 8 years. What would they check for? If it smells like gas, fix the leak! If it is enough to hurt you, the detector goes off.

We do have a carbon monoxide detector and you just hard wire it to an outlet.. very easy..cost 50 bucks. Mine is near my garage and goes off if I start my truck in the garage and open the house door:lol:

[WillFlyToDisney]

We have gas appliances in this house but I never had cooked with a gas heat before I moved here. I like the gas stove - no waiting for the burners to heat up.

We HAVE had issues with Carbon Monoxide in 2 houses and now that you mention it we have had mold issues in both of those as well. The duplex I rented a few years back had Gas Heat and was spewing CO into the house. The home I own now has gas heat and a gas stove. I have had mold issues and CO issues in this house too.

Personally I wouldn't choose Gas if I was given the option but since it came in the house I bought then I have learned to adjust to it. We have 4 CO detectors in the house and have the Heating/Air people come out for an annual inspection.

I always attributed the mold to the fact that I live in an extremely humid climate - I never heard that gas could be a factor. Very interesting.

Good luck with your decision. If I fell in love with the house then I would just accept the fact that it has Gas appliances - I wouldn't let that turn me off from a house I wanted.

Just my opinion.
Kelley

[Barb-SAN]

I've cooked on gas appliances for about 30 years in various dwellings, and haven't had any problems I was aware of (didn't know about that indoor pollution aspect, or health hazards). I prefer cooking with gas, because it's so much easier to regulate the heat. I've never had my stove inspected for leaks. However, rarely I've had the flame go out on the burner (because I turned it down too much, or water spilled on it), and within seconds I could smell the gas, and knew the flame had gone out, and I had to start the burner again. Mine has an electronic starter rather than a pilot light.

I did have a gas leak once with my furnace....some part had malfunctioned, and the repairman came out the next day and replaced it. I smelled a faint gas odor at 11PM and was too tired to deal with it right then. Now I know I should have called the gas company immediately rather than waiting until morning! It did not set off the CO detector, however, and it was a very small leak.

I never heard of the relationship between gas and mold...have some mold in the bathroom, but more likely because I forget to open the window and let the steam from the shower out.

How is the house hunting going, Rebecca? Is it more of a buyer's market in Washington now? I've heard it's becoming that way in San Diego...more houses available, and the prices coming down a little bit because of higher interest rates.

[Barb-SAN]

It seems to me I remember seeing warnings about benzene exposure in my gas bills. I did google for SDG& E "household gas safety" and came up with this warning about unsafe gas heaters in California: http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:34znbyUqqpsJ:bfa.sdsu.edu/ehs/pdf/csqwinter01.pdf+sdge+household+gas+hazards&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

The last time I had my furnace inspected (and it is one of them on this list) I was told it was time to replace it. Guess this info. gives some additional incentive...