If your cooktop is over eight years old, it’s recommended to replace the intake hose with a metal corrugated pipe.

It’s cold, and cities are seeing a significant increase in gas consumption. At the same time, winter is also a season when gas-related accidents occur more frequently. Recently, the Natural Gas Company issued a public alert: Regularly inspect your home’s gas appliances, replace stoves that are over eight years old promptly, and we recommend using metal corrugated pipes.

According to analysis by professionals from the Natural Gas Co., Ltd., 95% of gas-related accidents occurring indoors are caused by improper use of gas by users, leading to gas leaks. The common causes of gas leaks include: using hoses beyond their recommended service life, resulting in aging, cracking, and detachment; failure to ignite stoves properly, causing unburned gas to leak directly; liquid spillage extinguishing the burning flame; corrosion of pipelines or damage to gas meters, valves, and connections; and deliberate external forces—such as tying ropes or hanging objects on indoor gas pipes—that cause structural damage. Additionally, during winter, users tend to keep doors and windows tightly closed, leading to poor air circulation. As a result, leaked gas is less likely to disperse and is more prone to accumulating, increasing the risk of gas-related accidents.

To ensure gas safety, professionals from the Natural Gas Company would like to remind residents: Be sure to pay attention to the service life of your household gas appliances and replace them once their expiration date is reached. According to the "Regulations on Safety Management of Household Gas Burning Appliances," the service life for stoves, calculated from the date of sale, is 8 years. Although some stoves that have been in use for over 8 years may appear to be in good condition on the surface, their components have aged and are no longer safe beyond their guaranteed service life. When using old stoves that have been in service for more than 8 years, carbon monoxide emissions tend to exceed the standard during combustion, with carbon monoxide concentrations potentially being more than seven times higher than the national limit.

Professionals told reporters that rubber hoses available on the market have a service life of 18 months, whereas metal corrugated pipes can last for more than eight years. If the gas appliance connection hose in your home is made of rubber, it’s recommended that residents replace it with a stainless steel gas metal hose, which boasts advantages such as resistance to rodent bites, strong corrosion resistance, minimal pressure loss, and excellent flexibility. At the same time, gas metal hoses must be equipped with dedicated valves; if installation is improper or if you purchase low-quality metal hoses, gas leaks are highly likely to occur.

Recommendations for the Use of Gas-Fired Appliances:

1. Use soapy water to check whether the connections of the gas supply pipe are leaking and whether the rubber hose has aged or developed cracks.

2. The intake hose is best replaced annually. If signs of aging appear, it should be replaced promptly; never continue using it after patching it with adhesive tape.

3. Keep the bottom of the pot dry to prevent water droplets from entering the gas burner’s air holes, which could cause rust and blockage of the burner.

4. Do not use an oil-stained cloth to clean or wipe the gas burner’s air holes, as this may cause the air holes to become clogged.

5. Observe the flame condition on the burner head of the stove. If the flames are uneven or weak, gently scrub the burner with an old brush or steel needle.

6. During the use of a household gas stove, it is essential to ensure good air circulation in the kitchen. When cooking, you can turn on the range hood to extract cooking fumes and油烟, keeping the kitchen air flowing and preventing carbon monoxide poisoning.

7. Regularly inspect the gas stove’s switch button to ensure it doesn’t get stuck or rotate unevenly during operation. Every six months, lubricate the switch button to improve its smoothness and increase the likelihood of successful ignition.