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Old 08-01-2013, 11:54 AM   #1
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sniffing propane?

I noticed the smell of propane on the outside of the oven vent. After turning off the propane and waiting an hour, I turned on propane and the burners worked fine. There was never a smell of propane inside. Now, the next day, there is still no smell of propane inside, but a slight smell outside when I put my nose close to the vent. I also notice the same slight scent by the vent of the water heater.

Question: Is a slight scent of propane on the outside normal?

Thanks a million.
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Old 08-01-2013, 12:01 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moj-retired View Post
I noticed the smell of propane on the outside of the oven vent. After turning off the propane and waiting an hour, I turned on propane and the burners worked fine. There was never a smell of propane inside. Now, the next day, there is still no smell of propane inside, but a slight smell outside when I put my nose close to the vent. I also notice the same slight scent by the vent of the water heater.

Question: Is a slight scent of propane on the outside normal?

Thanks a million.
Burning propane still smells like propane, so if the flame is vented to outside, you'll smell it, if you've got a nose that's sensitive enough. My nose isn't sensitive enough anymore, thanks to smoking for half my adult life.
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Old 08-01-2013, 02:14 PM   #3
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If your propane is not completely combusted in your oven, you may have a residual smell. Technically, mercaptans are added to propane to give it the characteristic odor. They are picked up by sensitive people at a tiny fraction of a part per million and by others at much higher levels.

I would be much more concerned about the amount of propane, if any, in your trailer. You do have a propane detector -- mounted low -- don't you?
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Old 08-01-2013, 04:28 PM   #4
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thanks. Yes we have a propane detector inside and we have not smelled it in the trailer, only outside.
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Old 08-01-2013, 04:47 PM   #5
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Please get some soapy water and spray the propane lines where they are exposed below your unit to inspect for bubbles = leaks.

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Old 08-01-2013, 05:45 PM   #6
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As propane tanks get low the smell that is added to propane gets more pungent. If your tanks are low it could cause the smell. You can pour hot water on your tanks to see how full they are.
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Old 08-01-2013, 06:21 PM   #7
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You could be getting low on propane. I almost always smell propane just before the tank runs out. I run one tank at a time, so this would be the time I check the capacity of the active tank, and if low, switch over to the full tank and take the empty tank in to get filled. I apply my 6th sense to determine how empty the tank is.
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Old 08-01-2013, 06:36 PM   #8
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I noticed a distinct propane odor when one of my propane tanks was close to empty. I guess the oderant that is added to the propane settles in the tank.
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Old 08-01-2013, 07:12 PM   #9
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It is normal to smell the propane odor when the tank gets low. I always get a day's notice that I'll need to refill.

Besides that, once I did have a defective regulator, and I smelled propane near the tanks. The regulator was replaced and the smell vanished.
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