Our fresh water smells like rotten eggs

[TheNKs]

We just got our Entegra Emblem 36U back from 3 weeks at the dealer for service and the fresh water smells like rotten eggs. After having it de-winterized in mid-March we took it camping and it was fine, but now after sitting unused at the dealer the water smells awful. Any advice?

[bpu699]

Did you fill it with well water?

Just drain and refill...

[NLOVNIT]

The sulfur in untreated water will give off this smell. Empty tank, flush lines, sanitize then fill with treated water.

[SomeDay]

You need to sanitize your whole system. This is what we do actually at the start of each season after dewinterising:

Step 1: Turn Off Your Water Heater and Drain Your Freshwater System
You don’t want to drain the freshwater system with the water heater on. This will damage the water heater. You need to turn it off and let it cool before you drain the water. It’s not a bad idea to have the water pump on to ensure you can get all of the water out of the system before you start sanitizing.

Step 2: You’ll need 1/4 cup of bleach for every 16 gallons of water in your freshwater tank. This also equates to one ounce per eight gallons. Make the calculations based on those ratios. That means. If you have a 20-gallon freshwater tank on your RV, you’d need 2.5 ounces of bleach to sanitize your system.

Don’t add the bleach straight to your freshwater tank. Dilute it first. Take that amount of bleach you’ve calculated for your specific RV and add it to at least a gallon of water. Then pour this water-bleach mixture into the freshwater tank with the help of a funnel.

Step 3: Fill the Freshwater Tank with Potable Water and Pump It Through The System. The next step is to fill the freshwater tank with clean, potable water. Make sure to fill it all the way. This will ensure that the tank and the rest of the system get fully sanitized. You also need to make sure the water with the bleach solution gets all the way through the system. Turn on all the faucets to ensure the bleach water makes its way to every part of your freshwater system. Once the water is circulating through, you can turn them off again.

Step 4: Let The Water Sit For 12 Hours The solution will take time to really sanitize your system well. You can’t just run some bleach-water through your freshwater system in a few minutes and call it good. I suggest letting the solution sit in your freshwater system overnight. It’s a great way to make sure it gets the job done.

Step 5: Drain the Tank and Then Flush the System After at least 12 hours of letting the RV sit with the bleach solution in the freshwater system, you need to drain all the water out again. Then refill it with fresh water and start circulating that water through the system with your water pump. Open all the faucets and flush the system until you can no longer smell the bleach.

It may take a few times for you to get all of the bleach smell out. Don’t worry about doing this step multiple times. I’d suggest continuing to flush the system even after the bleach smell is gone. This will ensure you eliminate all of the sanitizing chemicals from the system.

You should also change any filters you have in your system if pertinent.

[TheNKs]

We tried draining the fresh water tank and refilling it, but it still smells. We will sanitize the system. Thanks SomeDay for the step-by-step instructions!

[chunker]

If you have a whole house filter, replace the element. That alone can cause the sulphur smell.

[SomeDay]

Originally Posted by TheNKs

We tried draining the fresh water tank and refilling it, but it still smells. We will sanitize the system. Thanks SomeDay for the step-by-step instructions!

You are welcome, also be sure to sanitize your hose and I also run a quick hot/cold cycle on the washer/dryer. If you have a fridge filter/water lines etc check them also. I tend to also put a small amount of solution into the U bends throughout the coach. We had the smell once really bad, and it did take a few flushes and sitting overnight soaking prior to get it resolved.

[777 Driver]

For those of you (I'm included in that group) who have used bleach to sanitize their fresh water system, a fellow iRV2 member has shared with me this document: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...77431-0001.pdf

That document is a data sheet that pertains to corrosion protected screws on macerators that are installed on Entegra coaches from MY2016 to MY2021 and contains this statement:

The screws used in the Thetford macerator assembly are a double-coated screw to prevent corrosion. However, they may be susceptible to corrosion when using certain chemicals in the drain system. To prevent corrosion, avoid usage of bleach and other caustic chemicals.

You've been warned.

Take care,
Stu

[Old Scout]

How is your water heated--propane/electric or Hyro/Aqua-hot?

[Zephyr2]

A trick I learned winterizing boats for close to 40 years is to never ever use propylene glycol (the pink stuff) in your freshwater system. It is what everyone uses and is the recommended stuff, but it always leaves your water system with a terrible taste and smell. The only method I have found that works reliably is to empty as much water as possible from all parts of the system, then pump at least 4-5 liters of the cheapest vodka through the system. Works like a charm and the water tanks and hoses remain odor and crud free. I have been doing this to boats in New England since about 1980.

[Tom78418]

I bypass the AquaHot when sanitizing. There are bypass valves in the cabinet for this purpose. That is the advice I received when I first got the coach. Something to do with incompatibility of chlorine and the piping in the AquaHot. I stand to be corrected, but given the cost of replacing the unit I followed the advice. Getting ready to sanitize the coach again and will do the same.

[TandW]

Originally Posted by bpu699

Did you fill it with well water?

Just drain and refill...

Sulphur reducing iron bacteria. Harmless except to the nose. Disinfect the source and the RV with liquid chlorine bleach. Circulation and then an overnite soak is best. Then rinse. Good luck!!!

[mike625]

Here is the doc I found from AquaHot. I run it thru my aquahot but I've set it up so I can flush it without flushing the rest of the system.

[777 Driver]

Originally Posted by Tom78418

I bypass the AquaHot when sanitizing. There are bypass valves in the cabinet for this purpose. That is the advice I received when I first got the coach. Something to do with incompatibility of chlorine and the piping in the AquaHot. I stand to be corrected, but given the cost of replacing the unit I followed the advice. Getting ready to sanitize the coach again and will do the same.

Hi Tom,

Aqua-Hot has published (dated August 1, 2013) a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB0813150) that does describe the hazard of prolonged exposure to bleach, but, goes on to describe a process of disinfecting the Aqua-Hot water system by using bleach as a short term disinfectant.

Here's a link to that TSB: Water System Disinfection.pdf

The current Owner's Manual for my Aqua-Hot (450D) contains this:

Aqua-Hot systems contain copper tubing and are not compatible to prolonged exposure to sodium hypochlorite (bleach or liquid bleach). Using products containing bleach, including water refreshers, may cause corrosion of the domestic water coil, resulting in a catastrophic failure of the Aqua-Hot system by creating leaks that cannot be repaired. This damage is not covered by the Aqua-Hot warranty.

If disinfecting the hot water heating system be sure to follow NFPA 1192 Standard on Recreational Vehicles’ “Instructions for Disinfection of Potable Water Systems.” These instructions can be found by visiting the National Fire Protection Association online at www.nfpa.org.

That doesn't seem to conflict with the TSB which allows short term use of bleach.

Although you may not be "technically" entirely correct, I don't think you'll go wrong by carefully protecting your Aqua-Hot system from potential damage. Since the bypass process is quite easy, that's certainly not a bad idea.

Take care,
Stu