Community Forums

Justinmartin · 07-10-2017, 08:53 PM

What would make hot water smelly???
It's only smelly when you turn it on for the first few min until hot water tank starts to empty then it smells fine
You can' turn it on hot right when you get setup and water smells funny you can then turn it onto cold and it's fine
Don't matter if it's water from onboard tank or external hookup

Could it be gas leaking into hot water tank maybe?? Don't seem to be loosing propane ,,,,,

c_oneil · 07-10-2017, 08:58 PM

In some areas there are minerals in the water supply that can react with the anode rod inside the hot tank and make a smell. Have you changed the city water supply lately?

lancslad · 07-10-2017, 09:01 PM

Probably due to crud in the water heater. Turn it off, let it cool and then remove the anode. Flush the heater out with a hose and if the anode is half gone or more replace it. It's not propane, there's no way to get it to the water. You also may need to sanitize the whole water system including the storage tank.

ralph0808 · 07-11-2017, 08:58 AM

I flushed my tank about every six months and thought it was reasonably clean every time. But there is space beneath the heating element and corners that the crude builds up that does not flush out the drain. I was having problems with mine and decided to pull the oversized element and the crude had made a bridge across the element at its narrow point. Once the element was out I still had crude from hardwater coming out seemed like forever before I was satisfied that I had most of it out. I made sure to put the correct watt rated element back in. They will draw lots of current and may not trip the breaker, just burn the plastic off a wire nut and scare the crap out of me. So anyway when flushing the tank make sure to give it a good flushing!!! Especially the older tanks that have been used for years (13) and still working. Replacing the anode rod in the suburban brand also when it needs it.

raineman · 07-11-2017, 09:06 AM

Don't forget to replace the anode on a regular basis (suburban) They tend to last a year. I am always amazed at the crud that comes out of the hot water heater when flushed. Amazon sells a wand that connects to a garden hose for flushing the tank.

**CLIFFTALL** · 07-11-2017, 09:11 AM

I guess you all know it's a Suburban because Atwood doesn't have an anode.

RVPioneer · 07-11-2017, 09:35 PM

Super helpful Clifftall, thanks.

JohnLori · 07-12-2017, 10:31 AM

We had this problem once, and figured out it was anaerobic bacteria. This article explains it. We used chlorine bleach to get rid of it, but the article states peroxide is a better choice.

Solving rotten-egg odor in water heaters with aluminum/zinc, powered anodes

Denny H. · 07-12-2017, 01:30 PM

Mine doesnt have an anode. The water had a metallic smell to it. A couple hundred gallons of city water throught it helped only somewhat. Today i made a 3/16 copper tube wand to garden hose and went in through the drain plug hole. At one point then i got lots of black stuff to flush out..now it smells pure as can be.

tjshively · 07-12-2017, 04:31 PM

2005 Alpine Coach, 36FDDS
Mine stinks bad after the coach sits for a month with water in the tank. I drain the tank and flush it with one of those hose end tubes you can buy at Walmart. Then I put two ounces of bleach into the anode rod drain hole with a turkey injector syringe. Replace the anode rod which I power brush to get all the crap off and fill the tank. I'm going to try that peroxide
method.