Gas Smell . . still

[LBcork]

Our water heater is 3 years old, in a finished basement, and we've never had a problem. Gas company said there was a small small leak, plumber came out 2x, said now there is no leak. My husband had to vacuum some debris out of the bottom? and he thought that was why it still smelled. Well . .he's given up and it still smells, I don't know where to begin. Any ideas. I have no clue about plumbing, but my kids play down there a lot, and I can't just let it alone.
Any help appreciated
It's a state select natural gas water heater.

[mbk3]

Did the gas co idenify where leak was? Why didn't they repair. I know from experience leaks on water heaters normally are : pilot tubing at control--pilot tubing at pilot--flex connector adapter not doped at control--flex connector both ends- Another that happens occasionally is flex adapter installed into control with teflon tape and cracks control. All will be found using soap solution.

[LBcork]

they did identify, and said a plumber would need to be called. But as I said before I don't know much, but our plumber, who is a friend of the family came by and just tightened something? A few days later it still smelled and he checked again, used some detector maybe? said there was no leak and showed us where to vacuum up some debris. But there is still a smell coming, and I wonder if I need to call the plumber again, or maybe it's a faulty heater. I think I have 6 year warranty, but I'm not sure. I don't know anything about soap solution.

[mbk3]

At this point you may want to call the gas co back and have them idenify the area for you.

[LBcork]

Is the water heater supposed to emit a small amount of smell? When I close the door to where the heater is you can't really smell it in the room. But when I open it, to give some ventilation, it really smells up the room. It's in an enclosed closet, in a room in the basement. There are cracks in the door that allow some ventilation. Our plumber said this was fine.

Thanks
It's so hard to troubleshoot when you don't know a thing about these things

[notuboo]

I have a problem when someone tells me they smell gas or even the byproducts of combustion when they enter a room and have to ventilate the area.

IF there is no other ventilation in the closet where the water heater is located, but only getting air from cracks around the door, your plumber should should be held criminally liable.

You are describing a confined area for combustible appliances and this requires venting either from an unconfined area or outside air. At the very minimum you need 2 vents, one that allows air 12 inches below ceiling level, and another a 12 inches off the ground. Now depending on where the air comes from will depend on the minimum size requirements.

You have a bad situation from your description, call the gas company and have them show you the venting I am writting about. If you have no venting, then have it installed immediately by someone qualified to do the work other than the family plumber.

Good luck...