I recently got my hot water heater fixed. Works great. But I sometimes smell gas. Just a little, it lingers more than the initial fireup of the water heater, but it is very faint. I have a working brand new gas/carbon monoxide detector in the same room and it has not went off. Should I be worried, I just had this water heater fixed after being without hot water for a few days. I really do not want the gas company to come in and wind up shutting the water heater off on me or worse the gas in the house. I mean the detector would go off if it was dangerous, should I be worried anyway?

Did anyone pressure test the fittings after the install? Why do you not want the gas company to inspect?Why not have the person who "just fixed" it come back. Gas detectors work on the Lower Explosive Limit. That can be well above the odor threshold and may not trigger the alarm depending on location in the room. Get it looked at professionally.

I agree with ma0641, get the person who installed the water heater to check it.

I have to question your judgment though if you would rather risk waking up one morning 10,000 feet in the air than to be with out hot water for another day or two. Don't mess around with gas, get it fixed

I'd worry...

Then I would make a soap solution up in a spray bottle (empty a full spray bottle into a bowl if needed) by mixing 25% liquid soap to 75% water. Tilt the bottle to mix... don't go shaking it all up.

Insert the spray mechanism into the bottle and spray until the soap comes out.

Then, spray the gas pipe, the gas valve, the fittings in question, etc. Wait 5 minutes and spray again and then watch carefully and give it another 5 minutes.

If you have a leak bubbles should show up. If you find a bubble then immediately shut the shutoff OFF at the water heater. Then, in the morning, call the plumber back and get him back to properly test and fix all.

If no bubble forms but you are still worried then as Hkstroud said, just shut the gas off at the shutoff yourself and call the plumber ASAP.

Good luck!

Mark

PS: By the way, was a plumbing/gas permit pulled? It should have been as water heaters can be very dangerous if installed improperly, OK? Click on Water Heater Blast! (http://www.waterheaterblast.com) for more info.

Also, your "gas/carbon monoxide" detector probably only detects carbon monoxide. Read the instructions to see if it mentions combustible gases. Regardless, if you can smell the natural gas, it is there. Have it repaired as the others have stated before.