So we replaced our old water heater last week with a tankless system and although it’s much nicer to have more hot water on demand, I am wondering if it’s worth it as the vent pipe (pvc) outlet on the back of the house has a natural gas smell that we can smell when playing in the back yard with the kids. It’s not super strong, but it’s there.
I had Nicor out to check it out and they measured some small readings even when the unit was off. Nothing in the house at least and it’s venting outside though is this normal? I’ve been told both yes and no. They said it’s not any amount that would be combustible, but they told me to ask the plumber who installed to look at it.
You should not be noticing the smell of natural gas in your yard. Get it checked by someone else or buy a combustible gas detector and track it down yourself.
China is Asshoe
Posts: 2283 | Location: Michigan | Registered: March 09, 2006
It funny you mention this. Our new house we just built has tankless. I have noticed while it’s on and I’m out back by the exhaust vent I smell the natural gas odor. I just figured it was normal.
quote:
Originally posted by LincolnSixEcho: So we replaced our old water heater last week with a tankless system and although it’s much nicer to have more hot water on demand, I am wondering if it’s worth it as the vent pipe (pvc) outlet on the back of the house has a natural gas smell that we can smell when playing in the back yard with the kids. It’s not super strong, but it’s there.
I had Nicor out to check it out and they measured some small readings even when the unit was off. Nothing in the house at least and it’s venting outside though is this normal? I’ve been told both yes and no. They said it’s not any amount that would be combustible, but they told me to ask the plumber who installed to look at it.
Natural gas readings I guess. It was a handheld meter they had like an extended wand of sorts. I’m gonna get it checked out I think. It’s interesting that you, Benner, are having the same finding.
I'm pretty sure that after you shut the hot water off, the fan has to purge the heat chamber. You'll hear it run for a few extra seconds. I don't think there's any combustible martial but there is sometimes an odor.
Posts: 45755 | Location: Pennsyltucky | Registered: December 05, 2001
I think you are actually smelling is the odorant chemical added to make natural gas detectible by humans. The odorant chemical is detectible at the very low parts per million level. For ignition to occur the natural gas level needs be up in the percent level. So you can smell the natural gas long before it reaches combustion levels.
Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 68 | Location: Baton Rouge, LA | Registered: May 27, 2012
The commercial ones we have will have a smell when the evac fan comes on, however we had issues with spiders, moths etc getting into the intake pipe section and was reducing airflow which increased the smell. We regularly clean both vents now and no more issues.
Posts: 937 | Location: Greeley, CO | Registered: March 01, 2008
The house I managed for several years has a Rinnae mounted on the exterior wall. I never smelled anything from it, even if I stood in front of it and it was running, not running, etc.
I had a gas smell with a new high efficient gas boiler. The plumbing company sent someone down to fix it and I could still smell gas.
After that they ignored me. I got tired of calling. I sent an email saying I was going to bring legal action and but more importantly I was going to go after their plumbing license for being dangerous and incompetent.
They sent their best tech out the next day and they fixed it. No more gas smell.
They adjusted the combustion.
Not saying that is the problem, but it could be.
Also call the manufacture an talk to them. They will tell you if a gas smell is normal.
Originally posted by LincolnSixEcho: I see. If it’s normal and not harmful in any way then I guess I’ll live with it though it’s kind of annoying. Trade off I guess.
I'm not saying it's normal, especially if it is constant.
Posts: 45755 | Location: Pennsyltucky | Registered: December 05, 2001
Yeah, smelling gas after combustion is s sign of bad burner...since it’s new could they have not used the right gas head at the burner, ie used the one for propane vs the one for natural gas...the port is a different size.
My kids water hearted is gas and it was burning orange when the color should have been blue....turns out they come with two different types of head for the two types of gas.
I would call the installer up and ask them very specifically or check online about the brand and look at the manual
You should not smell gas after it’s been burned.
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I just stuck my nose near the exhaust on mine and didn't smell anything. Mine is a Rinnai installed back in 2005 or 2006. There were times that I do remember smelling something coming from it. We had a broken gas line underground and when they fixed it they readjusted the flame. Maybe that has something to do with it.
At least have it checked.
Posts: 45755 | Location: Pennsyltucky | Registered: December 05, 2001
Just called the manufacturer and they said it’s completely normal to smell a little gas when it’s on and that it’s doing what it should. They said it’s like when you light a stove and there is that gas initially that you get before the light. I told them well the gas smell doesn’t really go away after a few seconds and they said well that’s okay too. They informed me it’s not harmful or combustible when I asked. Even if it’s GTG I am not a fan of the smell in my yard, however small amount it is.
If you are smelling it and they detect it when it's off then by all means call the installing company.
Mix up a bottle of water and dish washing soap, spray the connections on the hoses going to the unit, see if there are any bubbles, if so, that's the leak, you can do that yourself.
We have a Rinnai Unit on the house, smell no gas when it's running or not, we did have a time where you would smell gas, had the company out and they determined the valve on the LP tank had a slow leak.
Posts: 24725 | Location: Gunshine State | Registered: November 07, 2008
Originally posted by HRK: If you are smelling it and they detect it when it's off then by all means call the installing company.
Mix up a bottle of water and dish washing soap, spray the connections on the hoses going to the unit, see if there are any bubbles, if so, that's the leak, you can do that yourself.
We have a Rinnai Unit on the house, smell no gas when it's running or not, we did have a time where you would smell gas, had the company out and they determined the valve on the LP tank had a slow leak.
Wouldn’t I smell it in the house then by the unit itself if it was leaking in the pipes around it?
