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 stinky water (rotten egg)		  New Topic  Reply to Topic
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skunkhome

USA
12827 Posts
Posted - 09/07/2011 :  22:38:04  Show Profile Send skunkhome a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I was out in my camper the other day and noticed that the water out of the hot water tap had a real rotten egg smell. I believe this is not that unusual when a water heater sits without heat and unused for a period of time. I found instructions in my manual but found them to be most curious and a little confusing.
Step one says to pour in a solution of vinegar and water at a ratio of 4:2. ??????????????? isn't that the same as 2:1. Maybe that is new math or something. The question is... how much? 4 gallons of vinegar and 2 gallons of water? 4cc and 2 cc's? The second step leaves me clueless all together.




I did not add the solution of acid but I did flush the tank and got a lot of crud out initially and then little white flakes of scale from the tank upon flushing. The odor is gone for now but have a sneaking suspicion it will be back.

Phil



"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty."

Benjamin Franklin
Edited by - skunkhome on 09/07/2011 22:40:41

midnightpumpkin

USA
888 Posts
Posted - 09/07/2011 :  22:43:46  Show Profile Send midnightpumpkin a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Phil,

I have experienced the stinky hot water syndrome. I simply flushed the tank. After that, I would drain the tank if i knew I wouldn't be using in for a month or more.


Does your water heater have a sacrificial anode? You might give it a look and see if it is still there, they do have to be replaced periodically.

John U
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skunkhome

USA
12827 Posts
Posted - 09/08/2011 :  08:14:25  Show Profile Send skunkhome a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Sacrificial anode? Don't know.... If it has one it is on the back. Manual suggest that you drain and flush several times a year for tank longevity.

Phil



"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty."

Benjamin Franklin
Edited by - skunkhome on 09/08/2011 08:16:26
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midnightpumpkin

USA
888 Posts
Posted - 09/08/2011 :  09:42:32  Show Profile Send midnightpumpkin a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Phil,

What brand is the water heater?

Ours is a Suburban brand, it has a magnesium anode that erodes away to prevent corrosion.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/suburban-anode-rod-replacement/42180

John U
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Cvans

USA
4407 Posts
Posted - 09/08/2011 :  12:48:18  Show Profile Send Cvans a Private Message  Reply with Quote
From my experience I would say John's advise is 100% correct. The only thing I might add is to place a note somewhere in plain sight to remind yourself to refill the heater tank before you turn the power back on. I hope you get the smell out.


East Central South Dakota

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson
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olcowhand

USA
5115 Posts
Posted - 09/08/2011 :  15:28:22  Show Profile  Visit olcowhand's Homepage Send olcowhand a Private Message  Reply with Quote
When I had campers, a simple flushing always worked fine to rid the smell. Vinegar helps dissolve the built up mineral too though, so a good thing to do once a year.

Daniel in Ky -- So much to do, so little time!
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skunkhome

USA
12827 Posts
Posted - 09/08/2011 :  17:05:15  Show Profile Send skunkhome a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Ours is an Atwood 6 gallon. The parts list has no reference to a sacrificial anode and the only openings on the back are the two water connections and the connections for the circulation from the engine.

Phil



"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty."

Benjamin Franklin
Edited by - skunkhome on 09/09/2011 07:47:38
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skunkhome

USA
12827 Posts
Posted - 09/09/2011 :  20:33:54  Show Profile Send skunkhome a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Well, I have been reading some more and found that Atwood heaters have aluminum tanks and do not use an anode while the Suburban heaters have steel tanks and utilize an anode.

Phil



"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty."

Benjamin Franklin
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B10Dave

Canada
1951 Posts
Posted - 09/09/2011 :  23:37:36  Show Profile Send B10Dave a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Keep it flushed out on a regular basis Phil. We drain our hot water tank and the fresh water tank after every trip and start with fresh water each time. Never had a hint of smell in the hot water system. Dave.
Money can't buy you happiness.
It can however buy you a beer.
And that is close enough.
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oldron

USA
2732 Posts
Posted - 09/09/2011 :  23:38:04  Show Profile Send oldron a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Cvans

From my experience I would say John's advise is 100% correct. The only thing I might add is to place a note somewhere in plain sight to remind yourself to refill the heater tank before you turn the power back on. I hope you get the smell out.



It really makes the aluminum tank stink if you turn on the power with out water.Ask my wife how we know that.
Ron
'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!'
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BRAD1975

Canada
1562 Posts
Posted - 09/09/2011 :  23:54:40  Show Profile  Visit BRAD1975's Homepage Send BRAD1975 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
6 gallon tank....maybe they used the 4:2 ratio hoping it would be easier for old farts to mix 4 gallons of vinegar with 2 gallons of water :P
Edited by - BRAD1975 on 09/09/2011 23:55:35
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