propane heater smell-new

[uarelovedbygod]

We installed a ventless propane room heater several years ago. Never had a problem with it. Today my toddler was pulling on the yellow flex tubing that runs between the metal pipe coming out of the wall and the heater. Shortly thereafter we noticed a gas smell in the house, and it seems to be coming from around this heater. I sprayed all the connections, the flex tubing and even took off the lower cover plate and sprayed everything I saw with soapy water---could not find a leak. So for now, I have the valve shut off where the metal pipe comes out of the wall. (Just turned it off a few minutes ago---too soon to notice improvement). The heater has not had to kick in in a long time, but the pilot light has been on all along.

One weird thing about it is the smell seems more like lighter fluid than propane. We use propane to cook with, and when we sniff around the cook stove there is the typical sulfur smell of eggs that our propane usually smells like.

If I get real close to the room heater and turn it on, it seems like more of the smell is coming from above the flames, and there seems to be more yelllow in the flames than I remember if I turn the heater up.

Could this be some sort of contaminant in the propane? Or do I need to be more thorough in looking for a leak caused by the toddler?

Thanks!

[Ross]

A yellow flame is incomplete combustion so I wouldn't use the heater until it was checked out by whatever company you use!

[Gloud]

Just a thought make sure the kiddo didn't stuff anything in the fresh air vents. (if there are any)

[Allen W]

Could be a leak being burnt by the pilot light. You done the right thing shutting the gas off at the wall. Did you check with soapy water?

[Tarheel]

Propane will intensify any oil base product. If you have been painting, spraying something like wd 40, or anything that has an oil base too it. If the toddler did pull on the lines by all means have it checked out.