Last updated on June 28th, 2023 at 04:45 pm

The push for greener heating alternatives stems from wanting to reduce carbon footprints and resulting environmental damage. However, poor health is an equally important reason to find gas heating alternatives, electric heating being an ideal replacement. This post will examine the hazards of gas heating, and how electric heating can eliminate health risks while serving as a viable alternative to gas. 

Health hazards associated with gas heating

Although only recently commercialized (late eighteenth century), gas heaters have been a staple of human society for millennia. The first recorded uses date back to 1000 BC at the Oracle at Delphi, on Mount Parnassus in ancient Greece and in 500 BC in China, where bamboo plants were used to transport gas. Understandably, humans are dependent on gas. 

The caveat is that gas heating can release a slew of harmful air pollutants, ones notoriously dangerous to human health. It’s a known fact gas heaters can emit these contaminants even while shut off, but also if they’re faulty and leaking. 

Air pollutants that gas heaters may release

• Methane
• Nitrogen dioxide 
• Carbon monoxide
• Formaldehyde

In addition to being detrimental to the environment, these gases have documented effects on human health including: 

Commercial gas heating, namely, those used for cooking, have been debated for years due to their health risks. And, recently, these concerns have prompted the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission to consider banning gas stoves. This is likely in response to research studies from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, which attributes more than 12 percent of childhood asthma to gas stove exposure. Even a meta-analysis published in 2013 involving 41 research studies, revealed kids exposed to gas stoves had a 42 percent increase in asthma risk. So the risks are well-established. 

Industrial workers may not see the dangers, especially if using PPE such as masks. Of course, there are environments where unsuspecting workers may be unexpectedly exposed to gas leaks. For example, a carbon dioxide leak sickened four workers—one critically—in a utility room at Los Angeles International Airport in October 2022. Since they’re not regularly exposed to carbon dioxide, they weren’t wearing respirators, making such a leak life-threatening. It’s an example of why environmental and health agencies are reconsidering the safety of gas heating. 

How electric heating can counteract these effects

Electric heating is currently the most suitable alternative to gas heating. Unlike their emission-producing counterparts, electric heaters burn clean. They don’t use fuel to produce heat, just their heating elements which transmit energy as heat, so there’s no risk of discharging harmful pollutants. That leaves the surrounding air free from hazardous gases such as carbon monoxide or methane. Ultimately, that reduces the risk of illnesses these gases may cause.  

When it comes to heating, much emphasis is put on performance and cost-efficiency. However, safety should take precedence over all of these categories. Here at Wattco, we offer pre-constructed and custom-made electric heaters that can support your industrial application without releasing emissions. Additionally, we put more safety components, such as control panels with sensors and automatic switch-off, so the units never burn excessive amounts of fuels and by extension, pollutants. 

Electric heater types and their applications

There are many electric heaters available to suit your application. From immersion heaters to radiant heaters and beyond, there are electric alternatives to common gas-fuel heaters. 

The key to choosing the right ones is selecting the right wattages, sheath materials, heating element shapes, and so forth. The best combination of these elements will ensure  your heater generates enough output for your given application. 

At Wattco, we offer a range of electric heaters that will suit any industrial application. We incorporate design calculations that determine the optimal output of your heater, so it provides sufficient power in an energy-efficient manner. 

Get a quote for an electric heater today. Our representatives will help you find the exact setup needed for your industrial needs.