Gas Fireplace Issue

[Sinny Darino]

Hey Everyone, maybe someone here can help me with a perplexing problem, since all the "experts" seem to tell me that everything is fine...

We have an older style gas fireplace and unfortunately replacing it right now is not an option. When we light it up we get a smell of natural gas inside of our house, but our gas detector is not going off. (I bought a Gas/C02 detector)

Last year I called 911 due to a gas smell in our house, the firemen showed up and all was well, no gas leak. A little later that day ATCO showed up and everything was all fine. We had a service call put into Mr. Fireplace and the tech guy showed up, tightened all the fittings and could not detect any leaks.

But here I am... A cold living room... attempting to run the fireplace and a annoying smell of Natural Gas just hanging around. It does not go away after a hour or so, it is constant...

Being that everything is "A-OK" but in reality it is probably not, does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

P.S. I should also say that the main gas line for the fireplace is turned off right now... so no chance of splodie splodie

[Ashartus]

I often find there's a noticeable odour shortly after I turn on my gas fireplace, though it goes away. I don't think it's a gas odour though and I'm not sure the source (possibly volatilization of deposits on the fireplace?). Are you sure it's gas and not something else? If you've had the fire department, ATCO and a fireplace tech all look at it and if you've got a CO detector in the area I wouldn't get too stressed about it.

[Sinny Darino]

It is more the actual smell of gas that is bothering me. Even though the gas detector is right there... that smell is not too pleasant. And it does not go away at all.

[photon]

Did any of the people that came and looked at it smell it? Maybe you're just super sensitive to that particular smell, moreso than others?

[chummer]

Firefighter here. Anytime there is a smell of gas it has to be concerning.
Did the firefighter's or Atco smell gas too? It might have dissipated from the time you called them to when they arrived. I wouldn't hesitate to call them again if you smell it now.

Edit: I see photon asked the same question. Natural gas is actually odourless, what you smell is mercaptan which is added to the gas....if anyone cares

[Sinny Darino]

Yeah, Mercaptan... could not remember the word!!!

I do not think that anyone actually smelled the gas, Maybe I am just sensitive, although my wife smells it as well.

But if our Natural Gas Detector is not going off, and it is about 5' away from the fireplace...

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by chummer

Edit: I see photon asked the same question. Natural gas is actually odourless, what you smell is mercaptan which is added to the gas....if anyone cares

I care. I ghost posted the whole thing about mercaptans and how natural gas is odourless but decided against it because I didn't want my inner Cliff Claven showing.

[ken0042]

Do you have a source of fresh air? Just cracking a window can be enough to help the air flow up the chimney.

I would agree, you should not be smelling gas. I'd call Mr. Fireplace again.

[FleuryFan89]

Did they use a gas sniffer and soap all the fittings?
If they used a sniffer it would be very surprising they had no reading if you are getting a smell.

[chummer]

Originally Posted by Sinny Darino

Yeah, Mercaptan... could not remember the word!!!

I do not think that anyone actually smelled the gas, Maybe I am just sensitive, although my wife smells it as well.

But if our Natural Gas Detector is not going off, and it is about 5' away from the fireplace...

Well the detector should give you some assurance but I'm not sure how sensitive those gas detectors are. Still if you and your wife smell it there must be something.

I'd call Atco just for peace of mind, never take chances with gas.
PM me if you have any other questions or concerns.

[Sinny Darino]

Yeah, he had his little machine out with the long probe... now that sounds dirty!

No readings he said

[Locke]

Have you considered leaving a candle nearby?

To...cover the scent...yeah...that.

[chummer]

Originally Posted by Locke

Have you considered leaving a candle nearby?

To...cover the scent...yeah...that.

Terrible idea...he could be your neighbour

[prarieboy]

Originally Posted by Sinny Darino

But here I am... A cold living room... attempting to run the fireplace and a annoying smell of Natural Gas just hanging around. It does not go away after a hour or so, it is constant...

You say here that you are attempting to run it. Is it actually lighted? Is it possible it is gas from the pilot light not burning?

[Sinny Darino]

The fireplace fires up all fine and dandy, pilot light works... has a dial to go low flame or high flame. In my opinion it all seems to work...

Maybe I will get a fireplace tech out here again

[Canehdianman]

a friend had a similar problem. He could smell gas but nothing was being detected.

Eventually, he opened up a wall (where it smelled the strongest). Turned out it was an old gas line in that had been poorly capped off, and the residual mercaptan was causing the smell (there was no gas in the line anymore, so no danger)

He put the cap on properly and the smell went away.

Might not be too helpful to your situation, but it is helpful to know that mercaptan =/ dangerous gas around

[Fuzz]

I'm going to guess that it is working fine, but you may have some negative pressure in your house, so unburned gasses are coming into the room, rather than up the stack. Open a window elsewhere in the house and see if it improves. Have you done any house improvements, like sealing windows, new furnace etc? Any time you have something burning, you need make up air to get flow out the chimney. A well sealed house is going to have issues like this.

[Sinny Darino]

Ok... so I just turned the gas back on and sat by the fireplace for a few minutes without lighting it. I did smell gas coming from the actual unit so there must be a leak somewhere. The entire fireplace unit was turned off... so it should not be coming through there, but you never know!!!