Community Forums

Ezmonee · 05-12-2017, 05:00 PM

I have a 2006 Alpine coach, my hot water has developed a rotten egg odor to it. How is the best way to treat this to get rid of the odor?

Vanslam · 05-12-2017, 05:17 PM

This might help you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL7AtXJYNcc

**NLOVNIT** · 05-12-2017, 05:22 PM

That smell comes from heating water with sulfur dissolved in it. We went through that one year being in a campground with well water. When we got home, we pulled the plug on the tank, flushed it with a wand attachment, changed out the filter & flushed/sanitized the entire system. Took a lot of chlorinated city water to get rid of all that nasty well water.

Lori-

Russ Silber · 05-12-2017, 05:25 PM

Chlorine flush and change anode .Draine tank and flush with chlorine or let city water run through it.

Mac99 · 05-12-2017, 07:19 PM

If you have a sacrificial anode in your water heater,
this is a sure sign that the anode needs to be changed.
From what you describe, sounds like it to me.

stang37 · 05-12-2017, 07:32 PM

I have the same issue in my B&M. I have a hot water heater upstairs that is not use regularly. Once the water has been heated and I turn off the heater the next time you try to use the water if has the rotten egg smell. I just flush the tank until the water doesn't smell. Usually takes about a tank full of water. We have our on well which doesn't have the rotten egg smell until you heat the water and let it stand in the hot water heater for several weeks.

Gary RVRoamer · 05-13-2017, 09:31 AM

You need to flush and sanitize the entire water system, not just the heater tank. The smell comes from sulfur, but odds are the sulfur comes from a microbe in the water system that likes warm, dark, and wet places. The germ is not harmful to humans, but releases stinky sulfur into the water.

The sulfur can also come from the external water source, but you would smell it in the cold water as well.

Ray,IN · 05-13-2017, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

You need to flush and sanitize the entire water system, not just the heater tank. The smell comes from sulfur, but odds are the sulfur comes from a microbe in the water system that likes warm, dark, and wet places. The germ is not harmful to humans, but releases stinky sulfur into the water.

The sulfur can also come from the external water source, but you would smell it in the cold water as well.

Well stated!

Mark D · 05-14-2017, 08:31 AM

We get that occasionally even when we drain the tank after a few months of not using. What I do is after filling I run the hot water and if the smell is there I turn on the heat and warm the tank up. Once fully heated I drain the tank with a little through each faucet. Once everything is cold I stop and heat it back up for the trip. I have only had to do it a few times, once I think I had to do it twice.

phays · 05-14-2017, 06:10 PM

Go here http://www.atwoodmobile.com/images/W...ceTri-Fold.pdf

Scroll down to page 2 and look on right hand side. This is the procedure I used on my Atwood water heater when "the" smell started. The only thing I would add is use a flush wand before treating and then use it afterwards as you don't get really good flushing action relying on the standard water input.

boyland · 05-15-2017, 09:30 AM

Flush is great advice

But depending on where you are at, I can tell you we live in central indiana.

If the anode rods are left in any water heaters in the area you get rotten egg smells the normal procedure around here is to remove the rods or add small amounts of chlorine. Been that way for about as long as i can remember around these parts.

In my motorhome i normally just fill it with city water that contains some chlorine and never have the issue. So it it is hot water only it might be the same issue