Water heater propane smell

Another possible place to check. I had the same propane smell around the water heater. The regulator had an internal gas leak which was escaping through a weep hole on the back side of the regulator. Very hard to see that hole. I used a small mirror and soap solution and that's where the bubbles were.

Hornnumb2 wrote:
The water heater is on the front corner by the tanks, I will get the soapy water and see what I can find. Thanks

Being on the front corner near the tanks, it is possible that the tanks and hoses could be the offending part. Air movement could cause the odor to be noticed by the hot water tank.

I was on a trip through Alberta a few years back and had the odor of propane near the front. I wasn't able to pinpoint it exactly until I got the squirt bottle and soapy water out. I was shocked to find that I had multiple leaks, The hoses from the tanks, the regulator and the feed hose all showed lots of bubbles with the soapy water.

So I went the nearest RV store I could find and replaced everything from the hard steel pipe at the frame right up to the tanks. All new for peace of mind. I forget what I paid but it really wasn't that much.

And here is another one. The rubber line from the regulator to the steel pipe went through the tank holder base before it went back to the steel pipe. Where the hose went through the tank base, it had been rubbing on the metal of the tank holder and the hose was worn considerably. :E

When I installed the new line in the same place, I got a piece of heater hose, slit it lengthwise and secured it around the propane line to protect it from abrading.

I suggest you look at all this too.

The water heater is on the front corner by the tanks, I will get the soapy water and see what I can find. Thanks

is the smell near the tanks? reason I ask is my short hoses from the tank to the regulator had small cracks you can't see without moving the hose with your hand. I lost a lot of propane before i found this leak. and as you drive down the road the hose vibrates ans the gas would leak out through the cracks. and I would smell gass all the time, could not find the leak.

You say you've cut off the propane- do you mean shut it off at the tank? If so, it seems logical that the source is most likely the tank itself since there should be no pressure in the system sufficient to outgas at the lines/fixtures.

BobsYourUncle wrote:
When you open the access cover you should be able to see the propane line connection to the tank.
Get a squirt bottle with soapy water in it (dish soap works) and with the propane turned on, squirt the soapy water on the connection and look for bubbles coming out.

If you see bubbles, you have a bad connection. It may only require tightening.

Squirt all connections where propane is to check

x2

When you open the access cover you should be able to see the propane line connection to the tank.
Get a squirt bottle with soapy water in it (dish soap works) and with the propane turned on, squirt the soapy water on the connection and look for bubbles coming out.

If you see bubbles, you have a bad connection. It may only require tightening.

Squirt all connections where propane is to check