I'm currently boondocking outside of the Grand Canyon and when we were setting up today I smelled propane from the water heater. We've only been using the electric for hot water while in campgrounds and don't bother with hot water while boondocking.I figure tomorrow I'll go try to find a squirt bottle and test the connections around there with soapy water. If I find a leak what can I do to take care of it, at least temporarily? I'm thinking I'll plan on going to las Vegas Monday if I can't get it figured out. What if I don't find a leak, could it be the hot water heater itself leaking the gas? If so anything I might be able to do? Would having the water heater running in that case make it safe to have the gas on? Anyway to just shut the gas to the water heater off? I'm not using it anyways, lol. I had a ventless heater installed just a week ago and the connection is very close to the water heater so maybe that's the issue. The techs checked the connections at that time though. The smell really seems concentrated in the water heater, the smell seemed stronger when I pulled off the cover. It's a big issue for us since we've been doing a lot of boondocking and need the gas to run the refrigerator. Not to mention it's cold up here for a Florida boy, we need our heat. Thanks for any help (or just moral support). Recommendations on someone in Vegas to look at it would also be great(or even better here, tomorrow, I can dream can't I) Tim Czarkowski TotalTravelers.com

It is not unusual to smell the exhaust depending on the wind at times. You are also in a area of fresh air which makes it even more noticeable.

Tomorrow is to late.. Get soapy water now and start checking the lines, fittings and vales. Just dip a small rag in the soapy water and put it on. It's just to easy to do now and we don't have to read about you in the paper tomorrow.. Good luck and be safe. Ed

Well I didn't have the heater even running so I'm not sure how I could be smelling exhaust, plus it smelled like propane to me. Also my 30lb tank ran out of gas last night before the first post which had only been filled a week ago. I did not hook up my second tank........

I didn't read your OP carefully.. sorry.It's common in my coach to get propane smell when a tank is near empty. I have no idea why. As for your 30lb tank draining, have you not been running the furnace or anything else ?I'm also curious as to why you don't run HW on propane. If I don't get a nightly shower I'm an unhappy camper.

Propane smell from water heater | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

buylow12
Explorer
Jun 06, 2015
Just thought I'd mention that it was the gas valve and I purchased a new one on amazon for $50 and it seems to be working perfectly. No more "piolet light" lol.

Thanks for the help,

Tim Czarkowski
TotalTravelers.com
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
May 01, 2015
The gas valve is bad. I hesitate to mention it, but a temporary fix would be a piece of tape over the orifice- plenty to get the leak stopped.
buylow12
Explorer
May 01, 2015
Maybe I'm wrong but it looked like it to me. I'll post a picture when I get back this evening. Like I said it lights just by flipping a switch in the fifth wheel, it's not like I have to go and light it myself. I am correct in assuming it's the regulator if I have the damn thing turned off and there is still a flame of any kind though right?

This picture looks similar to mine actually. It lights down there in the lower left corner. I have a flame there right now with it off. If I turn it on that flame goes out after the burner under the tank lights.

Tim Czarkowski
TotalTravelers.com
2oldman
Explorer II
May 01, 2015
buylow12 wrote:
Is that not the norm anymore? (pilot)
No, the norm is DSI (direct spark ignition). I would think a 2004 unit would have that.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 01, 2015
buylow12 wrote:
It's a 2004, I just flip a switch and it lights. I could post a picture when I get back over there this evening if it's not clear. It's got a little flame that lights just below the regulator and then the burner under the water tank. Is that not the norm anymore? The problem seems to be that it's lit when I have it off.

You have a leak...........but it is NOT the LP Regulator (that is device at the propane cylinder)

With WH being electric/propane combo that is not a 'pilot' flame.

The water heater GAS VALVE is leaking thru. That is why you SMELL propane at WH and that is why you can get a flame to light off w/o WH is service.
The GAS VALVE has to be replaced to fix this issue. (they are not serviceable)

What Brand/Model...........Suburban/Atwood.
buylow12
Explorer
May 01, 2015
It's a 2004, I just flip a switch and it lights. I could post a picture when I get back over there this evening if it's not clear. It's got a little flame that lights just below the regulator and then the burner under the water tank. Is that not the norm anymore? The problem seems to be that it's lit when I have it off.
RedJeep
Explorer
May 01, 2015
2oldman wrote:
I didn't read your OP carefully.. sorry.

It's common in my coach to get propane smell when a tank is near empty. I have no idea why. As for your 30lb tank draining, have you not been running the furnace or anything else ?

I'm also curious as to why you don't run HW on propane. If I don't get a nightly shower I'm an unhappy camper.

My wife and I have noticed the same thing. When the propane tanks start to get empty we can sometimes smell propane. I have no idea why that is the case though.
2oldman
Explorer II
May 01, 2015
buylow12 wrote:
... the piolet light lite even though the water heater is off of course(whoop?)
Pilot light? How old is this coach?
buylow12
Explorer
May 01, 2015
Alright so I went and tested it again. I tried this last time and nothing seemed to happen BUT this time...... the piolet light lite even though the water heater is off of course(whoop?). So I'd say I figured out the problem, the regulator is bad right?

Well I'm glad I'm not crazy at least. Is that something that will be fairly easy to replace? Something any rv store would have in stock? Or maybe even a propane dealer? Any idea on what I should pay to have it replaced?

I'm so happy I figured it out lol, now I just need to get it fixed.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 01, 2015
buylow12 wrote:
We have been boondocking 1 to 3 nights and then staying in a campground so we just don't bother with showers while boondocking to save water. No shower, no need for hot water.

Maybe I'm just crazy I don't know. I just tested all the fittings around the water heater and didn't notice anything leaking. The smell is really concentrated in the water heater. Also when I got up, after the had being off all night, I could swear the water heater still had a slight propane smell to it.

I know this is incredibly stupid but I just couldn't help myself since I don't know how else to test if it's the water heater leaking. I stuck my grill lighter in it, no explosion(thank god), no flame other than the lighters at all. Any other, less stupid way, that I can confirm whether it's leaking or not?

We actually haven't been using the heater for the past week much at all, mostly just refrigerator, stove, and oven. However, I was just thinking about it and I actually don't know that the tank was full. It was from when we purchased the rv actually. It was the other tank I refilled myself.

I'm thinking I'm just going to see how it goes. Maybe it's like someone said before, it smelled because the tank was going empty. I know the tank it's on now is full so if we run through this one, we have a problem. I'd still really like to get the water heater looked at though.

Tim Czarkowski
TotalTravelers.com

Did you stick BBQ lighter in where flame is normally (right at end of burner tube)?
If gas valve is leaking thru..........that probably would not show.

You need to 'test' right at gas valve where propane comes out before going into/up burner tube.
And propane needs to be valved in when testing for leaks//////