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New gas heater has lingering oil smell

GBGB123
GBGB123 Member Posts: 1
edited November 2024 in Gas Heating

Hi, I have a new Williams gas wall furnace. I've turned it on several times and the pilot always seems to go out within 2 hours. My landlord re-lights and I try again. Each time, there is a strong oil smell that I am told is a new heater coating that has to burn off. Today the furnace ran for 3 hours, so my landlord thinks possibly that she was just getting the hang of lighting the pilot and there is nothing wrong with it and it won't go out again. Either way it's been several hours total now of the heater running on high and the oil smell still has not burned off. I have a carbon monoxide detector meter so know there is no carbon monoxide, but I find the smell really irritating. How long should the coating take to burn off, and should I be concerned at all that something is wrong? Thank you

Comments

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,503

    Who installed it? Get them back. The pilot should not be going out, and after the initial run or two, you shouldn't smell anything. You say you smell oil. It's not gas you smell?

  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,664

    Hi, I've installed a number of those furnaces. On startup I have had some minor hot paint odors for the first day. Maybe there is an oil film on the steel innards to prevent rusting, but any odor should be gone after the first day. You say the furnace ran on high for hours. I only remember on or off. Is there now a high setting? If so turn it down to the low setting for nighttime. I'd be tempted to open windows for ventilation while running it also. The pilot going out is strange. Possibly gas pressure that's too high is blowing out the pilot?? I agree with @hvacnut the installer should go over the job.
    Yours, Larry

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