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Newmark · 02-25-2022, 11:21 PM

I'm camped In AZ where I have water and electric hook up. We've been here a few weeks and I'm noticing a rotten egg smell when using the cold water at the kitchen sink. It only lasts for 5-10seconds then the odor goes away. I go to use again 20-30 minutes later, still ok, but an hour or more, the odor is back. Cold water side only.
I have a 2018 Newmar 3412 all electric coach.
I bleach sanitized the tank and plumbing lines a couple of months ago, maybe it's time to do it again.
Anyone else have this problem and if so please respond.
Thanks, Mark

craigd853 · 02-26-2022, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newmark

I'm camped In AZ where I have water and electric hook up. We've been here a few weeks and I'm noticing a rotten egg smell when using the cold water at the kitchen sink. It only lasts for 5-10seconds then the odor goes away. I go to use again 20-30 minutes later, still ok, but an hour or more, the odor is back. Cold water side only.
I have a 2018 Newmar 3412 all electric coach.
I bleach sanitized the tank and plumbing lines a couple of months ago, maybe it's time to do it again.
Anyone else have this problem and if so please respond.
Thanks, Mark

Hello,
Sir the smell is sulphur in the water which normally happens when the water has been in the tank for too long. Are you currently using a fresh water hose or are you using stored water in your tank. I would suggest flushing the system by draining everything and mixing bleach with the water in your fresh water tank and open up all of your lines individually purging all of the stale water out and letting the bleached water sit in the lines for a half day and then draining. Refill freshwater tank and buy some conditioner for your water, this will stabilize the water for a longer period of time in your tank. Hope this helps, sure others will be along here shortly to add to suggestions as well.

Mudfrog · 02-26-2022, 09:02 AM

Not sure if this could be a cause since the OP's sulfur smell comes and goes but thought I'd throw it out.

We once stayed at a campground that was on well water. The water had a strong sulfur smell to it but I knew from testing of water at my Grandfather's home, that it probably wasn't harmful. The only thing, that smell stayed in the plumbing for at least a year afterwards before finally dissipating.

Water heaters sometimes develop the smell, I think from bacteria?,, but not sure that would be the problem in the OP's case.

Old-Biscuit · 02-26-2022, 09:16 AM

Do you have an under sink filter for Kitchen Faucet?

ArtJoyce · 02-26-2022, 09:21 AM

It's the the water. Change your filter or get one for odor and taste.

Domo · 02-26-2022, 08:35 PM

OP - I know you've troubleshot and are sure the smell is from the cold water only.

However, one source of the sulphur smell in an RV is the anaerobic bacteria in your RV water heater tank reacting with the sulfur and magnesium of the anode rod (assuming you have one). I'm suggesting that when the hot water is used, the bacteria is distributed into the faucet where it can reside until being pushed out by the next flood of cold water - just a thought to consider.

Even if that's not the direct cause - you're on the correct path by sanitizing the entire system.

dfuelman · 02-28-2022, 10:08 AM

The stale water smell can come from the campground water also if the campground uses well water and does not flush their water system on a regular basis. If you happen to be on a dead end feeder line with not many other users, water can sit stagnant in the water system itself and go stale.

I used to have to suffer with this at a local campground years ago. They had limited water supply and refused to flush the system. Water would stink something awful later in the summer.

Newmark · 03-02-2022, 02:32 PM

It's been a few days since I sanitized my water lines. The odor is gone.
I used a strong bleach solution and sucked it up through the winterizing tube and only ran it through the kitchen faucet. I let it stay in the line for 4-5 hours, then ran several gallons through the cold and hot lines. Some ugly bacteria or something else came out of both lines for a short period, then ran clear.
I'm a new owner of this rig and I think it's sat for awhile. I Sanitized the tanks and all lines before this trip, but there may be a low point in the line to the kitchen sink.
All seems good for now.
Thanks to those that replied!