stinky propane

[crewbus]

I have a 100lbs tank to heat the garage useing a wall mounted heater,I've never had any problems with the smell before, I got an extra tank so I could just switch when one ran out, so one runs out and I switch to the new tank now it stinks bad in there,not a propane leak kind of smell but just a nasty smell, Its bad enough that I can't stay in there very long, I filled both tanks at the same place, I was wondering if its possible to get a bad tank of propane. I'm not sure what to do.

 

[Homoudont]

I'm no chemist but propane is odorless so the propane companies add that that smell to propane so we can detect leaks. Just a guess, maybe they added too much. I am sure someone with more knowledge will provide a more educated comment.

 

[crewbus]

I just came out of my garage and my clothes smelled so bad from the fumes I had to change, I think monday I'll fill the empty one and switch tanks again and see if the smell goes away, then I'll know it was a bad tank.

 

[fatboy99]

When you get to the bottom of the tank the oderant get's strong the first time my tank went below 10% I swore i had a bad leak ! Had my propane supplier come out. After i soaped it all up and found nothing bubling the service tech said it was normal and to keep it above 10% no smell since

 

[Keep]

I found that different suppliers seemed to have different odors. I finally found one that didn't stink. Then they went and closed the place down!!

Try different supplier if you can.

 

[IMCA38]

What you're smelling is ethyl mercaptan, which is what they add to the propane to give it an odor. I'd say you are likely smelling it more now because you let your first tank run empty. Ethyl mercaptan is a liquid so it tends to gather at the bottom of the tank over time. Since you ran your tank to the bottom, you got into the heavy concentration of the smelly stuff. My Dad used to run a propane service, and if he had to replace a valve or fitting on a tank, he smelled like a skunk for several days!
As far as getting a "batch" of propane that either isn't odorized or is excessively odorized, that's not really possible. Most all propane runs through a pipeline at some point in it's distribution life, so there aren't really "batches" per se. Also, the various tankers, storage tanks, delivery trucks, and your own tank will have the afore mentioned buildup of odorant on the bottom of the vessel, so any product pumped into it will get mixed with the odorant.
I'd say let it run a while on the new tank and switch over before you run totally dry and you won't have any problems.

 

[crewbus]

But I did'nt smell anything on my first tank, even when it ran out there was no smell, just after I hooked up the second tank is when it started to stink, Its not like the telltale propane smell its more like car exhaust/kerosene kinda smell.

 

[Kevin54]

Is your wall mounted heater the ventless type? If so, it may be the propane or have you been doing something different in that garage to make it burn dirty? Is the flame on the heater a blue flame or does it have a hint of yellow in it? If it is burning anything but blue you are having trouble. Chances are it is not the propane but it may be with the heater itself. I'm speaking of strictly the ventless heaters. You may want to also get a carbon monoxide detector in the garage for safety assurance. I ran a ventless in my garage for a year or so and had the same problem. If I did some grinding with a hand grinder the flame would start to burn yellow. If the air compressor kicked on it would start to burn yellow. Even when it burnt a clean blue flame (when I wasn't working in the garage) it still put off an odor. I am not a fan of the ventless one bit.

 

[38 Special]

First, soap all your joints, expecially the new ones, and verify you do not have a leak. The mercaptan may be doing exactly what it was designed, WARN YOU.

Second CO detector, I prefer the digital readout Nighthawk. The acceptable CO level with vent free heaters is ZERO. I sell vent free gas logs, there should be zero CO present. Crank a car in the garage for 5 seconds, you will see a reading.

Third, check your regulated pressure, most propane appliances like 11 inches of water column, perhaps the second tank is not regulated properly and thereby over pressuring the system.

CHECK FOR LEAKS, new plumbing installed, new gas smell.

 

[D.J.]

Most of the above posts are correct! Try placing your tanks outdoors and maybe you can isolate wheather smell is coming from tank or heater! Remember Hank and I still recommend useing "propane and propane accessories".
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Jailbroken