Maybe, but unlikely. The amount of gas that is released to the pilot is pretty small. I assume the heater is outside, where the slightest breeze would blow the gas away. I also assume you are having trouble lighting the pilot and you are wondering if maybe there is no gas, since you can't smell it? It may take a few minutes of holding the button down before the pilot will light, and once it does, you may not be able to see the flame in the light of day. If you wait until dark (or at least dusk) you should be able to see the flame of the pilot more easily. And don't forget to hold the button down for a minute or two after it lights to be sure the thermocouple has had time to heat up. If you release the button and the pilot goes out, you probably didn't wait long enough, but it will re-light easily. I hope you find this helpful. Good luck.