Ventless gas heater smells like kerosene

Your problem is common. When you turn the heater on the gas comes on and it is ignited by the pilot light or the electronic ignition. The small amount of gas that enters the heater before ignition occurs causes the odor. Usually the odor dissipates in a few minutes. If you have liquid propane as your gas source, the odor will be more noticeable than if you have natural gas.

If you use propane, contact the company and complain as they may be able to help. If you have natural gas, call the company as they have people who come out for free to check on these issues.

good luck with this.

It is posible that your heater is burning fumes from paint, varnish or stain and some times carpet cleaners or other household cleaners. I work for a utility company. We get called to homes for a lighter fluid/kerosene smell quit often. Most of the time it is from the fumes burning off on a standing pilot gas oven. The odor collects in the oven and is released in the customers face when they open the oven door. This will happen with any open flame appliance when exposed to these fumes.

I have the same problem, the heater smells like kerosene sometimes, but not all the time. It is an infer-red type.
But not just at first then it goes away, It stinks for as long as you burn it, I had to shut if off also.
I don't think is is the gas left over from ignition that causes this. I have cleaned it, and put a small tube hooked up to my sweeper, up each tube that combines the gas and air, before it goes to the ceramic and it helped for a while. but I think I will need a new heater, but this time it won't be a Pro-com.