Even though it is not required by code, we still strongly recommend ducted exhaust systems in kitchens with gas stoves. This is the most effective way to direct potentially harmful fumes, moisture and even carbon monoxide out of the house and away from fresh breathing air.
It is not safe to have a gas stove without a vent. Although they are not required in the US, vent hoods are crucial to improving your indoor air quality. Since Americans today spend over 90% of their time indoors, venting out pollutants and cooking exhaust is all the more important.
Eye irritation: Smoke and fumes produced during cooking can irritate the eyes - causing redness, itching and tearing. Headaches and dizziness: The buildup of carbon monoxide in a poorly ventilated kitchen can cause headaches, dizziness, and even death in extreme cases.
While not all residential buildings are mandated to have range hoods, when they are present, they must comply with the following standards: Ventilation to the Outdoors (IRC M1503.
Gases such as methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide also come from the kitchen and are harmful to both people and pets, making the need for kitchen ventilation even more compelling. There's also the issue of odours from cooking.
Use a Window Fan
Using a window fan in the kitchen can bring some great advantages. Firstly, it helps with ventilation by creating a flow of fresh air. When you're cooking, steam, smoke, and lingering odors can fill the air.
In most cases, you'll need a kitchen exhaust fan if you have a gas stove. In addition to the fan, you may also need a kitchen vent hood. If you own a commercial kitchen, however, you almost certainly will need to have some sort of vent hood or range hood. A kitchen vent hood is required by law in many states.
Most residential building codes do not require a range hood above a stove or cook top, but you'd be wise to ensure your locale is not the exception. Even if it's not legally required, you should think long and hard before forgoing a hood altogether.
A kitchen chimney is more effective at removing cooking odours and smoke than an exhaust fan. Chimneys are equipped with filters, often including baffle or charcoal filters, which trap grease, odours, and smoke particles.
Depending on where you live, there may be different codes and requirements so it's always best to check. Though you may not be required to install a hood over your stove, it is generally recommended for the best cooking experience. Without one, smoke and fumes may build up in your kitchen.
Without a vent to release excess pressure, waste and gases from the sewer system can be forced back into your kitchen sink. This can be both unsanitary and unpleasant, as it brings potentially harmful bacteria into your home.
Heat and Steam- If you do not have proper circulation, your kitchen can become very warm and sticky. Hood ventilation helps to capture any moisture in the air which can cause walls and ceilings to crack. Grease- If grease and other residue are not maintained, mold and bacteria can grow in unwanted spaces.
Noise was the most common reason for avoiding the kitchen ventilation system. As more information comes out about gas stove cooking dangers, homeowners must depend on vent fans to mitigate gas fumes in addition to reducing moisture and odors.
If you are in a kitchen that's not equipped with a range hood or exhaust fan, unpleasant odours and smoke could be damaging your wellbeing, with research showing kitchen fans serve an important purpose for both your home and health.
Indeed, a 2020 study of coping strategies during the pandemic found that venting was linked to poorer mental health, while tactics like accepting, joking about, and positively reframing the situation seemed to boost well-being. “You should generally act how you hope to feel,” Cougle says.
DO RANGE HOODS NEED TO BE VENTED OUTSIDE? Not all range hoods need ventilation, but vented or ducted models do always vent to the outside of a home. This venting can run through an exterior wall, floor or—with the help of a professional—be installed up and out through the roof.
Along with placing a window fan in the cooking area, using fans from other rooms can help provide ventilation to the kitchen. Multiple fans create an airflow throughout the home that will help to provide cooling and ventilation. Using several fans provides a temperature control factor that the HEPA air filter does not.
In most cases, it's not illegal to have no range hood in your kitchen; however, local building codes may require one depending on factors like the type of appliance being used (gas vs electric) or whether there are windows nearby that can provide adequate ventilation when opened during cooking activities.
The fact is that cooking always produces some air pollution. This can range from water vapour to smoke and grease, all of which can cause numerous problems. If you don't want a damp, smelly, greasy kitchen, proper ventilation is essential.
An electric cooktop still produces heat, and whatever you're cooking will still release grease, fumes, smoke, and other pollutants into the air. A kitchen hood will suck up this hot air and various pollutants to keep your kitchen surfaces and air cleaner.
Kitchen exhaust ventilation must meet the requirements of ASHRAE 62.2-2007 and must be vented to the outdoors or to an exhaust riser. An unvented recirculating range hood can be used in conjunction with another exhaust fan that is vented.
Safety and Health. There are no codes enforcing gas stove ventilation, though it is highly encouraged, whether you have a 30-inch gas cooktop, 36-inch gas cooktop, or more.
Studies have found that a benefit of an exhaust fan in your kitchen is that it may reduce your risks of lung cancer by as much as 50%. And you can get a high-quality range hood with a near-professional-grade blower and filtration system at a very reasonable price through Hauslane.