Hot Water Sticks!

J

Jims380DA

Member
Mar 5, 2007
286
CT
Boat Info
2000 Sea Ray 380DA, Kohler Gen
Engines
8.1L 496 MerCruiser
This is the second season that I am struggling with this problem. Only the hot water side of fresh water system smells rotten. I tried just about every water additive, bleach, etc... If water sits in the heater for more than 24 hours it will smell no matter if the water in the heater is cold or hot. I am tempted to replace heater! Any advise? Thanks in advance.
 
Based on some other posts here I may try Aquabon. I think I am using a Camco treatment now.
 
You might want to change the heater's anode to zinc. Google it for a few pointers on the microbiology between certain types of water and aluminum in the anode causing a strong sulfur smell.
 
Is it hard to get at? I'm not even sure where this would be on the heater. I mentioned above the the water smells "rotten". Doesn't smell like eggs like others have mentioned... Smells more like stale vinegar. It does smell like eggs until I get the antifreeze out of the lines. When boat is winterized I know the tech bypasses heater and drains it.
 
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I had stinky water on the hot side and was advised to remove anode and plug hole with 1/2"pvc threaded insert.
Called heater manufactor who agreed ,provided tank is aluminum. No more stinky water in 2 years.:smt038
 
Jim
Noticed the same problem! WTF!? I'd categorize mine as sulfur, not vinegar. I'm going to follow this thread. Never encountered this problem before. New boat to me but it doesn't look like it's all that easy to get to the HWH.
 
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I have this problem every year; I believe it's related to stuff that builds up unique to the HWH and can be confused with smell generated by winterizing. I cannot get to my HWH without major disassembly as Sea Ray decided to position the washer/dryer right in front of it so I have not been able to try changing the anode. If you can get to the drain valve only, drain the tank. This will still leave a couple of quarts at the bottom with crud at a high concentration so you need to purge the tank with the drain open with either fresh water or air. This worked fine for me on previous boats.

Since I cannot get to the drain valve on my current boat, I flushed the tank as best I could by running a hot water faucet with the water turned on for a half-hour or so which fixed the problem temporarily but every couple of weeks I would have to flush the tank upon arrival then the water smelled OK for a couple more weeks. The standard water treatments such as Aquabon didn't seem to help much. Last year I discovered Camco De-winterizer, apparently a highly concentrated chloride/bromide product (and costly at around $16/bottle). I treat the main water tank per the directions which call for the water to sit only a half-hour or so. After the main water tank is treated I run a hot-water faucet until I can smell the stuff then let it sit for the prescribed time. I then follow the post-treatment instructions to flush the whole system a couple of times. This cured the problem for me and I suppose a bleach treatment might work as well but I tend to stick with products designed for the task and that hopefully might be a little less potentially destructive.
 
I believe the marina is on well water. But been in same marina for 10 years, this is the third boat and first time with this issue. Going to try to "shock" the system first, then will try the new anode. Thanks for all the help guys!
 
Just spoke with Atwood... They said to drain system, remove water inlet and pressure blow off valve. fill tank with 4 gal white vinegar and 1 gal water. reinstall inlet and valve. let heat up and sit for 24-48 hours. drain system and refill with fresh water. I will try it this weekend and report back.
 
Hey Jim
Could I trouble to take some pix of this and post them?
 
Pix of what you see when you take the seat off. And where the anode is. Trying to get an idea of access to things.
 
You are right. No anode on this unit. I am going to try their remedy this weekend and will report back.
 
White vinegar did the trick. I drained the heater, removed pressure relief valve, filled as much vinegar in tank as I could (2.5 gal) through the relief valve outlet, put it back together and turned heater on. I let it sit for about 36 hours and emptied tank. Attached dockside water and flushed out tank for about 15 minutes. It's been 3 days without any smell. This procedure was recommended by Atwood.
 
Into main tank, 20 g water + 20 oz clorox. Let it stew overnight. Flush thoroughly. Used it all memorial day weekend. No smell.
 
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