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Topic: Fresh Water Puzzler (Read 692 times) previous topic - next topic

Fresh Water Puzzler

On February 27th I filled the fresh water tank just before leaving  Southwest Florida to go to Coach Buck City. 

About three weeks later when we got home I filled the tank again, adding the proper amount of Clorox to disinfect.

Now we're on the road headed to New England and when using the water we notice a sulphur-like
(rotten egg) smell and grayish discoloration. 

We have not had this problem previously, and neither the water in Florida nor the water at home
has ever smelled at all.

It seems to smell and look the worst when the water is first drawn,  and seems to subside if left on for a
few moments.

Any ideas anyone?

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #1 –
Hot water, or cold?  Do you have a anode rod in your water heater?  Decomposition of the anode rod has been known to cause smelly water.

Hot Water Bad smell - iRV2 Forums
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #2 –
My 25 yr old water heater develops this smell after sitting between trips. I bought a brass barb hose fitting and made a small drain tube that I can quickly hand screw into the water heater pressure relief valve pipe threads. Before each trip when filling the fresh water tank, I put the drain tube in and flip the pressure release lever and let it drain on the street for say 5 minutes. No smelly water during the trip...
Peter and Tammy Fleming
1991 U300 GV 40 - Sold, owned for 4 years
Downsized to Roadtrek Popular 210 class B

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #3 –
I drain the hot water heater after each trip before placing the coach in storage. And yes, the smell is not pleasant.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #4 –
It's the cold water..........not sure about the hot.

Rudy never mentioned an anode when he recently gave our Aqua Hot a tune-up.

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #6 –
Sounds like you need to sanitize the system.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Traveling Man –
It's the cold water..........not sure about the hot.

Rudy never mentioned an anode when he recently gave our Aqua Hot a tune-up.
Aqua Hot dies not use one.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #8 –
With no access to the top of the fresh tank how many different methods do we have to put the Clorox in??

I drain down each trip then fill and flush a couple of times before leaving again.

Speedbird 1.
2001 U320 Build #5865
Daihatsu Rocky Toad
VW Touareg
'82 F100 Stepside
Beech' Debonair

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #9 –
Quote from: speedbird1 –
With no access to the top of the fresh tank how many different methods do we have to put the Clorox in??
Traditional methods:

Sanitizing the fresh water tank - '01 U320

OR, why wouldn't something like this work?  Fill the clear filter cup with correct quantity of bleach, connect water fill hose, fill tank.  :thumbsup:
 
Power Care Garden Hose Inlet Filter-AP31076 - The Home Depot
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #10 –
I use an 80 micron flushable filter before the coach hose.  You can open the bottom valve to flush the filter screen.  This prevents lots of nasty bits getting to the water system.  You can unscrew the bottom bowl and add any disinfectant you want to use.  Then the coach hose and all of the incoming plumbing gets disinfected.

Drip Irrigation | Dripworks | Amiad Tagline Filters

If you need to disinfect, use about a cup of bleach to 50 gallons of water, run it through every water line and ever faucet, hao and cold until you smell the bleach.  Let it sit for a few hours then drain it all out.  Add water, flush all the lines, drain again,  then add new water.  Should be OK.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #11 –
Roger,

Is that standard garden hose thread on the inlet and outlet?
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #12 –
It is pipe thread but you can get a male and female pipe thread to hose fitting at the same store or any HD or Lowes. We get a lot of stuff from Dripworks including pressure regulators for our pretty extensive drip irrigation system.  Inexpensive and easy to maintain.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #13 –
Thanks Roger,

The answer to my pouring bleach into a hose and then connecting it to the water system.

Speedbird 1
2001 U320 Build #5865
Daihatsu Rocky Toad
VW Touareg
'82 F100 Stepside
Beech' Debonair
 

Re: Fresh Water Puzzler

Reply #14 –
Water tank was sanitized near the end of March.
The water is better now with no discoloration and the wife says no smell.

Bigger fish to fry now.