exhaust smell from waste heat exhaust port

Question

HELP - I bought a 2014 Heartland Travel Trailer in Nov. 2015. Heater has worked fine with no smells this winter, but this weekend the waste heat blowing out of the external exhaust port has a TERRIBLE exhaust like smell. It is blowing outside of course, but we had to close the windows on that side of the trailer and every time someone goes in or out the door, the terrible smell comes inside. It is strong and I am worried. It is NOT a propane smell. Hard to describe the smell but I would call it an exhaust smell.

Should I be worried?

I called the dealer and the tech suggested blowing out the exhaust port, maybe wasps built a nest or spiders. Yuck. I don't think this would cause such a bad smell.

Any suggestions?

midnightsadie · Answer

a dead mouse might be the smell.

christopherglen · Answer

There are many things in LPG other then propane: ethane, propylene, butane, and ethyl mercaptan are the most popular. When is the last time you filled the tanks? Is this (the smell) the first time you have used them since refilling? Do you have another tank you can use temporarily for comparison - bbq tank? Foes the stove stink? Does the GAS water heater stink?
Is it rarely used, of heated daily (before the smell and now). Is there any staining on the side of the unit (like something got splashed on it)?

tillx7 · Answer

Thanks for your replies. It does not smell like a dead animal. Definitely a chemical/exhaust kind of smell.

Heater has been used frequently lately. Smell continues with more than one propane tank. Not the first time since refilling. Multiple tanks. Stove and/or water heater does not stink. Smell is only blowing from the exterior waste heat exhaust port. But blowing strong and with a strong odor. Thanks again.

old-biscuit · Answer

Same propane goes to the stove and water heater as does to the furnace so they don't smell it's not the propane.

Smell only coming from furnace exhaust then it has to do with the combustion side of furnace. Not the fuel (propane) so something is inside the furnace and is stinking from being heated or decaying/heating

You need to clean combustion/exhaust side of furnace and blowing it out with air is probably NOT going to get rid of the source of stink.

Pull furnace and clean heat exchanger

sam_spade · Answer

tillx7 wrote:I called the dealer and the tech suggested blowing out the exhaust port, maybe wasps built a nest or spiders. Yuck. I don't think this would cause such a bad smell.Any suggestions?Yes.Heed the advice of the professional.At least do an inspection.What you think likely is not right.Combustion air has to come IN from some place too.If that is obstructed, the flame will become too rich and inefficient and the exhaust will smell different.And finally......this sometimes indicates that the insulation around the exhaust pipe has failed.....or the pipe itself has rusted through and you are getting hot gasses inside the wall and are on the verge of a house fire.THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION that you should solve before there is a disaster.

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exhaust smell from waste heat exhaust port

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