Hot Water has Foul Smell

[larrytbull]

Hi,

over the weekend when running off the hook, We used the hot water, and the water smelled really bad. Water was clear, but terrible odor, the cold water was fine no smell. Any ideas
95 330 DA

 

[Presentation]

Hi,

over the weekend when running off the hook, We used the hot water, and the water smelled really bad. Water was clear, but terrible odor, the cold water was fine no smell. Any ideas
95 330 DA

Clean your entire fresh water system.

How to clean the water tank if it smells:

1. Use a solution of 1 pint Purex or Clorox bleach to 25 gallons of water. With tank empty, pour chlorine solution into tank.

2. Complete filling of tank with fresh water. Open each faucet and drain cock until air has been released and the entire system is filled. Do not turn off the pump; it must remain on to keep the system pressurized and the solution in the lines

3. Allow to stand for at least three hours, but no longer than 24 hours.

4. Drain through every faucet on the boat (and if you haven't done this in a while, it's a good idea to remove any diffusion screens from the faucets, because what's likely to come out will clog them). Fill the tank again with fresh water only, drain again through every faucet on the boat.

5. To remove excess chlorine taste or odor which might remain, prepare a solution of one quart white vinegar to five gallons water and allow this solution to agitate in tank for several days.

6. Drain tank again through every faucet, and flush the lines again by filling the tank 1/4-1/2 full and again flushing with potable water.

An annual or semi-annual re-commissioning according to the above directions is all that should be necessary to keep your water tasting and smelling as good as anything that comes out of any faucet on land. If you need to improve on that, install a water filter. Just remember that a filter is not a substitute for cleaning out the system, and that filters require regular inspection and cleaning or replacement.

(the above was copied from another member at the old Sea Ray forum.....I dont remember who anymore)

 

[sbw1]

Sounds like the sacraficial anode has failed. Replace it if you can and you should be fine.

 

[larrytbull]

where would i find it on the hot water heater

 

[AKBASSKING]

If you allow the water to stay in your hotwater tank too long it sours (smell bad). Follow the above and let the bleach stand in your system for at least 24 hours. Follow the instructions above. Drain your tank on a regularly and flush it out.

How bad can it get? Read my thread on restoring my water system and cutting the lines on a hotwater tank that has been sitting for about 2 years full of nasty water and you are all tight fitted in the bilge with no where to go......:smt009

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

You should install drains from the tank to the bilge for winterization if they don't have them installed now. That will ensure you can have fresh smelling water in the tank.

I made a mistake in heating up the hot water after buying our present boat. I did not know the tank was full of antifreeze. The antifreeze apparently got "burned" onto the heating coils. I refilled the tank at least 20 times with no reduction in the antifreeze smell even using the chlorinated water tricks.
The only thing that worked and it worked very well was to use 1/2 bottle of the food flavoring (1/4 oz size) of peppermint. We rinsed the tank a couple more times to rid the peppermint and all has worked well the past two years...

 

[Banagy]

This foul smell happens in my cottage water heater if I leave the pilot on when I leave. The water is not hot enough to kill the bacteria. I drain about 15 gallons of water befor5e I turn itt on and the smell is gone. Well water.

 

[skibum]

I have found that well water will foul the tank pretty quickly. It contains sulfur and other minerals that fester in the heat and make that lovely rotten egg smell.

I had to sanitize my water system when I first got my boat. It was fine for the rest of the 1st season and half way though last year until the admiral insisted that we refill the tank one September weekend at a transient marina that had well water. Within 2 weeks, I had to sanitize the water system again. I have not put any more well water in the tank, and it will be a full year next month without any funky smelling water.

 

[larrytbull]

I will try the bleach, and pepermint and see if that works, I thought maybe something from engine was contaminating the hot water, as the smell was from water in the heater when engine was running, not rfom when water heater was turned on from a/c breaker

 

[At Ease]

Is there a big difference between Bleach (Clorox) and the typical liquid chlorine for a pool?

 

[sr330daguy]

Sounds like the sacraficial anode has failed. Replace it if you can and you should be fine.

What he said!

 

[sbw1]

where would i find it on the hot water heater

Sorry for not responding. Just saw this. If you have an anode, it screws into the the tank. Some smaller tanks do not use them. Attwoods don't come with sacrificial anodes. Raritans and other brands do. You don't say what you own. The fact that you have fresh cold water and sulfur smelling hot water means your fresh water tank is ok. Maybe you just need to run about 12 gallons of new water through the heater. We keep our heater off when not using it. We also flush all systems once a week when not cruising to keep things fresh. Since you do not drink your hot water, flushing the tank with cold water and keeping it turned off should preserve the freshness of the water that is stored there.

 

[larrytbull]

I am pretty sure I have the attwood. but I will check to see this weekend
thanks to all for the info

 

[sbw1]

I am pretty sure I have the attwood. but I will check to see this weekend thanks to all for the info

You could do some Internet searching for marine hot water heater sacraficial anodes. You could look up Atwood parts, anodes, etc. Maybe "sulfur smells from water heaters"???? Might give you some insight as to where to look if it is an Atwood. I know some Atwoods do have anodes but I'm assuming you have a 6 gallon or so heater and most of those do not.