Kitchen Gas Appliances - Monessen vent free Gas log, sweet smell when burning

I just installed a set of Monessen vent free gas logs. When burning, there is a sweet odor. I have checked all the fittings. I am having no CO problems(at least my detector is not registering any) This smell appears to get stronger the longer the logs are on. I need help, my wife is all over me. Any suggestions?????

Hello Volman3. Welcome to my Gas Appliances forum and our Do-It-Yourself Web Site.

The odor being produced is that of incomplete combustion of natural and or propane gas. Now I'll will attempt to use the accurate name [Term} the odor and windup misspelling it terribly...Aldyhides.

Or is it spelled Aldahides or Aldihides...too much partying 4 me last night maybe????....:D

Anyway, you need to allow more intake air flow in to the fireplace, adjust to burners intake air and check the fireplaces dampener.

If the logs your using are named vent free, that may NOT mean no venting is required. Is the appliance installed inside a fireplace?

If so, then the fireplace dampener must be opened to allow fumes to vent outside and also allow fresh air from inside the room to enter the fireplace.

This topic and the products name {Vent Free} may be a perfect example, based upon how the actual product is designed to function, how words and terms become confusing, interchanged and missunderstood.

However, I am NOT inferring nor implying to insinuate or insult you personally or in any other way, that you are confussing terms etc. Simply as an example, during an operative time, to illustrate a point.

the logs are in a fireplace. My brother has the exact same logs installed in a totally vent free fireplace (no flue or chimney) His appear to work fine. We bought and installed at the same time from the same dealer. I took the logs out and just used the burner. Same problem. The odor is a sweet type odor that I think like you said, could be from inproper combustion. Since his appear to be working fine with no odor do you think it is the venting that is causing my problems????

Hi: volman3

If your using the log set without the logs and still getting an odor, there could be several problems:

#1
The burner flames could be incorrectly adjusted. An air shutter adjustment should be, if equipped on the burner tube, adjusted to remove some but not all of the yellow flames, if the are any yellow flames when the flames are not more then about a few inches above the logs. Check your and adjust as needed.

#2
Test for odors by leaving the fireplace glass doors fully opened, if the fireplace has glass doors. If no odor is present when the doors are opened, then an intake air flow is present when the glass doors are closed. Check for an intake air flow problem if this condition applies.

#3
If there is an odor present regardless of all attempts and variations have been tried, check the burners orifice size as compared to that of the one installed on your brothers log set.

#4
Other possibilites as to what the problem may be, the odor may be caused by something within the air of your home, deposits within the fireplace, chimney, another appliance venting into the same chimney and or vent pipe as the gas logs, a restricted chimney, restricted anr or restriction in the vent inside the chimney and or a restriction in the any of the same.

Check the chimneys vent cap or spark arrestor, if equipped.

#5
If there appears to be no problem found, swap burners with your brother and test again. If his burner produces no odors in your fireplace or house, keep his...hahaha...:)

#6
If the odor is still being produced by his burner, you have several choices:
A: #4 applies. Check all possibilites.
B: Return the set you have and request a replacement.
C: Hire a professional chimmney sweaper and ask questions.
D: Install an artifical electrically operated log set....???...:( and be done with it forever....????....:).....:D

Hopefully, someone else can offer you additional information to further assist you on this topic. Without my physically being there, about all the possibilities I can offer....:(

Regards & Good Luck, Your Forum Host & Moderator.
Tom_Bart.... Fast, Fair, Friendly & Highly Efficient....:)
TCB4U2B2B....Company Enterprises.
Energy Conservation Consultant & Gas Appliances Diagnostic Services Technician.

I took the logs off of the burners. Lit the burners. I brought home a combustible gas meter home from work( I work for a chemical company so these are fairly accesable.) It appears there may be that the "excess" gas is coming from the middle of the burners. My logs have 2 burner "tubes" facing horizontal and one small vertical tube connecting the two burners. I put the meter on this tube while burning and the meter about maxed out.. Does this mean I am getting too much gas to the burners and the burners are not burning off all the gas supplied? I tighted all fittings and checked with the meter no problem there. I don't know what to look for concerning an orfice. I know what one is but did not jump out at me when I took the logs apart. I smell no gas when the pilot light only is burning. Hope this additional info helps you understand my problem more. thanks again for any help.....
P.S. The flame looks to be consistent with my brothers unit as far as color and size go.

Hi once again Volman3

The answer to your question is NO. Unburned raw gas does not have a sweet smell as you first indicated the odor smelled like.

Secondly, if the crossover burner port, that tube between the 2 vertical burner tubes has flames, it's not a source of the odor.

Thirdly, an orifice will be installed either in the main gas inlets burner tube and or could be, if there is one on this unit, in the outlet side of a gas feed outlet which inserts into the main burner tube.

Fourthly, have you already attempted any of my prior suggestions???

Fifthly, are you sure your using the correct type of gas detector? There are several types for specials uses. The one used by many natural gas companies is called a Gas Trak. It is tuned and has the correct microchip sensing device installed to detect natural gas but can be tuned for other types of gasses.

Lastly,
There is a HUGE difference between accessible and employee theft...:)...I do hope you have permission to remove that tester from company property, unless you own the entire company...:D

Regards & Good Luck
TCB4U2B2B Company Enterprises.
Tom_Bart...Fast, Fair, Friendly & Highly Efficient.....:)
Gas Appliances Forum Moderator
Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Problem Diagnostics Technician.

PS:
This will be my final reply.
Once Again, Good Luck

I am using propane. The burners are horizontal, not vertical. The tube that connects the burners is vertical. I have tried all of the suggestions you were questioning me about. The detector I used is very sophistacated and expensive about ($5000). We use them all the time at work so I am fairly knowledgable about its use. It is used to detect combustable gases such as Propane, natural gas, acetone, methane etc. I was just wondering since the meter max's out at the small vertical tube (which is lit with very small flame) if maybe I a getting to much gas thru the burner and not burning it all off. Thanks for your trouble.
P.S. If I were going to steal a $5000 piece of equipment I would never advertise it on your site.