Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-02-2017, 02:36 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 50
Water smells bad! What to use?

Have owned this rv now for eight months and we used it two or three weekends per month. Notice lately that the fresh water smells really bad when we go to use it, seems to be just whats in the lines and especially the hot water heater. After we run it a while the smell goes away, is there something we should add to the fresh water tank to prevent this?
SLS
SLSTRES is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 02:47 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
AZ Pete's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 2,296
Water smells bad! What to use?

drain your system, including the water heater, then sanitize with a bleach and water solution.

Then flush the chlorine treated water out and refill your tank. Be sure to flush your supply lines and water heater tank as well.
AZ Pete is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 02:50 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Zhanna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Texas - east of San Antonio
Posts: 305
Yes, what AZ Pete said. Then, after it's all cleaned and sanitized, put a whole house filter on the hose to filter the water before it comes into your trailer.
__________________

2005 Dodge Ram 2500, 4x4
2017 Heritage Glen QBUD312
Zhanna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 02:50 PM   #4
Pickin', Campin', Mason
 
5picker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,051
Are you using the fresh tank or using it on city water?
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA

Days Camped '19=118 '20=116 '21=123 '22=134 '23=118 '24=64
5picker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 02:50 PM   #5
Site Team
 
wmtire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,695
See if video # 5 at this link may help:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...es-135977.html

__________________
2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS

A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
wmtire is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 02:52 PM   #6
Site Team
 
Flybob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,243
Drain the WH after each outing. Many water sources especially at campgrounds that use wells have bacteria and minerals in the water. When kept in a dark place with no air for a while ( sitting in WH wen not in use) the bacteria react with the minerals and create sulfur dioxide ( rotten egg smell). This will cause the water to smell for a while until the contaminated water is used and fresh water is in the system. Sanitizing your system will help, but unless you drain the WH it will return. If the cold water smells as well, you may need to drain that as well.
__________________

2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
Flybob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 03:06 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 848
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flybob View Post
Drain the WH after each outing. Many water sources especially at campgrounds that use wells have bacteria and minerals in the water. When kept in a dark place with no air for a while ( sitting in WH wen not in use) the bacteria react with the minerals and create sulfur dioxide ( rotten egg smell). This will cause the water to smell for a while until the contaminated water is used and fresh water is in the system. Sanitizing your system will help, but unless you drain the WH it will return. If the cold water smells as well, you may need to drain that as well.
We almost never use cg water for cooking or drinking. We have a hot/cold water dispenser and 2- 3 gal bottles that we fill every week while camping. Water always tastes great. No smell.
Schvarak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 05:50 PM   #8
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 50
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zhanna View Post
Yes, what AZ Pete said. Then, after it's all cleaned and sanitized, put a whole house filter on the hose to filter the water before it comes into your trailer.
Thanks for he reply but what is a "whole house filter"?
SLSTRES is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 05:51 PM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 50
Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker View Post
Are you using the fresh tank or using it on city water?
I fill the tank at home before we leave every Friday morning, city water from my house.
SLSTRES is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 06:00 PM   #10
Always Learning
 
ependydad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,888
The first 2 things I would do:

1) Check the anode rod (if you have a Suburban water heater). Make sure it looks good.

2) Sanitize the water system.Instructions here: Eww, stinky water! Sanitizing the fresh water system. | Learn To RV
__________________
Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
ependydad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 06:01 PM   #11
Site Team
 
Flybob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,243
City water can have contaminants in it just take a little longer to cause issues. Try this. Put some "city water" in a jar seal it and put in the RV for a few weeks in a closet. After 2-3 weeks take it out and check it.
__________________

2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
Flybob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 06:03 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Missouri
Posts: 906
As others have said, you have "bad" water in the hot water tank and probably in your fresh water tank.
Drain them both, sanitize the system and the smell will be gone.
I have had the same issues before.
__________________
Mark B.
2021 GMC 1500
Anderson WDH
markb5900 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 06:23 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Foothills of Southern Alberta
Posts: 1,973
Quote:
Originally Posted by SLSTRES View Post
Thanks for he reply but what is a "whole house filter"?
A water filter which you can replace the filter media and is installed on the outlet of the water pump.

__________________

2007 Surveyor SV230
- 200 Watts Solar/MPPT Controller - 220 AH Battery Bank (Two-GC2) - 600 watt PSW Inverter - (2) 2000 watt Inverter Generators - LED Lighting
2009 F150 - 5.4 Litre with Tow Package

Boon Docking 99% of the time.
boondocking is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 06:24 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
SailorSam20500's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,033
Quote:
Originally Posted by SLSTRES View Post
Thanks for he reply but what is a "whole house filter"?
This is what I am using. You will need to buy a couple of fittings base on how you want to hook it up. I put mine outside the trailer and used standard hose fittings.
https://www.menards.com/main/plumbin...inStoreId=3320
__________________
Al
I am starting to think, that I will never be old enough--------to know better.
Tolerance will reach such a level that intelligent people will be banned from thinking so as not to offend the imbeciles. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, Russian Novelist
S.E. Mich. Flagstaff 26FKWS / 2022 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost SCrew Propride
SailorSam20500 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 06:36 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
B and B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,833
Send a message via AIM to B and B
I use a Camco disposable filter, i was able to buy a case for $2 each, fill with this overtime. I never drain the water heater all season, never have any issue. One thing I know will cause water to stink is RV antifreeze and chlorinated water supply. Horrible smell. Make sure your onboard water filter did not get antifreeze in it, also washer connection not dewinterized can also cause the mixing and smell.
B and B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 06:39 PM   #16
King of the Road
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 556
Get the 2 pack of Camco KDF water filters from Amazon. These last and entire season of full time RV'ing. I also use the OTG 16000 grain portable water softener for full timing. 2 boxes of tablesalt at .59 cents each every 6-8 weeks for recharge. I use the uniodized salt for this.

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-40045-T...o+water+filter

https://www.amazon.com/Go-OTG4-DBLSO...water+softener

But the others are correct, drain and sanitize first, both HW and FW and the lines.
__________________
2016 Crusader Lite
Single slide
2013 Ram 2500 Crew Cab Tow Vehicle

2016 days camped = 91, 2017 days camped = 109
Dano1955 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 10:06 PM   #17
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 50
Quote:
Originally Posted by wmtire View Post
Thank you very much for that video, answered all my questions.
SLSTRES is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 10:10 PM   #18
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 50
You have all been a very big help,
thank you.
SLSTRES is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 06:53 AM   #19
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 50
Just curious what is the anode rod for, what does it do?
SLSTRES is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 07:17 AM   #20
Site Team
 
wmtire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,695
Quote:
Originally Posted by SLSTRES View Post
Just curious what is the anode rod for, what does it do?
Video #1 at this link explains it

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...es-135977.html
__________________
2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS

A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
wmtire is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
water

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:27 AM.