Having central AC/Heat replaced this morning. One crewman in attic to start disconnecting. Turned the natural gas off. About this time the water heater (gas) next to the outside condenser started having a white cloud rise from it. It had an acrid chemical smell. No burning or natural gas stink. An oil like substance is running down from the upper cover of the heater. And I suspect the cloud was aerosolized oil of some kind.I have every medical condition known to mankind but feel ok. One of the young workers feels light headed. I have no clue, cannot think why oil should be in a natural gas water heater, and am worried about toxicity for the kid. Suggestions?

From what you described, I cannot see ANY RELATIONSHIP between him turning the gas off and what you observed.

Well the A/C guys pulled out due to terror. Will be back Monday. Was trying to get a plumber to fix today so A/C guys could go back to work. One plumber came out to look at it. Said it was a steam leak that probably picked up the Oder from the mold, mildew, and green anole poop inside the internal insulation that built up over the past 2 decades! Just a cosmetic coincidence to make me poorer! I knew it couldn’t be an oil. Probably will die of some exotic lung disease from the biologicals. LOL.

Edit: thanks hj



Edited 2 times.

Did he say WHERE the steam came from that was leaking? Sounds like he was trying to Dazzle you with brilliance, or Baffle you with B.S.

Hi hj,
The steam came from somewhere inside the water heater and vented out of the top. As it cooled off some condensed and ran down the exterior with a light brown color. I guess like a tea. I can see condensed water on the cold intake pipe. I guess with the cool morning air and our usual high humidity, the cloud was able to linger until the cold water replaced the hot water in the tank?

"steam" = water vapor



actually, very accurate description as steam is an invisible gas and you can only see condensed vapor

==============================================

"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638



Edited 1 times.