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QUESTION:I have a Nordyne gas atmospheric furnace. It ran trouble free for four
years. Then last year when I moved I had it converted to propane. The smell
of the gas odorizer has been in the house ever since. It was around the
water heater, too. I solved that by putting in an electric water heater. But
replacing a furnace is more expensive. How much of that propane odorizer
smell is normal? I soaped everything and there was no sign of a leak. I
replaced all the pipes and valves to the gas valve on the furnace and soap
suds it again. No leak. With the gas turned on and the furnace valve off,
there is no smell, but when the furnace has been running for five minutes,
there is that smell near the gas valve. The water heater did the same thing.
I checked for negative draft, opened the house doors and some windows,
no difference. It draws enough to pull a match flame into the inspection
port. I do notice the flame is yellow, not blue like it was with natural
gas. I've had both the setup people and the gas company that did the
conversion tell me that everything is ok, but if the smell is there, is gas
there, too? I don't feel comfortable with it like it is. Any suggestions?
ANSWER: You know I am not a service tech....I have had LP gas many times in the past
and have never had the gas odor at all, except when there was a problem
(which is why the oderizer is mixed with the gas) or when the tank was very
low on gas...The key to your post is the yellow flame...It is not supposed
to be yellow....The very blue flame is when the gas is burning
efficiently...It is funny that the water heater did the same...The major
cause is the use of the wrong orifice...When the LP is installed the
installer is supposed to change the orifice on both the furnace and the
waterheater...Using the wrong orifice causes the LP to burn very
ineffienctly and can cause all of the problems you have mentioned..Usually
the part is shipped with the furnace and was taped on or attached to the gas
line near the valve..It is kind of like a flow restrictor that fits into the
gas line...Do you have a gas stove and see a yellow flame.?..This is also
caused by the same thing...You should not be smelling anything...You might
want to try another gas tech...or a gas furnace tech familiar with LP
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