Skunk smell...google search says it could be a refrigerant leak. Is methyl mercaptan in refrigerant?

centralMA

EDIT: All Set. Thanks for the info everyone! Decidedly not refrigerant. No propane, weed or teenagers haha. Probably a skunk...

Skunk smell in the middle of the night. A quick google search brought up some websites saying it could be a refrigerant leak. They claim that there is methyl mercaptan in refrigerants. Anybody know if that is accurate?


All the windows were closed. This morning I walked around the house and couldn't detect a skunk smell outside. When I walked back in I definitely smelled it.
A quick google search brought up some websites saying it could be a refrigerant leak in our heat pump system. These websites claim that there is methyl mercaptan in the refrigerants.
https://www.ars.com/blog/air-conditioner-smells-bad
https://www.robyservicesnow.com/blog/why-does-my-air-conditioner-smell-strange/
It is far from clear to me if that is true. I couldn't find other evidence for it. Anybody know?
I am running a wall unit heat pump on the first floor and a ducted unit in the attic for the second floor.
It doesn't really smell like the sulfur smell of natural gas leak.
Thanks!
Maybe it is just a skunk... haha

GGross

You probably just have a skunk. I am 99% sure they don't add that to any refrigerant in the US, because it will corrode the AC system. Possibly its used in other places in the world? Possibly added for use in industrial applications? Never heard of it in residential refrigerant, though it is added to give an odor to fuel, like propane etc. Even refrigerant grade propane doesn't get this additive as it will destroy the AC system. Possibly someone else can chime in to say otherwise, I'd like to see more info if thats the case. Many outlets report incorrectly about HVAC issues so it wouldn't surprise me if they got this one wrong, especially since neither can name a single refrigerant that has this added.

yellowdog

I've never heard anyone explain the smell of methyl mercaptan as skunky. Are you sure there is not a skunk that has gotten into your attic or basement? Do you have teenage children? Could they be smoking pot somewhere in the house?

pecmsg

99.9% of refrigerants are
Odorless
Colorless

R-290 (Propaine)
and
R-717 Amonia

You'll know.

ChrisJ

pecmsg said:

99.9% of refrigerants are
Odorless
Colorless

R-290 (Propaine)
and
R-717 Amonia

You'll know.

I didn't think R290 intended for refrigeration use had odorant added to it?

Ironman

If it smells like a skunk, It’s a skunk.

There’s no mercaptan in refrigerants and it doesn’t smell like a skunk.

It could be a combustible gas leak. Do you have natural or LP gas in your home?

ChrisJ

One morning I got up getting ready to go to work.
The house stunk like skunk.

From time to time, we got them hit out front but this specific morning was extra bad.
I go out side and there's a dead skunk in the road on each side of my house. So twice the wonderful smell.

Since the house is old and drafty, in the winter fresh air tends to be pulled into the basement and then up into the house. So any smell outside always ends up in the basement first.

I'm not positive, but I think this reverses in the summer.

centralMA

okay, thanks y'all!

mattmia2

R-12 and R-22 definitely have an odor but it is nothing like skunk.

@ChrisJ the odor gets pulled in to your basement because the connection between the sill and the joists and rim joist and foundation is almost always very leaky except in some new houses where someone has made an effort to seal it.

hot_rod

Sewer smell? A dried out floor trap perhaps?

pecmsg

ChrisJ said:

99.9% of refrigerants are Odorless Colorless R-290 (Propaine) and R-717 Amonia You'll know.

I didn't think R290 intended for refrigeration use had odorant added to it?

Intended!

Many are using the cheaper versions!

GGross

If the r290 has the smelly additive then its not r290 its just regular old propane. Part of the r290 classification is that they must not add the smelly stuff, because it will hurt the refrigeration system

pecmsg

GGross said:

If the r290 has the smelly additive then its not r290 its just regular old propane. Part of the r290 classification is that they must not add the smelly stuff, because it will hurt the refrigeration system

BS

It's just a cheaper supplier!

Same as Auto R-12 is different, its moisture purity is lower, but the filter drier takes of that!

ChrisJ

pecmsg said:

If the r290 has the smelly additive then its not r290 its just regular old propane. Part of the r290 classification is that they must not add the smelly stuff, because it will hurt the refrigeration system

BS It's just a cheaper supplier! Same as Auto R-12 is different, its moisture purity is lower, but the filter drier takes of that!

You've seen actual R290 in a sealed tank have smell like bbq grade lpg?

pecmsg

ChrisJ said:

pecmsg said:

GGross said:

If the r290 has the smelly additive then its not r290 its just regular old propane. Part of the r290 classification is that they must not add the smelly stuff, because it will hurt the refrigeration system

BS

It's just a cheaper supplier!

Same as Auto R-12 is different, its moisture purity is lower, but the filter drier takes of that!

You've seen actual R290 in a sealed tank have smell like bbq grade lpg?




NO

There getting it from the local LP supplier!