New to us 2008 Tour, stinky hot water!

[Sandfarmer]

Experiencing stinky rotten egg hot water, thought the rod must need replaced and discovered this hot water heater doesn't have one! The smell is definitely in the hot water heater, what's my next move? Any tricks appreciated.

[US1]

My boats hot water stunk like rotten eggs this summer. I just flushed the system with fresh water and all has been fine since.

[Old-Biscuit]

Atwood uses an Aluminum Tank hence no anode rod needed
(Suburban uses a Steel tank that is glass-lined hence the need for an anode rod)

Hydrogen sulfide gas and anaerobic bacteria, combined with the standing hot water inside the tank, are the main reasons for the rotten egg odor in hot water and water heaters.

You can try draining/flushing the water heater & hot water lines several times
You could also 'sanitize' the RV Plumbing lines...hot & cold using a bleach solution (1/4 cup bleach per 15 gallon capacity of fresh water tank)

Atwood also recommends a 'Vinegar Soak'
Bypass water heater
Drain WH Tank and reinstall drain plug
Remove T&P Relief Valve then pour in 2 gallons white vinegar plus 4 gallons water (6 gal tank) using funnel thru opening. Reinstall T&P
**3 gals vinegar/7 gals water for 10 gal tank

Turn water heater ON (electric if available)
Let it heat thru 4-5 complete heat/cool cycles W/O using it
**Let it cycle overnight
Close bypass
Then drain/flush couple times to remove the vinegar solution

I like to do a 'Power Flush'
Drain WH Tank...leave drain plug out
Turn water supply on and let it BLAST out thru drain hole
1/2" drain hole NEEDS some force behind it to effectively flush the crud out

[inlineskater]

I have run bleach through my whole water system including the tank. Dont heat the water with the bleach in it. Use 1/4 cup for 12 gal. Let it sit in there for 4 hours and flush untill no bleach smell. It it still smells repeat.

After you get it cleaned out always drain when not using and leave the plug out.

[youracman]

Originally Posted by inlineskater

I have run bleach through my whole water system including the tank. Dont heat the water with the bleach in it. Use 1/4 cup for 12 gal. Let it sit in there for 4 hours and flush untill no bleach smell. It it still smells repeat.

After you get it cleaned out always drain when not using and leave the plug out.

^^^^^^^^^^^^ X2 ^^^^^^^^^^^

I did this procedure and it worked fine. Only difference, I leave my plug in loosely (even over the winter) to let it the tank "breathe" but it keeps the critters out.

Pretty easy job; good luck with the fix.

Stay safe.

[TriMoot]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Atwood uses an Aluminum Tank hence no anode rod needed
(Suburban uses a Steel tank that is glass-lined hence the need for an anode rod)

Hydrogen sulfide gas and anaerobic bacteria, combined with the standing hot water inside the tank, are the main reasons for the rotten egg odor in hot water and water heaters.

You can try draining/flushing the water heater & hot water lines several times
You could also 'sanitize' the RV Plumbing lines...hot & cold using a bleach solution (1/4 cup bleach per 15 gallon capacity of fresh water tank)

Atwood also recommends a 'Vinegar Soak'
Bypass water heater
Drain WH Tank and reinstall drain plug
Remove T&P Relief Valve then pour in 2 gallons white vinegar plus 4 gallons water (6 gal tank) using funnel thru opening. Reinstall T&P
**3 gals vinegar/7 gals water for 10 gal tank

Turn water heater ON (electric if available)
Let it heat thru 4-5 complete heat/cool cycles W/O using it
**Let it cycle overnight
Close bypass
Then drain/flush couple times to remove the vinegar solution

I like to do a 'Power Flush'
Drain WH Tank...leave drain plug out
Turn water supply on and let it BLAST out thru drain hole
1/2" drain hole NEEDS some force behind it to effectively flush the crud out

Thanks Old-Biscuit! I’ve been planning on doing this in our rig as preventative maintenance but was completely sure about the process....now I am!

Thanks again!

[Sandfarmer]

Thanks! I went through the bleach flush procedure with the fresh water tank at first thinking that was the issue, it was really easy but I did it with the hot water heater bypassed. I think I will do that and then just run a bunch through it with the drain plug out to flush it good. Great info thanks guys!

[Lakejumper]

The vinegar soak that Atwood recommends did the job for me when I had the sulfuric odor. After you drain the tank, you need to remove the pressure relief valve and use a funnel to pour the solution in. You dilute the vinegar with water per the above posting.

[Calson]

Household bleach added with 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water is enough to take care of the bacteria in the hot water tank. People put in way too much bleach and then they have the chlorine smell and taste. When traveling I add 1/8 teaspoon of bleach per gallon of freshwater to take care of any critters that might be in the water.

Only municipal water systems (except Flint and Detroit and who knows who else) do any testing of the water for pathogens and contaminants, so bottled water and water from a campground hose bib or other such source can have lots of problems. I get my water for my house from a well and although it is tested by a lab every 90 days I still use a sediment filter and a UV filter to treat the water.

[2cyber71]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Atwood uses an Aluminum Tank hence no anode rod needed
(Suburban uses a Steel tank that is glass-lined hence the need for an anode rod)

Hydrogen sulfide gas and anaerobic bacteria, combined with the standing hot water inside the tank, are the main reasons for the rotten egg odor in hot water and water heaters.

You can try draining/flushing the water heater & hot water lines several times
You could also 'sanitize' the RV Plumbing lines...hot & cold using a bleach solution (1/4 cup bleach per 15 gallon capacity of fresh water tank)

Atwood also recommends a 'Vinegar Soak'
Bypass water heater
Drain WH Tank and reinstall drain plug
Remove T&P Relief Valve then pour in 2 gallons white vinegar plus 4 gallons water (6 gal tank) using funnel thru opening. Reinstall T&P
**3 gals vinegar/7 gals water for 10 gal tank

Turn water heater ON (electric if available)
Let it heat thru 4-5 complete heat/cool cycles W/O using it
**Let it cycle overnight
Close bypass
Then drain/flush couple times to remove the vinegar solution

I like to do a 'Power Flush'
Drain WH Tank...leave drain plug out
Turn water supply on and let it BLAST out thru drain hole
1/2" drain hole NEEDS some force behind it to effectively flush the crud out

Perfect solution