Stinky house - just as we ran out of propane.

[Howard Sterndrive]

After a day or two of looking for a dead rodent, I'm wondering if the two occurrences might be related. My wife kept saying it smelled more like propane to her. I thought it smelled like a rotting rodent. Smell is most concentrated in a workroom at the opposite end of the house from the fireplaces.
Today the propane pretty much ran out. I turned the two fireplaces off. Maybe they don't run right when it gets low or maybe the stinky additive is concentrated in the bottom of the tank?

I guess we'll see if the smell goes away now that the units are shut off.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Stinky house - just as we ran out of propane.

Did you have a pilot light go out due to an interuption in the flow?

 

[bigdee]

Re: Stinky house - just as we ran out of propane.

Completely normal for odor to increase when tank is low. The liquid propane contains a chemical that gives off that odor so any leaks would be noticeable by odor. When the tank is low and the liquid is gone all that is left in the tank is residual pressurized gas and that odor chemical which expands.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Stinky house - just as we ran out of propane.

Completely normal for odor to increase when tank is low. The liquid propane contains a chemical that gives off that odor so any leaks would be noticeable by odor. When the tank is low and the liquid is gone all that is left in the tank is residual pressurized gas and that odor chemical which expands.

Yep...same thing happens to us if we ever run all the way down.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Stinky house - just as we ran out of propane.

thanks guys. I guess the additive smells different when it's so concentrated - not what I'm used to with a leak. Sure was raunchy but odour is gone now.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Stinky house - just as we ran out of propane.

I check my tank regularly to be sure we don't run out, as they will not fill any empty tank until they leak test.

Someone has to be home to give them access inside.

No test = no gas.

If I ever forget, again, and start smelling that odor, again, this time hopefully I will be smart enough to shut down the system and add another blanket til they get here to fill the tank tomorrow!