Propane odors ???

[john56h]

I've been considering installing a propane heater in my garage, but today I visited somebody I know's shop and as I entered the odor of propane nearly knocked me over. Is the odor typical?

 

[Junkman]

I have a propane heater, and no odor. Might be that he doesn't have it properly vented. If you can smell propane, then it isn't burning clean or he has a leak.

 

[Franz©]

Trying to figure out what you mean by "propane odor"?
Did it smell like a skunk, or was it just a strange smell?

Propane is a voratious consumer of oxygen in the burning process, and can deplete a confined space sufficiently to create a nasty atmousphere.

An improperly adjusted burner can also create foul odors.

Any ceramic gas burner that operates with an open flame, such as ceramic radiant units will create strange smells if the unit isn't blown clean before initial use each season. They tend to accumulate dust and when that burns it can really stink a place up.

Properly used, in an unvented situation the products of propane combustion will also have an odor.

 

[john56h]

The place I visited was a large shop and the odor was just like if you opened a propane tank or bottle and breathed in the air. Seemed really strong to me, but the owner said there were no leaks.

 

[trovato]

I have two propane heaters, both "direct vent" type, and there are no odors of any kind from them. If you get a strong smell like you opened a propane tank, I would suggest you get yourself far away from that place! I'll be checking the evening news for the rest of the story.

 

[Franz©]

The place I visited was a large shop and the odor was just like if you opened a propane tank or bottle and breathed in the air. Seemed really strong to me, but the owner said there were no leaks.

The odor you smelled is Mercaptin. It's added to the propane tank for the single purpose of notifying people they have a propane leak. Some people have a more sensitive sense of smell than others, and can smell mercaptin in far lower concentrations.
You can tell your friend he has no leaks he KNOWS about, and he better recheck his system. He definitely has a leak!

 

[Kevin54]

The place I visited was a large shop and the odor was just like if you opened a propane tank or bottle and breathed in the air. Seemed really strong to me, but the owner said there were no leaks.

If you can smell propane, then there are some issues there that needs to be addressed. I had a ventless propane for awhile and you can smell some fumes, but with a properly vented heater / furnace you should not smell anything at all.

Kevin

 

[MXtras]

Your best bet would be to move to a warmer location.





I prefer propane over all other fuels other than the convenient choice - Natural Gas.

I believe your buddy is mistaked - he must have a leak.

Scott

 

[comp]

The odor you smelled is Mercaptin. It's added to the propane tank for the single purpose of notifying people they have a propane leak. Some people have a more sensitive sense of smell than others, and can smell mercaptin in far lower concentrations.
You can tell your friend he has no leaks he KNOWS about, and he better recheck his system. He definitely has a leak!

i agree ,,,leak