water heater smell in the cabin

Anyone ever had a problem with water heater odors coming in the cabin. Last night there was high-winds beating on us all night. About 1:00 am the water heater fired-up and we could smell the exhaust, not a gas smell, and when we opened up the doors under the kitchen sink it was real strong. The water heater starts and fires normally and we've never smelled this before. How can we smell this inside when it's a direct vent system?

Is it possible that some critters have built a nest in the exaust vent?

We had a terrible smell from the water heater area but since we turned it to electric it is gone. Ours would smell when it kicked on too, but not all the time. Had it checked several times but no one could find a problem. Even thought it was a possible gas leak. But since it is on electric no problem:)) Haven't used it on gas for our 2 months of traveling since we are hooked up every night. All is well

Tom

I belive we have tracked the problem to the gas supply. The auto LP switch-over did not work correctly and I think the water heater was getting just enough gas to light but the combustion was incomplete and smelled. It became more evident we had a gas problem when the furnace quit too. I should go with electic operation since I have a Suburban SW6DE model water heater. The 15 amp breaker for the water heater is in the on position but the outside on/off toggle is pinned in the off position. Now I just need to get the sequence for electric operation down.
Thanks for the assistance everyone.

Ron,

I pretty much use just the electric. Turned on the toggle switch at the tank. Use the breaker to turn it on/off. Never used the gas unless I couldn't plug in, and in a RV park you're not paying for electricity but you sure are for gas. Still do it that way even though both of our 5thwheels are mostly permanently parked. I probably will install a standard household switch, off to the stove side under the sinks this year. Figure about $10 for parts. Pull the power cable out of the box the unit is plugged into, run it up to the switch, then back down from the switch to the box. Only because we turn it on/off depending on whether we're using it. We park it during the summer, use it like a cabin and the water comes from someones well which has been known to go off on occasion and I've grown attached to the heating element after all these years. In the winter it's in the driveway, winterized and we head south to the other one.

ok stupid question while we are on the topic. How can you tell if your hot water tank has an electric element. We have the breaker on ours as well and it is also pinned in the off position. I just always assumed it was propane only...

If you have a breaker and a switch on the heater, then you do have the electric element. Just be positive that tank is full before you turn it on. Go ahead...ask me how I know that!

John