Community Forums

bg4534 · 08-08-2021, 02:12 PM

We purchased a 2020 Tiffin Allegro Bus 45OPP a month ago. On each trip when running water (primarily in the kitchen) we get a rotten egg smell. Does anyone have instructions on how I can fix this? Not sure if it is an Aqua Hot or freshwater issue. Thanks.

Ray,IN · 08-08-2021, 05:59 PM

Run a 1/3 vinegar and water solution through the fresh water system, including water heater, kinda like cleaning your coffee maker.

Flush out water heater with a flushing wand to remove dirt and debris from flaking anode rod (Dometic brand only).
BTW vinegar is a mild sanitizer too.

jacwjames · 08-08-2021, 06:20 PM

Read this
https://thorntonandgrooms.com/help-g...ke-rotten-eggs

Not sure what kind of water heater you have but they do make a zinc anode rod for an RV water heater. https://www.amazon.com/Heater-Alumin.../dp/B0811M943D

A friend of mine had a bad sulfur smell in his water. They spent $$$ on a fancy water treatment system but still had sulfur smell. I convinced him to drain and clean his water heaters and put in new anode rods. This solved his problem.

MingusPirate · 08-08-2021, 06:55 PM

First, the smell comes from anaerobic bacteria in your water. It is a common problem, especially after the RV has sat for awhile. The way you make it go away is to sanitize the system with bleach. There are lots of videos showing you how to do this depending on your system.

Next, anodes for water heaters. If made from steel, zinc and magnesium will work fine. Aluminum requires magnesium. If you want an explanation I can give it to you. However, having a post graduate degree in chemical engineering, and having done corrosion studies I believe I am correct.

radar · 08-08-2021, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MingusPirate

First, the smell comes from anaerobic bacteria in your water. It is a common problem, especially after the RV has sat for awhile. The way you make it go away is to sanitize the system with bleach. There are lots of videos showing you how to do this depending on your system.

Next, anodes for water heaters. If made from steel, zinc and magnesium will work fine. Aluminum requires magnesium. If you want an explanation I can give it to you. However, having a post graduate degree in chemical engineering, and having done corrosion studies I believe I am correct.

Good to know.

**Lt Dan** · 08-08-2021, 07:12 PM

After you sanitize, don't forget to change out your whole house and refrigerator filters. I just recently had to sanitize ours after being at a RV park that has non chlorinated well water.

MingusPirate · 08-09-2021, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lt Dan

After you sanitize, don't forget to change out your whole house and refrigerator filters. I just recently had to sanitize ours after being at a RV park that has non chlorinated well water.

You should pull the filters before sanitizing and throw them away. Next, we use the entry or whole house filter housing minus filter to add the bleach. Put in the amount of bleach you want, screw it together, and run it into your fresh water tank to run through the rest of the system. Don't forget to bypass the water heater.

luvlabs · 08-09-2021, 07:24 AM

Final piece of advice - if you are not going to use the motorhome continuously and it is going to sit long periods between trips, simply pull your low water drains, drain the water tank, and drain the water heater.

garykk · 08-09-2021, 09:26 AM

I am assuming you sanitized your system before using it. What most folks seem to forget is to sanitize the water hose. There is a way to use the onboard pump to pump the be,a hose solution thru the supply hose. Do a search here on how.

Ricci · 08-09-2021, 11:13 AM

Hi - A 2020 Bus doesn't have a water heater in the traditional sense. The Aquahot does that function so forget about anode rods. The system needs to be sanitized as has been stated above. Do remove the whole house filter prior to sanitizing and throw it out and insert fresh.

Tom

bg4534 · 08-09-2021, 06:19 PM

Thank you. Good information. I have seen differing comments about using bleach vs vinegar vs hydrogen peroxide to sanitize the system. Do you have a suggestion to use since I have the Aqua Hot system?

Ricci · 08-09-2021, 08:44 PM

Hi - Use chlorine, 1/4 cup per 15 gallons of tank capacity. Let it sit for 2 or 3 hours only. It is corrosive so Aquahot now says to use it but not to stay in the system for long periods. (They have changed their approach over the years). Flush it well with fresh water so there is no residual. Then get yourself a water softener as your Bus plumbing will do much better with soft water.

Tom

Country Road · 08-10-2021, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricci

Hi - Use chlorine, 1/4 cup per 15 gallons of tank capacity. Let it sit for 2 or 3 hours only. It is corrosive so Aquahot now says to use it but not to stay in the system for long periods. (They have changed their approach over the years). Flush it well with fresh water so there is no residual. Then get yourself a water softener as your Bus plumbing will do much better with soft water.

Tom

Ditto on the softener. We use a Double On The Go Softener. With 2 people it will last a couple weeks with normal use before having to flush. It’s a great protection device for your rv.

BradS · 08-10-2021, 08:54 PM

Here is what I do. I had "plastic" smell and taste when RV was new. This took care of it.

Sanitize RV water system
1. Level RV
2. Drain all water from tank using drain valve, open all facets (hot and cold)
(outside shower, kitchen sink, 2 bath sinks, 2 head shower, toilet)
(washer and dishwasher)
3. Remove water filter element (red button on top relieves pressure)
4. Close drain value and all facets
5. Mix 2 gals water and ¼ to 1 cup chlorine bleach and syphon or pour into water tank
6. Repeat step 5 above (twice…) use 6 gals total (tank = 90 gals / 15 = 6 gals?)
7. Fill tank with fresh water
8. Using water pump, run all facets, flush toilet until you smell bleach
9. Loosen city water check valve to allow chlorine solution to back fill
10. Release pressure at water heater. Use plug to drain water heater while filling with fresh water. Replace drain plug.
11. Let stand for 4+ hours
12. Drain and refill water tank with fresh water
13. Run facets until you DON’T smell bleach[1]
14. Empty holding tanks
15. Add chemicals and about 1 gal water to black tank

[1] You may need to repeat steps 12 and 13 above to remove all bleach