Replace gas hoses and stoves when they reach their expiration date; never modify the piping yourself, and you may decline any unsolicited sales pitches from gas companies.

Replace expired gas hoses and appliances: this is a user obligation in China's Regulations on Urban Gas Management. The regulations prohibit unauthorized alterations to pipes or removal of meters. They also prohibit gas operators from requiring purchases of their designated products or services, so you may decline such sales pitches.

A compliant gas hose costs only a few dozen yuan. Stoves should be replaced every few years; during replacement, check whether they’ve passed their expiration date.

The regulations designate “promptly replacing gas appliances and connecting hoses that have been phased out by the state or have exceeded their service life” as a user obligation; this means you must replace any stove or hose that has reached its expiration date or been discontinued. The same regulations also classify “unauthorized installation, modification, or removal of indoor gas facilities and metering devices” as prohibited actions, which includes any DIY attempts to alter piping or remove gas meters. Furthermore, the regulations explicitly forbid gas operators from mandating that users purchase particular products or accept specific services.

The regulations establish the replacement obligation; they do not quantify the reduction in accidents. No official estimate of that reduction was found, so the original author assigns grade C. Article 20(6) prohibits gas operators from requiring their designated products or services; users may refuse or complain. Self-closing valves and alarms are themselves encouraged by the market regulator, and users can choose compliant products. If you smell gas, first close the main gas valve, or the cylinder valve for bottled gas. Open doors and windows; do not use an exhaust fan. Do not switch lights, range hoods or other electrical appliances on or off, and do not use a lighter. Leave the premises and call the gas company's emergency number from a safe place. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a separate topic: see section 13.

国务院 (2010). 城镇燃气管理条例（国务院令第 583 号）第二十七条：「燃气用户应当遵守安全用气规则，使用合格的燃气燃烧器具和气瓶，及时更换国家明令淘汰或者使用年限已届满的燃气燃烧器具、连接管等」；第二十八条禁止行为含「（一）擅自操作公用燃气阀门」「（二）将燃气管道作为负重支架或者接地引线」「（四）擅自安装、改装、拆除户内燃气设施和燃气计量装置」；第二十条燃气经营者不得「（六）要求燃气用户购买其指定的产品或者接受其提供的服务」；第二十九条用户可就收费、服务向燃气管理等部门投诉，「有关部门应当自收到投诉之日起15个工作日内予以处理」. http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2010/content_1758214.htm；深圳市住房和建设局 (2024). 安全用气小知识（二）：「立即关闭家里的燃气总阀门」「迅速开门、开窗进行通风」「一定不要开、关家里的电灯、抽油烟机等电器」「人员应该迅速撤离，转移到安全的地方，并且及时拨打燃气公司的报警电话」. https://zjj.sz.gov.cn/zcjzts/content/post_11882410.html；张家港市应急管理局 (2024). 燃气安全使用知识：「不要情急之下打开排气扇进行通风」「应远离现场之后才能打电话求助」. https://www.zjg.gov.cn/zjgszwz/yjaqzs/202411/72b4fad7399c48378302460c6ce2d55b.shtml；市场监管总局 (2023). 燃气器具产品质量安全风险提示（鄂州市城建委转载）：「鼓励用户安装使用燃气智能表、燃气泄漏安全保护装置、自闭阀、独立式感烟火灾探测器、可燃气体探测报警器等保护装置」. https://cjw.ezhou.gov.cn/zxzx/gzdt/202308/t20230821_569108.html