Smelly hot water

W

WarrenG

New Member
Nov 29, 2011
103
Az
Boat Info
"PEARL"
500 SunDancer 2004
All Fresh Water
Engines
Cummins QSM-11 660HP
My hot water smells like sulfur. We are using the boat a lot more than the old owner and it has gotten a lot better but still smells!
I would like to fix the problem and will replace the water heater if needed, however I would prefer a less invasive solution!


WarrenG
 
Did you trying running any heavy duty chemicals through the water system yet?
 
Bleach your water system... run the chlorine water through your system and let stand an hour or two then flush it out well... your smell should be gone. I have the same issue half way through the year... works everytime...

I use a cup of bleach to 10 gals of water just enough to ensure I can pull it through my lines...
 
www.chlorox.com

[h=4]Can Clorox[SUP]®[/SUP] Regular-Bleach be used to disinfect water?[/h]Yes. When boiling off water for 1 minute is not possible in an emergency situation, you can disinfect your drinking water with Clorox[SUP]®[/SUP] Regular-Bleach as follows:
1. Remove suspended particles by filtering or letting particles settle to the bottom.
2. Pour off clear water into a clean container.
3. Add 8 drops of Clorox[SUP]®[/SUP] Regular-Bleach (not scented or Clorox[SUP]®[/SUP] Plus[SUP]®[/SUP] bleaches) to one gallon of water (2 drops to 1 quart). For cloudy water, use 16 drops per gallon of water (4 drops to 1 quart).
4. Allow the treated water to stand for 30 minutes. Water should have a slight bleach odor. If not, repeat and wait another 15 minutes. The treated water can then be made palatable by pouring it between clean containers several times.
 
Also, going forward, consider filling your fresh water tank with a hose connected to an in-line filter/purifier. Available at any store selling RV supplies.
 
I've heard if you change the anode inside the tank it will help and maybe get rid of the smell for good.
Not sure if zink or magnesium is better but maybe worth the try.
 
Hello
If the smell is just in the hot it could be anaerobic bacterior breaking down and causing hydrogen sulfide which is the egg smell you Could try drainNing hot water heater using a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water in the tank fill the tank let it sit for some tome the longer the better then flush system if that don't work a aluminum zinc annode rod is also am alternative thing to try I hope this helps I do water filtration as part of my business if you look up hydrogen sulfide you will get all types of remedies good luck
 
Search for "Peggy Hall" She has written some good stuff on cleaning and deodorizing the entire water system.
I used it on mine after I bought it and the fresh water had not been used in at least 3 seasons. I had scum in my fresh water tank that had to manually cleaned out.
If yours is fine on the cold water side maybe the heat only amplifies the smell. I cant imagine anything in the hot water heater would be able to make the water smell worse than the cold water unless there are some type of deposits (hard water, calcium buildup) that would give the sulfur smell.
There is a relatively long but informative post here on the cause and possible remedies on home water heaters. Most of the info seems to still apply to marine applications.
 
Follow the procedure described in this thread:

http://www.clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3394&highlight=water+smells

Here it is:
Water Tank Re-commissioning
Freshwater system problems--foul odor or taste--are typically caused by allowing water to stagnate in the system. Although most people think only in terms of the tank, the plumbing is actually the source of most foul water, because the molds, mildew, fungi and bacteria, which cause these problems, thrive in damp dark places rather than underwater. Many people and even some boat manufacturers believe that keeping the tanks empty reduce the problem, but an empty water tank only provides another damp dark home for those critters.

There are all kinds of products sold that claim to keep on board water fresh, but all that's really necessary is an annual or in especially warm climates, semi-annual re-commissioning of the entire system tank and plumbing. The following recommendations conform to section 10.8 in the A-1 192 code covering electrical, plumbing, and heating of recreational vehicles. The solution is approved and recommended by competent health officials. It may be used in a new system a used one that has not been used for a period of time, or one that may have been contaminated.

Before beginning, turn off electric power to your water heater at the breaker; do not turn it on again until the entire re-commissioning is complete.

Icemakers should be left running to allow cleaning out of the water feed line; however the first two buckets of ice the bucket generated during re-commissioning and the first bucketful afterward--should be discarded.

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.
 
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Use Aquabana from West Marine. I had the same smell. Works like a charm
 
I've found that the water will stink like hell if you don't leave the water heater bypassed until after you've fully flushed the anti-freeze out of the system in the spring.
 
A trick I use for the main freshwater tank is to completely fill it before I leave each time. I mean it is the last thing I do before putting the bow cover on. No air means no oxygen for bacteria to grow. And I only use a white hose made for drinking water.

As for the sulpher smell in the water heater, I have never experienced this myself in any of my boats however some friends have. I suspect it could be from when being winterized they did not drain and bypass it the heater. Instead they just let it fill with pink antifreeze. Just a guess but again I have never had the issue.
 
I'm with Whitenights on the winterization. The smallest trace of the antifreeze in the heater will make it stink.
 
The rotten egg smell is hydrogen sulfide and is causes by decomposing bacteria it can be iron bacterior or other decomposing organisms I have had it in my well and customers wells there are alot of ways to treat it basically you have to sanitize your system
 
Anode Rod, Water heaters in houses will make the same smell when it goes bad.
 
Thanks to all for the info. I will report my findings.

WarrenG
 
Yes , Be sure not to let well water sit in the system. It will turn and smell just like yours smells. The owners manual from sea ray should tell you just what you need to do with bleach to get the system right.
 
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