Natural Gas in Huafa New Town
A few months ago the Zhuhai gas company changed the piped gas in huafa new town from petroleum to natural gas. After they did this, my stove didn't work very well, the flame became really small on one side. After complaining to the gas company they send someone here who says that some components of my stove are no good and must be changed and that I need to pay for this. Seeing how the stove never had any problem until they changed the type of gas, I don't understand why I need to pay for new equipment.
What kind of scam is the gas company running? Change the type of gas for no reason and then make money by selling new equipment? Anybody else have this kind of problem?
We had the same issue in Century City, I am not sure exactly why there is an issue but if your stove and boiler are over a certain amount of years old they are not compatible with the natural gas, I think it is if your stove/hob/boiler is over 4 years old. I imagine it is a bit like changing from Video to DVD - not sure so don't quote me on that!! My boiler had an issue with the change so the landlady had someone around who changed some components inside and it cost her 450RMB - now there are no issues at all, maybe you could ask the Management office at New Town to see if they can just alter some components?
The plus side is that the natural gas is a heck of a lot cheaper, I bought over 400RMB worth of the old gas in January (around 28 units of gas) and has almost used it all up according to my meter (we have meters in CC) I went to buy some new gas and they just transferred it over to Natural gas. It transferred to over 75 units and since the change I have only used 20 of them!
Good luck with getting it sorted out!
Hey
There was a weekend not long ago where the gas company changed the burners on all stoves in phase 5, there was a notice about this in the hallways (in Chinese) those not home that weekend pays from their own pocket.
Another note: You also have to go across the street to where you buy gas, the meter needs to be read as it counts 3 times faster than with the old type of gas. When the gas company people where here they did a reading and the following time we went to get gas they refunded the reading x 3.
That being said, after they fixed our stove, I do find it more difficult to get a flame, but it does work.
The gas jets in the burners are different for petroleum gas versus natural gas.
Seems ridiculous to me that they would make this change and then make you pay for the upgrade. But this IS China, after all........
Gas are piped into & metered at all units in Huafa New Town, and are billed bi-monthly, so there's no need to go anywhere to "buy gas". Conservation & lower gas cost is the main reason for the switch. The announcements (though only in Chinese) were posted all over the Huafa as well in the entrance of every building for at least 2 months prior if I recall correctly. For those who likes to rush to judgement, this is not a scam----For two or three weeks, the gas company were offering free conversions (replacement of gas nozzles) of stoves and water heaters to all Huafa units provided that equipments are in reasonable shape and not more than 8 years old. Anyone that missed this free service, they'll now have to pay out of their own pocket to make the conversion or replace with new natural gas compatible stove and water heater.
Also, you'd waste as well as a risk of fire & safety hazard If you continue to feed natural gas into your propane spec'd stove or water heater because a large portion of unburned gas will be released into the air that you breath.
@atlarge. You do go buy gas when you live at Hua Fa, you need to go charge the card for the meter. As oposed to water and electricity that flows freely and is still metered. Thus the distinction.
I am not sure there is any danger involved in using the stove. The natural gas will ignite if there is a flame, of course if there is not flame the gas will leak, but that would be stupid of James to let gas into his apartment.
Morten,
A propane spec'd stove or water heater must be converted to safely use Natural gas. However, many or most older models are not convertible therefore new appliances spec'd for NG will need to be purchases. Since propane are piped in & delivered at a higher pressure and also have different burn rate compared to NG, the "orifices" or nozzles as I would call them will needs to change to adapt to the lower delivery pressure of Natural gas. Once the change is made, the stove/water heater can be adjusted & leaned out for burn efficiency----both needs to be done by professionals. Fact of the matter is, this conversion is a safety mandate, not a suggestion from the gas company because safety issue IS involved.
With regards to buying "charge cards" for gas, believe me when I said there's no need to do so for those of us living in Huafa New Town. I've been living here for more than 5 years and every two months someone comes and check my gas meter. I'll then get a bill of which the gas company automatically deducts the amount on the bill from my bank account.
Atlarge, I think that it depends on which phase you live in at New Town. I lived in phase two at New Town and had bills like you, however at Phase 5 and Century City you need to charge a card and the 'natural gas shop' is opposite the BeiShan temple close to Vanguard.
I am going to hijack this thread and ask about electric vs gas stove. I have both, kitchen propane and electric on table for hotpot. Alot of people say electric is bad because the electric magnetic field it generate which could lead to cancer. Other say propane actually give off toxic during burnoff. I used both and I am still alive. Any thoughts?
First time I hear about electromagnetic field from stoves - but then I don't know everything about everything :o) (hello, Google.com!). As for the burnoff - that's why the kitchen has to be well-ventilated (so does the bathroom with gas heaters) - run the kitchen fan and you'll be fine. Have you actually done some research on that or you just go by "they say" ? (no pun intended).
@Cheekygal
I'm assuming your question is directed to me...
Aren't 99% of our knowledge learned from others and not through personal experience?
You should take you own advice and "Google it". Then perhaps you'll be a bit more knowledgeable as to why the mandate to change the orifices and regulators on your stove without having the need of firsthand experience on what carbon monoxide poisoning is like or possibly a second degree burn to realize why the change is essential
@nevermore----Just because one is alive doesn't mean one don't have cancer. My thoughts are that since you said you've been using both electrical and propane stove, you should probably go get yourself checked out just to be sure you'll still be alive in foreseeable future.
i overheard this when i was in hk restaurant. They use gas one and it's fancy restaurant. The owner told us electric stooe are 1000ws which could cause cancer so he switch to gas.
I took atlarge's suggestion and Googled it. My conclusion after this "exhaustive research" is that you should not cook anything and eat everything raw. According to Google gas stoves produce more carcinogens that cause lung cancer than do electric stoves. And yes, electric stoves do emit a very low level of electromagnetic field which has been suggested, but not proven, to cause certain types of cancer.
But keep in mind that EVERY electrical device creates some level of EMF. It is the unavoidable nature of using electricity. So are you going to stop using your computer? Or stop watching TV? How about the lights in your house or the fridge? Everything that uses electricity in your home produces some EMF.
@atlarge the question wasn't for you and yes, I always google things I don't know - thank you very much :-) We don't live in Huafa, so we use those huge gas cylinders in the kitchen as well as in the bathroom. The odor of the burned gas has always been our concern and apparently installing the exaust hasn't made it any better - all the gas water heaters have some openings on the side of the heater itself so the smell is still there.
@nevermore - thank your for clarifying. It is nice to learn something new every day.
I agree with what DaveB said - everything apparently is dangerous. But the chances are higher when you are exposed to the stoves in question/gas every day for prolonged period of time (e.g. restaurant chefs would suffer the most as they spend whole day near the stoves and around them).
To be fair I still use both. I figure two poison will cancel each other out. Any ironic thing is the treatment for cancer is radiation
i think you'll be fine :)
There are many many things more dangerous than the gasses from the stove or the electromagnetic field from anything electrical. For example, walking on the street or even worse, trying to cross it. I would also guess that it is often more damaging to our health to breathe the outside air than it is stay home behind closed windows. When you are outside you are also at risk of getting viruses or other nastiness from people around you, you will get skin cancer form exposure to the sun, you can trip in a hole in the sidewalk, the lift might drop when you use it, or you could have a heart attack from taking the stairs instead. I am pretty sure that everyone else pees when they use the pool. And then of course if you do make it alive to and from a place you can buy food, there is the pesticides and heavy metals in the foods you've bought.
@Morten
And that's why people with common sense watch where they walk, wear sunscreen outdoor, exercise to stay healthy, soak their vegetables, take vitamins etc. Have you heard of "TAKING PRECAUTIONS"? It's a term well known to many of us, but oddly appears to be foreign to some of you.
@large
like sarcasm is foreign to you I guess. (and I apologies for that remark)
I am merely stating that there are many other things worth being concerned about than a bit of smoke from the kitchen.
By the way, is there any good research on how much it helps to soak vegetables, know to any of you? I don't buy into the belief that you can get rid of fertilizer and pesticides by washing vegetables.
@ at large
That is some great advice. Some of these people are completely out of it.
If you smell something it is because you have a leak. That smell is put in there so you can tell if you have a leak.
atlarge said it all. Fix your appliances.
And if you leave your refrigerator on, and nothing else you are .........................
I rest my case.
Steal a quote form the movies "Too busy living or too busy dying". I went climbing mountain in Hua Shang where you cross the cliff using wooden plank nailed on the side along with chains. I love it when the guy behind me was answer trying to snap picture with his Iphone.