Smells from the water heater

[Gtoglenn]

I just returned from my first trip with my 2013 Eagle 266RKS. Whenever I had the water heater running on gas I was getting a smell of the exhaust inside the trailer. I may have been running the bathroom fan at the same time and maybe that was contributing to drawing the odor inside? I also noticed some black soot on the outside of the trailer right above the water heater, I wonder if that is normal. Does anyone know if that exhaust smell inside is a defect?

[Rustic Eagle]

Sounds like your HWH LP burner flame needs to be adjusted..., possibly burning to rich. Also check to make sure there isn't any "nesting" blocking the burner tube area...., check the burner orifice as well.

Hot To: How to Adjust the flame on your RV water heater « Maintenance

Bob

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

Sounds like your HWH LP burner flame needs to be adjusted..., possibly burning to rich.

Hot To: How to Adjust the flame on your RV water heater « Maintenance

Bob

Can that be adjusted on the stove too? I noticed abnormally more soot on my pan this weekend.

[hoppers4]

I haven't had any WH propane exhaust aroma in any of the rigs I've had. The black soot on the outside of the WH exhaust is a definite problem. The flame isn't adjusted properly or there's something in the heating tube that's disturbing the flame/air flow.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

Can that be adjusted on the stove too? I noticed abnormally more soot on my pan this weekend.

Not sure about an actual 'air' adjustment, but I would have to believe there is an "orifice" that can be cleaned. Also, in some cases poor LP gas pressure can create flame issues.

Bob

On Edit: Did a little checking, apparently there aren't any 'air' adjustments on the newer stovetop burners, but there are fixed "air slots" that could get plugged.

[Gtoglenn]

Okay, thanks to your help I think i've discovered my problem. I watched the video on the link from Rustic Eagle. My flame is yellow, not blue so I'm guessing there is indeed an obstruction in the tube. I am going to look for a special brush to clean it out. I bet that will resolve the soot issue as well as the odor inside. Thanks guys!

[norty1]

I have noticed my flame gets yellow sometimes just before the gas tank gets low enough to transfer over to the full tank.

[bankr63]

I do get exhaust fumes inside my TT when using the gas heater. But then the exhaust is only about 6" below the dinette awning type window. I prefer to use AC to heat when feasible (figure I'm paying for it in the camping fee), but when I have to use gas, I close the window at least for the first full heating cycle, or when using lots of hot water. Fumes are not really noticeable on a short burn though. Just saying that the fumes may not be resolved by fixing the soot problem.