How an Air Purifier for Gas Stoves Can Keep Your Air Safe

Gas stoves are a staple in millions of American homes. They heat quickly, offer precise temperature control, and are often seen as the best option for cooking.

But how dangerous are gas stoves? Recent studies have linked gas stoves and other household gas appliances like fireplaces to harmful indoor air pollution and increased health risks. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) produced by gas and propane stoves may be responsible for as many as 19,000 deaths per year.

Gas stoves, used in about 40% of American homes, release small traces of pollutants like NO₂ and carbon monoxide (CO) even when they’re operating normally. These gases can also be emitted by other gas-burning appliances throughout the home. Over time, ongoing exposure may contribute to respiratory issues, headaches, and other health concerns, especially for children and older adults.

The good news is that there are ways to reduce the risks. A Stanford University-led study found that switching from gas to electric stoves can reduce nitrogen dioxide exposure by more than 50%. Improving ventilation by using a range hood or opening windows can also help reduce indoor pollutants. For added protection, Maple Air Pür Plasma™, a true plasma air purifier, works continuously to break down harmful gases and pollutants at the molecular level, including NO₂ and carbon monoxide. This helps improve indoor air quality throughout your home, even while gas appliances are in use.

Common Gas Appliances in Homes

Gas appliances remain common in households across America. Examples include:

• Gas stoves and ovens
• Gas fireplaces
• Gas dryers
• Gas water heaters
• Gas furnaces and space heaters

Natural gas is especially widespread for heating and hot water. More than 75 million U.S. homes use natural gas for at least one appliance, and about 58% rely on a gas furnace as their primary heating source.

These appliances are popular for good reason. Fast performance, lower operating costs compared to electric models, and long-standing habits keep millions of homes relying on gas, even as concerns about indoor air quality and health continue to grow.

What Are the Risks of Gas Appliances?

Indoor Air Pollutants

Gas appliances release a mix of indoor air pollutants that can affect your health. When natural gas or propane burns, it produces nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), methane, and even benzene, a known carcinogen.

Studies show that typical gas stove use can raise indoor NO₂ levels to near or above health benchmarks set by the World Health Organization and the Environmental Protection Agency. Benzene concentrations in some homes have been found at levels comparable to secondhand smoke. The risk can be even higher if a gas stove or appliance is malfunctioning, since incomplete combustion may release additional harmful gases.

Gas stoves are often the most concerning gas appliance in homes. They release pollutants directly into the kitchen where people are breathing, causing short-term spikes of NO₂ and CO that are higher than from furnaces, water heaters, or dryers, which are typically vented to the outdoors and located away from living spaces.

Health Impacts

Breathing in pollutants from gas appliances can affect both your short- and long-term health. Even brief exposure to nitrogen dioxide can irritate your airways and trigger coughing or wheezing, while long-term exposure has been linked to chronic respiratory problems like asthma, bronchitis, and reduced lung function.

Carbon monoxide is odorless, so you might not notice it until it causes headaches, dizziness, or more serious symptoms at high levels. Benzene and other volatile organic compounds may not cause immediate effects, but repeated exposure has been tied to serious health risks, including cancer, and can also contribute to heart problems over time.

Visible Indicators of Danger

You don’t always need a test kit to know something might be off with your gas appliances. Simple, visible signs can be a big clue. For example, many people wonder, “Are orange flames on a gas stove dangerous?” They can indicate incomplete combustion, which may produce extra carbon monoxide or other harmful gases.

Other warning signs include unusual odors, a pilot light that keeps going out, or flames that flicker or behave strangely. If something seems off, have a professional check your gas appliances, and ensure they are routinely maintained.

Mitigation Challenges

Reducing exposure to pollutants from gas appliances can be difficult. Ventilation helps, but it has limits. Using kitchen exhaust fans above the stove and opening windows can reduce some fumes, but they don’t eliminate them entirely, especially if the hood isn’t vented outdoors or doesn’t run consistently during and after cooking.

Switching to electric appliances may sound like the ideal solution, but it’s not always simple or affordable. Gas furnaces can’t be converted to electric, so you would need to install a brand-new system, which can easily cost over $1,000. For renters, the choice is even more limited since they often don’t have the option to replace appliances at all.

Carbon monoxide and gas detectors are still important for safety, but they don’t address everything. They’re meant to alert you to dangerous leaks or spikes, not the everyday, low-level pollution that can build up during normal use.

Whole-Home Protection from Gas Appliance Pollutants

Installing the right air purifier can add an extra layer of protection in your home, but the vast majority of systems are not effective at deactivating gases. Traditional air purifiers like HEPA filters are great at capturing dust, pollen, and other particles. However, they don’t actually remove gases or odors unless they include a heavy activated carbon stage, and even then, that media can saturate and stop working over time. UV-C lights and photo-catalytic oxidation (PCO) can help kill germs, but they don’t address gases or many chemical pollutants at all, and usually work best as part of a combined system rather than on their own.

That’s where Maple Air Pür Plasma™ works differently. Instead of just trapping pollutants in a filter, it creates a stable, energized plasma field that produces oxidized molecules. The plasma field and molecules break down harmful gases and contaminants produced by gas appliances at the molecular level as air naturally moves through your home.

Maple Air is installed directly into your home’s ductwork to provide whole-home protection. It works all day and night, not just when you’re cooking or standing near the stove, helping reduce long-term exposure throughout the entire house, including the kitchen. Maple Air helps protect everyone in your home, especially those who are more sensitive to air quality, including children, older adults, and people with asthma or respiratory issues.

Aside from breaking down harmful gases from gas appliances, Maple Air Pür Plasma™ also continuously neutralizes viruses, bacteria, mold spores, allergens, and VOCs. This means it tackles a wide range of contaminants, keeping both the air and surfaces in your home cleaner and safer. By reducing pollutants quietly in the background, it supports a healthier indoor environment without changing how you live day to day.

Keep Your Home Safe and Your Air Clean

Making sure your gas appliances are working properly, using proper ventilation, and having carbon monoxide and gas detectors in place are all important steps in reducing indoor air risks. For continuous whole-home protection, Maple Air Pür Plasma™ continuously breaks down harmful gases and pollutants including nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Get an estimate to reserve your Maple Air system and start providing cleaner, healthier air year-round.