Many of us are spending more time at home indoors. Many factors contribute to indoor air quality, such as building materials, cleaning products and the food you cook.

Using an electric or gas cooktop, especially frying, broiling and other cooking at high temperatures, can produce pollutants. Using a toaster can too.

Here are some tips on how the proper use of natural gas cooking equipment with regards to indoor air quality:

• It’s important to have good kitchen ventilation, whether cooking with an electric or natural gas cooktop. Exhaust fans remove emissions directly at the stove before they mix into surrounding air.
• Fans also increase overall air exchange in the home to remove pollutants from indoor air.
• Use a range hood or exhaust fan that vents to the outside. If your range hood recirculates air back into the kitchen, you should open windows or use an exhaust fan in another room while cooking.
• All gas kitchen appliances should be installed in accordance with local codes, maintained in good working order and periodically inspected by a qualified contractor.
• Call NW Natural once a year for a no-cost annual equipment inspection to make sure all your natural gas appliances are operating the way they should.
• We also recommend installation of carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in every household. Contact your state fire marshal’s office for more information.