Pool and spa heaters offer warm, comfortable swimming and relaxation throughout the year. Almost every pool heating system runs off of a gas line, other than those that take advantage of the sun’s heat. If you have a pool heater on your equipment pad, it’s time to find out why it smells like gas.

Your pool heater smells like gas because it’s leaking from one of the galvanized unions or couplings. A crack or leak will slowly spread gas throughout the area, which can be quite dangerous. Turn off the heater, close the nearest gas line, and call a repairman as soon as possible to seal the leak.

We’ll cover why you shouldn’t ever smell gas coming from a pool heater, what you can do, and how much gas pressure your heater needs to prevent a leak. We’ll also talk about what causes these common problems and how you can prevent them.

It isn’t normal to smell gas from a pool heater because it means something’s leaking or burning inefficiently. You should know where the gas shutoff valve is located, so you can turn it off if you start smelling gas while using the heater. This simple tip can save plenty of repairs and provide peace of mind.

Here’s what you should know about smelling gas from a swimming pool heater:

Smelling gas from a pool heater means there’s a leak somewhere in the gas line. You should call a repairman to find out what’s causing the gas smell because it could be dangerous. The article goes on to explain that many gasses hang lower to the ground, so you might smell them more on the equipment pad.
It’s normal to smell gas if you just installed the heater, but that should go away in less than a minute. I’ve installed hundreds of swimming pool heaters and smelling gas is a part of the process. The strong fumes hang around in the galvanized or black pipe long enough for you to smell them when you switch unions, even if the valves are closed.
Always know where the shutoff valves are located before using a pool heater. Smelling gas isn’t good, but severe problems can be avoided by shutting off the pool’s gas valve. Look for a ball valve with a knob on the gas line, then turn it sideways so it stops. This action will stop the gas from flowing to the swimming pool heater.

If your swimming pool’s heater smells gassy, it’s time to get to the root of the problem. Repairs are an absolute must since something’s wrong.

So, what can you do if something smells a bit off around the heater? Try these four suggestions:

There’s a leak on one of the unions caused by vibrations or wear and tear. Pool equipment pads often have subtle vibrations caused by the pump pushing and pulling water. A clogged pool filter can exaggerate the vibrations, shaking the unions and potentially loosening them.
A union, coupling, or pipe wasn’t sealed tight enough. It’s important to tighten a pool heater’s gas line with channel locks to prevent leaks. Using your hands won’t be enough to create an airtight seal; You’ll end up smelling gas within a week or less. Always use hand tools to tighten couplings, unions, elbows, and so on.
Someone didn’t put enough pipe thread sealant to create a complete seal. The Permatex Black Pipe Joint Compound is what you’re looking for if you want to achieve a top-notch seal on your galvanized or black pipe for your pool heater. It locks away moisture and prevents leaks for many years down the line.
The heater is burning inefficiently, causing the cause to leak rather than heat. Old, worn heaters start burning poorly, causing the gas to leak since it’s not being burned properly. Call a pool repairman and have him inspect the heater to find out what parts you need to fix the gas leak.

why does my pool heater smell like gas?