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06-27-2015, 07:43 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Colorado
Posts: 109
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Need a little help with water smell
In early spring I ran bleach through the entire plumbing of our 2011 390BH including the hot water heater. We have taken 2 short weekend trips and everything was fine with the water. Now we are up in Mount Rushmore for a week and turned on the hot water and it smells like rotten eggs. The cold water smells fresh it is just the hot water. How do I fix this there is no way the wife is going to use the public showers.
Also could someone tell me what size socket is used to remove the drain plug of the water heater.
I will have to check the responses in the morning since the campground we are in only has WIFI at the office and not the whole campground
Thanks for your help in advance
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06-27-2015, 08:01 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,443
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The rotten egg smell is sulfur the park where you filled up probably has some sulfur in their water. The longer it sits the more you will notice it and when its heated it will be more noticeable. Drain your tanks including the HW, refill the system with water and chlorine run some thorough the system including HW. Let it sit overnight then light HW next day. It should go away after this but if not it will in time.
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Think about things before you do them make life easier not harder.
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06-27-2015, 08:06 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Liverpool NY
Posts: 967
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If its the same Suburban tank I have, the drain plug/anode rod is 1and 1/16
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2015 Shamrock 23IKSS, Oyster shell
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06-27-2015, 08:09 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,833
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You may want to drain the low point drains again. I have had an issue with our park model and the washer connection, antifreeze mixing with chlorinated park water causes similar smell.
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B and B
2022 Venture RV SportTrek STT 302 VRB Travel Trailer
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06-28-2015, 05:59 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 237
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90% of the time it is bacteria in the water heater and it puts out a bad sulfur smell. It is not harmful. Google it and you will find what to do. I had the same problem and put a mix of bleach and water (can't remember the ratio) and let it stand for 24 hours. It will get rid of it. RV stores also have a product you can use. Flush all hot water lines after.
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06-28-2015, 06:04 AM
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#6
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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The manual is clear on "odor"; sanitize your system (not just the water tank).
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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06-28-2015, 06:53 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Posts: 3,225
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How long did the water sit in your system since the short trips in spring? If I won't be in the camper for a couple weeks, I drain everything so the water does not ferment and get nasty smelling.
crunchman
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2017 Salem Villa Estate 395RET-
2011 Coachmen Freedom Express 295RLDS- Sold
2015 F-250 FX4
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06-28-2015, 07:16 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: crete,il /texas
Posts: 498
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i use Taste Pure from walmart in the fresh water tank , maybe drain the HW tank before he mix gets there
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06-28-2015, 07:23 AM
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#9
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Georgia Rally Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,458
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After returning from every trip I drain the HW tank, and drain all other lines using air. Later RJD 
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2020 Shasta Phoenix SPF 27RKSS (sold)
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Traded 2015 30WRLIKS V-Lite
Days camped 2019 62
Days camped 2020 49 days camped 2021-74 2022-40 days 2023 5 days
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06-28-2015, 07:34 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Stevens Point, WI
Posts: 323
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Need a little help with water smell
In all probability, the water heater anode takes a 1-1/16 socket. First, release any pressure in the heater by pulling the release valve, then screw the anode out. You may need an extension on hour wrench. After you drain the heater, put a little teflon tape on the anode threads to help seal it when you screw the anode back in. DON"T reef on it; just snug it up! Good luck.
Kent 
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Location: Wisconsin
2019 Flagstaff E-Pro 19FBS
2017 Honda Pilot
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06-28-2015, 07:44 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 548
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More info on "water smell"
We just moved to a sticks and bricks on a well, rotten egg smell (drained the hot water added bleach, 3 weeks later smell was back).
This has worked for us. (replaced the Anode rod)
Solving rotten-egg odor in water heaters
Bought it here, cut to correct length.
Robot Check link to Amazon
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2012 Georgetown 360
SHE wanted "a new motorhome" 
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06-28-2015, 07:55 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 31
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If you have a magnesium anode, change it out with an aluminum anode. The magnesium anode can cause the rotten egg smell you are experiencing. The smell is actually caused be bacteria reacting to the, magnesium anode, iron in the tank and water you hooked up to.
The smell will come back if all you do is sanitize your system.
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06-28-2015, 08:06 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 31
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A p.s. To my last post. You can identify the type of anode by looking at the end of the external end. Magnesium rods have a button in the middle. Aluminum rods are flat and may the letters AL stamped into the end.
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06-28-2015, 08:19 AM
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#14
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by propbndr
A p.s. To my last post. You can identify the type of anode by looking at the end of the external end. Magnesium rods have a button in the middle. Aluminum rods are flat and may the letters AL stamped into the end.
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Magnesium without "pimple"
SP11309C - Rheem SP11309C - .7" x 44.375" Magnesium Anode Rod
Magnesium with"pimple"
Rheem SP11524Z Water Heater .840" x 58-3/16" Magnesium Anode Rod
Not sure what that means in this context... 
I never had one with a pimple before...
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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06-28-2015, 08:21 AM
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#15
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by propbndr
If you have a magnesium anode, change it out with an aluminum anode. The magnesium anode can cause the rotten egg smell you are experiencing. The smell is actually caused be bacteria reacting to the, magnesium anode, iron in the tank and water you hooked up to.
The smell will come back if all you do is sanitize your system.
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This I was not aware of. I do not use magnesium and have never had a hot water odor problem. I had no idea they were related.
Thanks!
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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06-28-2015, 08:23 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 237
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Quote:
Originally Posted by propbndr
If you have a magnesium anode, change it out with an aluminum anode. The magnesium anode can cause the rotten egg smell you are experiencing. The smell is actually caused be bacteria reacting to the, magnesium anode, iron in the tank and water you hooked up to.
The smell will come back if all you do is sanitize your system.
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The first year we used our used hybrid we had this smell and could not figure it out. Thought it was sulfur in the water but got it every where we went.. I sanitized the water heater only. Never had it again for the 5 years we owned it.
If you are relating to the fresh water tank when you say entire system I would agree with you if you use your fresh water tank. I never do.
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06-28-2015, 09:02 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 649
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Are you filtering the incoming water?
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Ohio
2016 Cedar Creek 36ckts
2015 Ford F-350
4WD SRW Diesel
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06-28-2015, 09:28 AM
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#18
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by harderd
The first year we used our used hybrid we had this smell and could not figure it out. Thought it was sulfur in the water but got it every where we went.. I sanitized the water heater only. Never had it again for the 5 years we owned it.
If you are relating to the fresh water tank when you say entire system I would agree with you if you use your fresh water tank. I never do.
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Bacteria travels, but in this case the specific bacteria loves hot water and may also be in your hot water pipes. Personally, if I am taking the time to sanitize I do everything.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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06-28-2015, 09:37 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 237
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I did run the sanitized water through lines before letting it sit for 24 hours.
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06-28-2015, 09:37 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Herk7769
Bacteria travels, but in this case the specific bacteria loves hot water and may also be in your hot water pipes. Personally, if I am taking the time to sanitize I do everything.
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A thousand times yes.
Low points, WH tank, fresh tank, outside and inside shower, bathroom and kitchen faucet, if water moves thru it clean it.
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2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
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