Smelly Water Heater
What am I missing…..I am on my second truck camper and am experiencing the same issue. Currently in a brand new 2026 Arctic Fox 1140 and when I turn on the water heater I sometimes, especially at hi...
Forum Discussion
So, did a through check with a propane gas sniffer….no propane leaks any where (as I suspected). So I did what I did on the previous TC I used metal duct tap on the entire seal of the outer decorative frame and the water heater. Even though the water heater itself has a outer flange that should be backed by butyl tape I took no chances. I have tested it twice, not at altitude but in some wind (which would also cause it to smell) and no smell.
I also plan on swapping out the gas oriface to the high altitude #65. This will rob some of the BTU’s at lower elevations but still work just fine. No sooting. I will be on the coast of OR for a few weeks, so I will report how it did there.
maybe hold off on the orface untill you have ran it for a day or two at the coast. if you don't smell propane then it will confirm it is because of the altitude. then switch the orface out. wind alone shouldn't cause it to smell if it is getting complete combustion, if the reason is because of incomplete combustion at high altitude then the only thing wind would do is force the un-burnt ethyl mercaptan through leak points in the rv to where you can smell it.
