Drain clogs. The short answer is, “No.”. In each of the 3 instances, I checked the products of combustion with my gas detector and in all 3, I found 0% lel natural gas … The truth is that in and of itself, natural gas is odorless. This efficient, colorless, safe-to-use gas is a non-renewable hydrocarbon that has a harmless gas added to it; this combined gas smells pungent. It is known as mercaptan or methanethiol, and its odor is like that of rotten eggs, rotting cabbages, or, more technically, hydrogen sulfide. Joey on December 15, 2018: Hello! If the odor is inside, leave the house immediately. Intake Contamination. I prefer the term “ventless” or, even better, “unvented.”. NOT for Ventless Gas Logs. DO NOT RELY on Sense of Smell alone to detect natural gas. The odor is smells so toxic we do not operate when we are in the home. In each of the 3 instances, I checked the products of combustion with my gas detector and in all 3, I found 0% lel natural gas … The solution: This is serious. extending exhaust vent up the side of house would look strange. Rotten Egg Smell. I keep getting a strong smell of gas, only by the gas cap area/back of the bed on the left side. Dec 13, 2016. That sometimes doesn't fully burn off at start up so you get a whiff of that, if you are getting the smell constantly though then get it looked at. This means it can produce a lot of heat when you burn small amounts, but it also means that a natural gas leak can pose a serious risk of fire and explosion since it spreads quickly and goes up in flames easily. What these customers were smelling was not natural gas but was an aldehyde odour associated with the improper combustion of the natural gas inside of the hot water heater. If a leak occurs in an open area, natural gas will easily vent and dissipate into the atmosphere. In fact, a faint gas smell is an unavoidable consequence of using gas fireplace logs. Poorly fitting pipe connections. Ventless gas fireplaces, on the … The result is exhaust. The exhaust does not smell like gas. The chemical mercaptan is added to natural gas to better detect when a leak is occurring. Before processing, it may have other hydrocarbons, such as butane and propane. It was sickning out in our back yard. DAKSY said: If you are smelling NG, it is from a GAS LEAK. 11-01-2012, 08:34 AM. Carrier furnace - strong odor from outside vent when running. As the name implies, ventless gas fireplaces don't require an open chimney to operate. Just noticed a slight natural gas smell from the exhaust vent on my dryer. This is why you need to get outside and away from the house immediately and call for help. A natural gas leak has a foul stench that smells like rotten eggs. Gas may be present even though no odor exists. There are a number of gas appliances that direct vent to the outside, but that doesn't make them ventless. Natural gas is only explosive when mixed in the air at a concentration between 5 and 15 percent. It is right outside the house where I had the very faint odor of gas. A Ventless Gas Fireplace Is a Liability. Check your vent or chimney to ensure it's tightly sealed, clean and in good repair to ensure proper venting. Natural gas is odorless, but suppliers treat the gas with a strong rotten egg smell to make gas leaks more detectable. But you may not smell anything if … The IMAC Vent Line Protector (VLP) is a new product used on houses and businesses in areas prone to flooding, such as coastal areas, facilities near rivers, low-lying areas, or in pits or below ground applications. If it has a flue then the flue is the vent for combustion gases. The IMAC Vent Line Protector (VLP) is a new product used on houses and businesses in areas prone to flooding, such as coastal areas, facilities near rivers, low-lying areas, or in pits or below ground applications. I have not found any leaks at all, but the smell is the strongest when standing by that side of the truck. Because they burn only small amounts of natural gas or propane, they are safe to operate indoors. Get free expert advice today. This odor is intended to alert homeowners to potential gas leaks as soon as possible. In a gas ventless fireplace, oxygen is provided by the air in your home. Do ventless gas fireplaces smell? Natural gas and propane are odorless, but gas companies inject them with a chemical called mercaptan that gives them a sulfur smell—like rotten eggs—to alert residents to a gas leak. It is designed to guard natural gas and LPG lines. What these customers were smelling was not natural gas but was an aldehyde odour associated with the improper combustion of the natural gas inside of the hot water heater. A natural gas leak can lead to a violent explosion. Isn't there a valve back there (vent valve) that allows filling. Hi All Is it normal to get a faint smell of gas at the gas meter? Sulfur Odor Through The Forced Air Heating System. The vent rotates 360-degrees and is made of heavy duty metal as opposed to plastic. Mercaptan is derived from naturally occurring compounds like hydrogen sulphide, which has a strong smell even in very low concentrations. If you smell sulphur, leave the area and call an HVAC technician as well as your gas company. There is a pinhole “atmospheric pressure vent” on the side of the diaphragm that is sealed from the gas flow, and its purpose is to maintain normal atmospheric pressure on one side of it. A sewer smell outside your house can mean that the city sewer is backed up. Poorly sealed toilet. There was a story on the news to clear snow off the gas meter outside your house. Natural gas has no smell, which means a small leak would be impossible to detect. When enclosed, natural gas will rise to the ceiling and fill the room from top to bottom. 34 lifetime posts. In its natural state, natural gas is actually odorless. Natural gas is colorless, odorless and tasteless and to detect leaks the gas companies add various chemicals which creates the first line of defense against a gas leak, build up and possible explosion. It was sickning out in our back yard. Its now longer got a lot of pressure on it, but the gas smell is still very strong. 5. Without the roof vent pipe, the drains would gurgle up into your sinks, tubs and toilets. Let us explain. Its so faint that I have to get my nose within a couple of inches. And if this odor is coming from an AC vent, you could have a leak somewhere near your air ducts. (Natural gas is odorless; the skunk odor is actually a chemical called a mercaptan that is added to the natural gas to warn us of the danger). It was the winter with 120" snow here west of Boston. All water heaters that burn natural gas or liquid propane (LP) gas require a venting system. All equipment outside vents should be kept clear of snow and ice. A stale air smell can be created when airborne particulate is drawn into the gas log set as it operates (see how to clean the unit – below). Hi, We have a new Majestic direct vent natural gas fireplace. The fuel gets burned in the firebox. A Bad Odor: The most obvious sign of a propane gas leak is the odor. The pivoting action is very smooth and it captures even the slightest wind. In a gas ventless fireplace, oxygen is provided by the air in your home. Natural gas is odorless and it is therefore required by law to add an odorous substance to help detect it in case of leaks. Have a 2008 Mazda 3, low miles. If you indeed notice a rotten egg odor, it may be sewer gas. Natural gas heaters have three options when it comes to venting: natural vent, direct vent, and vent free. I can't smell anything inside when it's on. Its not gas because no meters pick this up and it doesnt smell like rotten eggs. I can only smell the gas outside when the dryer is running. In fact, a faint gas smell is an unavoidable consequence of using gas fireplace logs. Step 3: Alert your neighbors. #3. In fact, a faint gas smell is an unavoidable consequence of using gas fireplace logs. To increase the detectability of natural gas, an odorant blend is added, which contains t-butyl mercaptan, triophane, or some other mercaptans to give natural gas an identifiable odor. Possible symptoms of natural gas poisoning are similar to carbon monoxide poisoning, including nausea, headaches, vomiting, and fatigue. If you’re unsure how to check for the above problems, don’t worry. Propane gas is similar to natural gas in many ways and is also used as a fuel. This odor is intended to alert homeowners to potential gas leaks as soon as possible. Mercaptan is derived from naturally occurring compounds like hydrogen sulphide, which has a strong smell even in very low concentrations. However, the odor added to the gas can fade. If you smell something from the vent, it will NOT be NG. The most common indicator that there is a natural gas leak is the mercaptan rotten egg smell. A vent-free fireplace operates without a chimney, or outside flues or vents. Basically any impurities in the air the appliance flame processes can produce an odor. Keep this manual for reference. But I cannot feel the smell after starting the engine and driving. Gas smells should not typically be experienced with vented forms of gas fireplace such as natural vent and direct vent gas fireplaces. On its own, natural gas has no odour. However, your gas provider accounts for this by adding an extra chemical: mercaptan. If the air smells slightly musky or skunky, that's the mercaptan, a mild sulfur compound. Since natural gas is lightweight, it rises in the air. i noticed it while pruning some shrubbery located in the general vicinity. Basically any impurities in the air the appliance flame processes can produce an odor. This is actually fairly normal. Both Propane and Natural Gas Furnaces Can Smell Like Gas. A Hissing Noise: Another sign of a gas leak is a distinct hissing or whistling sound near the gas … I do and I can smell a whiff of gas if I am passing the boiler when it lights up. Do not use e-mail or the Internet to contact the company about a leak, and never assume someone else has reported the leak. The termination of this flue needs to be a distinct distance away from any openings into the house - windows, doors, any other apertures. In fact, a faint gas smell is an unavoidable consequence of using gas fireplace logs. First thing to remember is that natural gas has no aroma. WITT these two vents coming out of my neighbors home and smelling like natural gas when they run. Another very significant risk of natural gas is removing the oxygen from the air. A vent-free fireplace operates without a chimney, or outside flues or vents. The odorant is designed to be instantly noticed and so it doesn't take much for an individual to notice the smell. There is a round flat shaped item next to the meter with "vent" stamped on it. Fireplace valve – The valves that control gas flow to gas fireplaces frequently develop leaks. THe smell of burned fuel is normal at the exhaust vent. The regulator has both an atmospheric vent and a relief valve in the case, DO NOT block the vent opening or allow wasps or ice to block the vent, both could overpressure house piping. The space saving direct vent furnace design mounts to an exterior wall and the adjustable vent assembly adjusts to fit walls from 4-1/2 inches to 10 inches thick. Natural gas is naturally odourless. Just imagine the effectiveness of ram air while driving down the road! Although natural gas isn’t toxic, a leak increases the risk of fire or combustion, making it important to identify the gas and find the source so that the appropriate safety precautions are followed. What to do if you smell gas outside a building. Do call UGI's gas emergency line from a safe location, 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you smell or detect natural gas outside or near a meter. Do call 911 from a location outside of the building if you hear or see natural gas blowing. The short answer is, “No.”. Outside the building, you may see dead or wilting plants or trees. Because they burn only small amounts of natural gas or propane, they are safe to operate indoors. Hello my name is ***** ***** licensed HVAC tech and welcome to the JustAnswer site. If I understand correctly you are concerned about smelling gas... These gases are a natural byproduct of the bacteria that break down the waste in either your septic system or sewer line. “Rotting Carcass or Dirty Trash” Smells. - definitely unburned natural gas when unit first fires up. If you have a gas leak in the house, any electrical spark or fire source can ignite the gas—with results that can be devastating. Member Since: 02/12/06. Cold-weather-related sewer or septic system odors: this article describes how to diagnose and correct sewer gas or septic odors (and other building smells and odors with focus on diagnosing odor sources and causes in cold weather. Two ways natural gas may be escaping at your meter. The utility tech measured 10% LEL right at the exhaust vent. You can get a 'smell' of the gas being burnt, natural gas has virtually no smell and has a smell added (mercaptans)to aid in detection. Any help with this would really be appreciated. Two ways natural gas may be escaping at your meter. I can't smell anything if I stand over the meter, but if i crouch down I get a faint smell. Although propane itself has no odor, many propane manufacturers add a chemical to the gas that produces a “rotten egg” smell. I don't know if it is the vent on the left or right, but when it turns on (some kind of forced air) I can smell natural gas in my home. Direct vent exhaust pipe B-vent means the fireplace pulls air from within the house to facilitate combustion (fire needs oxygen). That’s why utility companies inject a substance called mercaptan, which emits an odor that smells like sulfur or rotten eggs. Natural gas is lighter than air, so it dissipates into the air rapidly, making accidental combustion difficult. The two most common sources of a rotten egg smell are a natural gas leak, and escaping sewer gas. If the odor persists, you may need to rent or purchase a plumber’s auger or snake to dislodge the clog. Call PECO or your natural gas supplier from a neighbor's telephone. Direct-vent units pull in air from outside the home or building and have two vents, one for intake and one for exhaust. We are getting gas smell big time when I wash my hands in the laundry room sink and the pump turns on. A 1-MPH breeze entering the vent opening creates 4-MPH air movement inside the vent pipe. My bolier passed its tests with flying colours. Make certain you read and understand all warnings. I had a very faint gas odor right at the bottom of the stairs in the basement several years ago. Always use gas detection equipment (combustible gas indicators) when purging or if natural gas may be leaking or venting. This configuration allows tankless units to fit in smaller spaces; in fact, tankless water heaters save up to 16 square feet of space. There is a loose baseboard with a slight draft But the oder comes and goes so quickly that I cannot confirm if its coming from under the house or not. As the name implies, ventless gas fireplaces don't require an open chimney to operate. - it would be challenging to relocate exhaust vent further away from backyard. The most significant difference between propane and natural gas is that propane gas is HEAVIER than air. With professional installation and any remodeling that needs to be done, vented gas fireplaces will cost you around $3,500 – $8,000. Do not use your own telephone. So we add trace amounts of a pungent chemical called mercaptan to our natural gas because we want you to smell it if there’s a leak. Gas dryer exhaust smells like natural gas. Rotten-Egg Smell Could Be Two Things. But natural gas is highly combustible. There is a small leak under the pilot button control and this is where I was smelling the gas odor… When purging, make sure area is well ventilated. That smell of gas next to your water heater or even from your backyard is not pretty normal. However now its back again. It is designed to guard natural gas and LPG lines. If you smell gas coming from your air vents, if the smell is constantly there or throughout the home, and if you hear a hissing or whistling sound near your gas appliances, this could be a gas leak. It may be very soft or loud, depending on the line pressure. A vent-free appliance requires room air … Additionally, you may hear hissing or a blowing sound, perhaps from a gas appliance or the source itself. Many smells can result from a water heater. It is not a dead carcass because it is throughout all ofthe vents and its been going on for over a year. Interestingly, although known for its “rotten egg” smell, natural gas is odorless when taken from the ground. 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