So, we are getting our 2006 Winnebago Outlook 326A ready for an extended journey, and are encountering the sulfur smell coming out of the water heater (apparently caused by bacteria proliferating in water left in the heater while it was stored...yay!). We have already done a bleach flush of the heater (dump old water from heater through drain, add dilute of bleach to fresh tank, run hot taps until bleach water fills heater, wait overnight, blow out heater water through heater drain, flush whole system with fresh water), and though it did take the stank down from a 10 to about a 3, it's still there. We have a camphost position starting in 2 weeks and need to have hot water! Can anyone assist us who can offer advice we can count on? We don't have time to experiment, unfortunately, we just need it fixed.
Thank you, O great ones, please share your wisdom with us newbies so we may not stink of old eggs...
Randy & Sarah
GENECOP said
04:32 AM Jan 10, 2014
Do it again and be sure to change the Anode Rod...also be sure to run solution through pump, increase the bleach ratio, you will get it but it may take 3-4 attempts....
bjoyce said
09:13 AM Jan 10, 2014
You can try a vinegar flush, it sometimes helps. As GeneCop says, if you have an anode rod, change it. (Atwoods do not have anode rods and do not need them).
Lucky Mike said
09:25 AM Jan 10, 2014
Ditto as bill said.....use a vinegar flush and turn the hot water heater once while the vinegar solution is in it. then while flushing the system, sanitize your tanks and lines with either a chlorine or bromide solution to make sure the bacteria is removed
SnugBugs said
01:23 PM Jan 10, 2014
Thank you all! Yes, we have decided to do a vinegar flush per the manual...will let you know how it goes.
Randy & Sarah
TRAILERKING said
01:47 PM Jan 10, 2014
Had to do mine with Javex(bleach) and works fine. Never did a vinegar rinse.
flyone said
08:35 PM Jan 10, 2014
Does your trailer happen to be plumbed for washer/dryer? If so I have heard of stagnant water being in the capped pipes for the wash machine instead of in the water heater. If so be sure and open the valves for the wash machine and let the bleach water flow thru those pipes as well.
Flyone
K & E said
09:00 PM Jan 10, 2014
We had trouble with bad smelling water only at our bathroom sink. We tried everything and it kept coming back. Turned out it was the plumbing for the washer and dryer. Our fifth wheel was plumbed for them, but we chose not to have them. Water would sit in those pipes and get stinky. Now we drain them every couple of weeks and no more smell. Give it a try.
Millie said
06:28 AM Jan 11, 2014
Humm. 2006 ...An 8 year old RV hot water tank.
I think you might be expecting the tank to spring a leak before long.
I lived in a converted-to-RV school bus. It had a brand new RV hot water heater in it.
7 years later, the tank sprung a leak from corrosion.
Those tanks are weird, because they're made out of white metal or something.
ps You don't have to buy the whole thing. - You can buy just the tank.
-- Edited by Millie on Saturday 11th of January 2014 06:33:37 AM
Grams said
10:12 AM Jan 13, 2014
How do you drain the line for the washer? Our unit is plumbed but we have not installed a washer. No smell yet, but want to be prepared! Thanks!
K & E said
06:46 AM Jan 14, 2014
Ours has two little drain pipes on the outside that can be opened up to drain them. To flush them clean, my husband hooked up a hose to the connections inside the fifth wheel for the washer, both hot and cold, and ran the hose to the shower and then flushed water through them. I'm not sure exactly how he did this, but that's what happened. Once they were flushed and the smell was gone, now he just opens the little drains outside about twice a month and the smell has not come back.
Lucky Mike said
06:57 AM Jan 14, 2014
to flush just hook a washer hose to the connection and put the other in the stand pipe.....flush away!!
Grams said
10:19 AM Jan 14, 2014
Thanks! Mike your response was a "duh" thing! :) Made me feel silly.
But, K&E ... I'm going to look for outside drains too!
So, we are getting our 2006 Winnebago Outlook 326A ready for an extended journey, and are encountering the sulfur smell coming out of the water heater (apparently caused by bacteria proliferating in water left in the heater while it was stored...yay!). We have already done a bleach flush of the heater (dump old water from heater through drain, add dilute of bleach to fresh tank, run hot taps until bleach water fills heater, wait overnight, blow out heater water through heater drain, flush whole system with fresh water), and though it did take the stank down from a 10 to about a 3, it's still there. We have a camphost position starting in 2 weeks and need to have hot water! Can anyone assist us who can offer advice we can count on? We don't have time to experiment, unfortunately, we just need it fixed.
Thank you, O great ones, please share your wisdom with us newbies so we may not stink of old eggs...
Randy & Sarah
Randy & Sarah
Does your trailer happen to be plumbed for washer/dryer? If so I have heard of stagnant water being in the capped pipes for the wash machine instead of in the water heater. If so be sure and open the valves for the wash machine and let the bleach water flow thru those pipes as well.
Flyone
Humm. 2006 ...An 8 year old RV hot water tank.
I think you might be expecting the tank to spring a leak before long.
I lived in a converted-to-RV school bus. It had a brand new RV hot water heater in it.
7 years later, the tank sprung a leak from corrosion.
Those tanks are weird, because they're made out of white metal or something.
ps You don't have to buy the whole thing. - You can buy just the tank.
-- Edited by Millie on Saturday 11th of January 2014 06:33:37 AM
But, K&E ... I'm going to look for outside drains too!