I have to be honest, I don’t know alot about these so now is my turn to learn hopefully, my daughter rented this house she tells me this thing smells like gas all the time, its in the house by the furnace, can this regulator be in the house and why does it stink like fuel (natural gas) ok let me have it
I have seen them leak before. Lot of fittings there. Try one of these to pinpoint the problem.
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Well I have a a TIF, but she is couple 100 miles from me, I will go see her in a week or so, I will bring it along
Depending on the manufacturer some of the regulators require a 1/4” vent to the exterior. There is also a check valve built into the housing that may be sticking. Best to have a licensed plumber evaluate and replace it if necessary. Whatever you do don’t check the leak with soapy water.
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Tell us why. I just watched a plumber test a gas line with a spray bottle of soapy water.
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I will wait to hear Martin’s reason, but as for me:
I have been called by a dozen or more plumbers out on a follow up to my inspection saying they cannot find any leak. I ask them if the have a combustible gas leak detector and they respond no, just soap and water. I tell them they need to get a real leak detector!
Now, I don’t check every gas line with a leak detector, only the ones that I can smell a gas odor. So these soapy plumbers are calling me saying they can’t find the leak when there is gas odor present. I don’t think you will find you gas company employee out in the field with soap and water testing for leaks!
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will cause the small ball in the check valve to stick and always remain opened or closed.
This what Martin told
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Bryan’s got it right 
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Thats what I like about this place, always learning
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Soap can enter the gas limiting device and make the little ball check stick. The diaphragm will not be able to operate correctly.
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I use Snoop. Learned about it as a medical gas installer in laboratory’s and hospitals. Great stuff and it doesn’t leave a sticky film behind.
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Bryan, propane and natural gas do not naturally have a smell. Gas companies add that rotten egg smell so human can detect a leak. So IMO if you smell it there is a leak or discharge somewhere, keep looking.
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Definitely a lot of fittings there. Might also ask her for some info on the furnace/water heater/anything else down there until you get there to look. Entirely possible the smell could be prompted by backdrafting or damaged equip
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CO is an odorless, colorless gas. Natural gas has mercaptan added to make it smell like rotten eggs (sulfur).
Odds are good that the check ball everyone is worried about sticking is already sticking. Soapy water works just fine, simply tape the check ball orifice with some painters tape.
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Obviously (or not maybe - I’m on slim sleep at the moment so who knows) I wasn’t talking about CO on a backdraft.
Many HE gas units (and especially true of tankless water heaters) have been known to dump a noticeable level of gas as part of the startup cycle. Depending on the orientation of the venting… an opposite-of-intended-direction (back) draft can very easily cause that discharge to be noticed inside the home. Hence my suggestion for him getting more info on whatever equip is in that area.
I never heard of this. What is the source of this information?
Way too high tech. You just need to take the right cat along on your jobs.
https://www.google.com/search?q=sandi+martin+cat+gas+leak
(Friends of ours in Lake Oswego)
So, the real question/comment is: Why haven’t you had her call the gas company? They come out for free and if they find a problem, the landlord can’t say it doesn’t exist.
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Thats exactly what I did
Ross flirting with the pizza lady: “Hey, you know that smell that gas has… They put that in.”
Pizza Lady (Caitlin): “What?”
Ross: “The Gas is odorless. But they add the smell so you know when there’s a leak”
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Great skit and I prefer JA’s detectors for cold settings… 
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