Why is there an odor when I first turn on the heater?

When first running the heater there may be an odor, which is normal as the heater has a surface coating on the internal parts. For the first several hours of operation, the coating reacts with the internal parts to permanently protect them. The odor is safe; if you are sensitive to the odor, it is recommended to run the heater in a well-ventilated area until the odor dissipates.