I have a 50 gallon Rheem water heater in my basement. It's about eight years old and installed under previous homeowner. It's still under parts warranty with Rheem. Over the last three years, I have had replaced the Honeywell Gas valve professionally three separate times and once even the pilot control knob. Each time, I notice a very faint, but mostly consistent gas odor directly around the gas valve (both over it and under it). Sometimes, I can also smell the odor a few feet directly above the valve near where the Rheem logo appears on the picture shown below.
Gas company has come out before and they can't detect anything around any parts of the water hater or even on any of the gas lines in the vicinity including any joints. I even purchased a sniffer (TOPTES PT520A) than can detect 50PPM and above and nothing so far. I ordered another sniffer (Forensics Natural Gas detector) that goes down to 0PPM to see if there's an even lower concentration and am waiting for it to arrive. That said, multiple people have commented on noticing the odor. My sense of smell is quite sensitive and I have correctly detected previous gas leaks (confirmed by gas company visit) with an older oven and a dryer and have since replaced those. I'd rather be safe than sorry and natural gas concerns me.
Rheem states they have have no recalls on the Honeywell gas control valve. Depending on which Rheem support phone agent I speak to, some claim that it's normal to smell some gas within 6 inches since there is venting. Some plumbers have also backed this statement while others have said it's absolutely not ok to smelly any gas. All Rheem wants to do is keep sending me a new gas valve - the exact same one. Most recently yesterday another one was shipped to me that I will once again have to pay for to install. I'm wondering what would be the next logical step here. Should I just purchase a new water heater from a different company? Local plumber advised me to get rid of Rheem and go with Bradford White.
Hoping for some guidance here from more experienced folks. Just concerned for my family. Wondering if there is anything I can do differently.
Gas company has come out before and they can't detect anything around any parts of the water hater or even on any of the gas lines in the vicinity including any joints. I even purchased a sniffer (TOPTES PT520A) than can detect 50PPM and above and nothing so far. I ordered another sniffer (Forensics Natural Gas detector) that goes down to 0PPM to see if there's an even lower concentration and am waiting for it to arrive. That said, multiple people have commented on noticing the odor. My sense of smell is quite sensitive and I have correctly detected previous gas leaks (confirmed by gas company visit) with an older oven and a dryer and have since replaced those. I'd rather be safe than sorry and natural gas concerns me.
Rheem states they have have no recalls on the Honeywell gas control valve. Depending on which Rheem support phone agent I speak to, some claim that it's normal to smell some gas within 6 inches since there is venting. Some plumbers have also backed this statement while others have said it's absolutely not ok to smelly any gas. All Rheem wants to do is keep sending me a new gas valve - the exact same one. Most recently yesterday another one was shipped to me that I will once again have to pay for to install. I'm wondering what would be the next logical step here. Should I just purchase a new water heater from a different company? Local plumber advised me to get rid of Rheem and go with Bradford White.
Hoping for some guidance here from more experienced folks. Just concerned for my family. Wondering if there is anything I can do differently.
