Water Heaters - Faint gas smell to water heater

I have a Jetglas water heater, model M-I-40T5LN-8. I don't know how old it is, but the house is about 14 years old, so I can say it's between 5 and 14 years old. There is a very faint gassy smell at the gas control knob (the one that says "ON-PILOT-OFF"). You really have to get your face right up to it to be able to smell it, and there's no gas smell around the heater elsewhere, on the floor, or in the basement. It's probably been like this for awhile, I just never had occasion to put my face up to the gas control knob before. Is this normal? If not and I need to get it serviced, how urgent is it, given that there's no detectable gas odor in the atmosphere?
Thanks!

Hello: Brick

Not all that uncommon of a situation or condition. Usually not one that is hazardous either. A condition that can be fixed but not often by a do it yourself person. What happens is the grease around the core valve dries out. Requires the removal of the core which is under the knob. Than the removal of the retaining ring, core removed, regreased and reinstalled.

At other times, simply rotating the knob fully off and than back on several times slowly, spreads the existing grease on that core and stops that very minor smell. Pilot will than have to be relighted after this process.

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Thanks, you've answered all my concerns, and that sounds like good news. I think I'll try the rotate and spread grease approach first. Do I need to shut off the valve supplying gas to the heater or otherwise turn off the heater when I do this, or is the amount of gas that will escape while the pilot is out negligible?

I agree with Sharp Advice, this not a DIY project. When you remove the core you have taken away the input adjustment on those old Day & night Jetglass heaters. If you have to ask about turning off gas to heater than I believe you are over your head. I mean no disrespect, thinking of your safety. This must be at least a 25 year old heater, probably more I haven't seen one in at least that long (around here anyway)

It's definitely not more than about 14 years old, that's how old the house is. It may be younger, I don't know if the previous residents replaced it. I am absolutely not planning on taking out the core by myself (which I have no question would require turning off the gas). I was referring to his suggestion in the second paragraph:

"At other times, simply rotating the knob fully off and than back on several times slowly, spreads the existing grease on that core and stops that very minor smell. Pilot will than have to be relighted after this process."

I was just wondering if turning the knob on briefly while the pilot is out requires closing the valve supplying the heater to prevent pilot gas from being discharged. I read somewhere else on this forum that gas from a briefly unlit pilot is not that big a deal.

Sorry I didn't understand your question. It will be alright to turn knob back & forth as you mentioned. I would probably turn temp selector down just in case t'couple hasn't cooled down & safety hasn't closed.

No problem, thanks for the info! From what I've read here, if this doesn't take care of the issue and it's early 90's vintage, I'll probably just buy a whole new water heater, rather than getting someone to service this one. It sounds like they don't last much longer than this.