Newbie has question on water heater

Mac-Daddy-Minnesota

Mac-Daddy-Minnesota

Member
Aug 12, 2018
98
Cottage Grove MN
Boat Info
Sea Ray Sundancer 310
Engines
twin 5.7 with alpha 1
Question for everyone. I have a 1990 Sundancer 310 and when we use the hot water it smells like Hydrogen Sulfide. Very sulfur smelling. The electric is turned off to the unit, only getting heat when we run the starboard engine. Is there anyway to clean the pipes in these heaters? The cold water smells fine, only the hot.

Thanks in advance. Mac
 
I've dealt with this at home before but not on the boat. I assume your marina draws water from a well? I don't know if marine hot water heaters have anodes inside but this is one thing that's generally recommended to help resolve the issue on home water systems - change the anode.

My experience has been that water sitting in the tank for extended periods will make the odor more noticeable. If you run the water completely out of the water heater you should be able to eliminate the odors for a few days.

And last...an activated carbon filter will help. But you'll need to filter the water before it goes into the tank.
 
One of the first things I do when we visit the boat is to open the galley faucet on hot and let is run for atleast 5minutes to help flush out the hot water tank and get fresh water in there.

You may also want to plan on flushing out your freshwater tank regularly as well. Some drain it weekly by simply opening a faucet and running the fresh water pump.

If you have dock water, one option would be to fill your freshwater tank and run off of it. Use the dock water to refill.
 
I have heard tales that some marine water heaters have zincs. I cannot verify that. My water system will get funky if I let the water sit for more than a week. (Even though I have run a fair amount of bleach in and out of the fresh water tank thru ALL of the fresh water lines.)

Like the others mention, I just rinse my lines with fresh before the outings and I only drink water I carry from home.
 
I add a small amount of non-scented household bleach to the water tank each time when I fill it. You don't need much. Maybe 5 teaspoons in a full 40 gallon fill. A cap full for a partial fill.

In the spring I flush the system a couple times with clean water, then add about a half cup of bleach, and fill the system up. I leave it in for about 12 hrs, then run it all out and flush the system a couple of times, making sure to run the hot water taps to flush the heater. Then the routine above keeps things fresh through the summer. Our marina is on treated well water, but its potable to the docks (they test it regularly I am told). That said, I never drink it, but it does not smell bad at all even the hot water after sitting a few days.
 
Creekwood said:
I add a small amount of non-scented household bleach to the water tank each time when I fill it. You don't need much. Maybe 5 teaspoons in a full 40 gallon fill. A cap full for a partial fill.

In the spring I flush the system a couple times with clean water, then add about a half cup of bleach, and fill the system up. I leave it in for about 12 hrs, then run it all out and flush the system a couple of times, making sure to run the hot water taps to flush the heater. Then the routine above keeps things fresh through the summer. Our marina is on treated well water, but its potable to the docks (they test it regularly I am told). That said, I never drink it, but it does not smell bad at all even the hot water after sitting a few days.
Click to expand...

I do this too but if the OP is truly dealing with hydrogen sulfide the process of cleaning/chlorinating will not help the odor situation. It's in the source water. Many of us on wells deal with this. He'll need to filter it, or get used to flushing it, or he'll never be rid of it. Rotten egg odor is a well known topic for us ground water dwellers :)

One of these filters in a 3M housing rigged up to source water (transom locker) will help with the odor:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-AP81...eplacement-Cartridge-AQUAPURE-AP817/206034836
 
If not kept clean by constant use or a little vinegar or bleach treating, anaerobic bacteria (won't hurt you) in the water reacts with the aluminum in the tank and you get the stink.
Flush the water system, including the water heater as some have mentioned above.
Here is a simple explanation:
https://kleentank.com/oh-that-smell/

I also tell people to spend less than 20 bucks and buy Peggie Hall's book
"The New Get Rid Of Boat Odors". It goes into detail on how to clean and keep clean every system on a boat that can cause odors. Good luck.
 
Stee6043 said:
I do this too but if the OP is truly dealing with hydrogen sulfide the process of cleaning/chlorinating will not help the odor situation. It's in the source water. Many of us on wells deal with this. He'll need to filter it, or get used to flushing it, or he'll never be rid of it. Rotten egg odor is a well known topic for us ground water dwellers :)
Click to expand...

Got it. I have relatives that live in Northern Alberta and their water has that smell too. Safe, but disgusting. You took a bath and smelled worse when you came out. When we visited as kids we were forced to drink the water mixed with Tang. To this day I cannot stand the taste of orange drink crystals.
 
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i had this in my camper and the process fixed it on the boat too. Bacteria grows in the warm water, so drain the fresh water tank and water heater, I let it sit a week (makes me feel the bacteria dies. When i fill my fresh water tank, i put a cup of household bleach (80 gallons) in it too.

every fill up after ward i put a cap full of bleach in (we use between a quarter and a half tank each weekend)

haven't had an issue since
 
Once you get it clean the best way to keep it that way is to keep using it. Avoid using the dockside water hookup if at all possible. Use the freshwater tank instead.
I hold 100 gallons. If I don’t use it all up every week or so I drain it and then refill with 100 fresh gallons.
 
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JVM225 said:
Once you get it clean the best way to keep it that way is to keep using it. Avoid using the dockside water hookup if at all possible. Use the freshwater tNk instead.
I hold 100 gallons. If I don’t use it all up every week or so I drain it and then refill with 100 fresh gallons.
Click to expand...

i don't drain the tank weekly, but i do use it and not the dockside hookup. i only use the tank for fresh water
 
I’d like to thank all that replied to this post. I’ll have to find the book and study up. This is our first large boat, and first with a water system. I can easily bypass and drain the water tank so it dries out or even flush with vinegar. I can pick up one of the carbon filters for the boat. As for the anodes, I did not see anything that reminded me of what’s on the house heater. I believe I caused the issue with lack of use. The fresh water, cold side, smells fine. I have not been flushing the hot on a regular basis.

Thanks again!!!!!

Mac
 
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