Water sulfur smell - hot water only

[yoloinsc]

I found other threads here on stinky water, but they don't seem to apply to my particular issue.

I have a clean, no smell water source hooked up to the fresh water/city water connection on my parked RV. The cold water coming out in the RV smells fine, but the hot water has that absolutely horrible sulfur smell. Just the hot water.

Is this something in my hot water heater? The anode rod was just replaced a couple weeks ago, but the RV did sit dormant (with winterized lines) for a few years before I bought it.

 

[PSFORD99]

Sounds like it sat too long with a bit water in the hot water tank . The water got stagnant . You need to empty that hot water tank , ,empty your water tank itself ,and , and add about a cup of Clorox , fill you water tank , as well as the hot water tank , pump that water solution into all you lines ,and let sit for a day . Empty everything , and either fill back up with fresh water ,or hook back up to culinary . That should freshen everything out . Don't forget to turn the hot water tank off before you empty it ,to prevent burning up the heating element .

 

[Carl n Susan]

I would remove the anode rod and flush that tank to be sure all the weird white solids (calcium or carbonate?) are gone, Then a little bleach purification wouldn't hurt.

 

[Daryles]

What PSford99 said.
I would add
Don't forget to flush the washer pipes too.

The water in the pipes goes stale and will recontaminate the system.
Flush those pipes at least monthly or put shut off valves on them down behind the basement walls.

 

[yoloinsc]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I'll start pulling up some youtube videos on flushing the hot water tank and the washing machine lines. Much appreciated.

 

[PSFORD99]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I'll start pulling up some youtube videos on flushing the hot water tank and the washing machine lines. Much appreciated.

Shut the electric off to the water heater , and PULL THE PLUG on the water heater can’t miss it . Make sure your water hose hook up is off , open a valve in the fifth wheel , or the outside shower that takes the pressure off, before you remove the plug , don’t ask me why I know this . Then do all of the above that’s been said on the other replies . That stinky water heater , and the lines NEED to be sanitized, and your fresh water tank.

 

[PSFORD99]

Shut the electric off to the water heater , and PULL THE PLUG on the water heater can’t miss it . Make sure your water hose hook up is off , open a valve in the fifth wheel , or the outside shower that takes the pressure off, before you remove the plug , don’t ask me why I know this . Then do all of the above that’s been said on the other replies . That stinky water heater , and the lines NEED to be sanitized, and your fresh water tank. It’s been growing stuff in there .

 

[Rene T]

Shut the electric off to the water heater , and PULL THE PLUG on the water heater can’t miss it . Make sure your water hose hook up is off , open a valve in the fifth wheel , or the outside shower that takes the pressure off, before you remove the plug , don’t ask me why I know this . Then do all of the above that’s been said on the other replies . That stinky water heater , and the lines NEED to be sanitized, and your fresh water tank.

The formula is 1/4 cup of bleach to every 15 gallons of water in your fresh water tank. Once the tank is full, use your on board pump to pump it through your entire system. Fill the water heater also. Let it sit for a couple of hours

 

[Todd & Mary]

There are 2 different anode rods available for our water heaters.
Magnesium

Magnesium anode rods are great sacrificial rods as they generate higher voltage but this in turn assists in them deteriorating faster. Magnesium rods are what also cause the rotten egg smell inside of your coach but the magnesium also has health benefits from consumption.

Aluminum

Aluminum rods will deteriorate the slowest as they are not as conductive and will help prevent the rotten egg smell inside the coach.
Hope this helps!

 

[PSFORD99]

The formula is 1/4 cup of bleach to every 15 gallons of water in your fresh water tank. Once the tank is full, use your on board pump to pump it through your entire system. Fill the water heater also. Let it sit for a couple of hours

It’s always been a cup for me , some of my fifth wheels were around 60 gal, yes the formula is 1/4 cup , this fifth wheel I got now is a bit more , but I still use just a cup , it’s not an exact science doing this . But 1/4 cup per 15 works . I like to let it sit overnight , or around 24 hours .

 

[scottandsusan]

If you are on full hookups have you tried turning on the hot water faucet and just let it run clean water thru the water heater ? I did that with my dad's camper and after a few minutes the smell cleared up.

 

[PNWfireguy]

I just went through this exact issue. I used a Magnesium anode at last change and most likely it interacted with some bacteria and produced a sulfur smell only from the hot water outlet. A thorough hot water tank flush, replaced the anode with an aluminum one and timed all around my water system sterilization. Problem solved.

 

[scootsk]

I just went through this exact issue. I used a Magnesium anode at last change and most likely it interacted with some bacteria and produced a sulfur smell only from the hot water outlet. A thorough hot water tank flush, replaced the anode with an aluminum one and timed all around my water system sterilization. Problem solved.

I did the same thing. The aluminum/nickel rod coupled with a sterilization seemed to do the trick.

 

[Ike59]

I found other threads here on stinky water, but they don't seem to apply to my particular issue.

I have a clean, no smell water source hooked up to the fresh water/city water connection on my parked RV. The cold water coming out in the RV smells fine, but the hot water has that absolutely horrible sulfur smell. Just the hot water.

Is this something in my hot water heater? The anode rod was just replaced a couple weeks ago, but the RV did sit dormant (with winterized lines) for a few years before I bought it.

If I'm not using for a few weeks I Drain my water. Starting with the hot water tank. Had that problem once.

 

[Ike59]

If I'm not using for a few weeks I Drain my water. Starting with the hot water tank. Had that problem once.

 

[DABOO77]

Shut the electric off to the water heater , and PULL THE PLUG on the water heater can’t miss it . Make sure your water hose hook up is off , open a valve in the fifth wheel , or the outside shower that takes the pressure off, before you remove the plug , don’t ask me why I know this . Then do all of the above that’s been said on the other replies . That stinky water heater , and the lines NEED to be sanitized, and your fresh water tank.

Next time just open the water heater pressure relief valve at the top of the water heater. A little amount of water will come out, but that will relief the system of pressure also. Just make just water supply is turned off first obviously.

 

[PSFORD99]

Next time just open the water heater pressure relief valve at the top of the water heater. A little amount of water will come out, but that will relief the system of pressure also. Just make just water supply is turned off first obviously.

I’ve done that , but it’s a bit messy on my fifth wheel , mine it’s more than just a little water coming out of the relief valve , just as easy to for me to relieve the pressure with the outside shower .

 

[harris71]

After 20 years of RVing we figured out that a water source with a higher sulfur content will react with the typical magnesium anode rod in the hot water heater. This was usually encountered in Florida. An anode rod of aluminum/zinc should resolve this. We carry both types; one for southern travel, one for northern.

 

[Mikelff]

I have an Atwood water heater that does not use an anode rod. I use the bleach sanitizer method. I also use white vinegar and a small spray wand to clean calcium deposits out of my hot water tank. I use 1 gal white vinegar, I empty my water hose of water, use a funnel to fill the hose with vinegar and make sure I get as much air out of the hose as I can. Hook up to water spigot and turn on. Spray vinegar inside hot water tank and let sit an hour or so. Spray a second time to clear any remaining vinegar out of the hose and rinse tank well. This removes most calcium deposits from my tank. I do not get any vinegar smell from my hot water, but if I did, it would not last long. I would think the vinegar cleaning would work just as well in a Suburban hot water heater but with an anode rod, I’m not sure what kind of calcium build up you would get. Guess you just have to try it once and see. I do this once a year before I winterize. I don’t get much build up to begin with but the vinegar seems to clean any deposits well. These deposits are caused by hard water with lots of minerals. If you empty your hot water tank when not in use, you will get longer life out of your anode rods an keep your tanks clean.Hope this helps.

 

[KBC-MOC]

Sorry folks but chlorine will not kill this sulfur bug!!!!!!!
Flush tank pour 1 cup of peroxide fill let set for hour flush out and repeat.
Trust me on this one I have had a lot of experience on this.