Hot water STINKS

[CTdave]

So everything was fine with my water system last week but all of a sudden, my hot water smells like, like.......a cross between a dead skunk on a Louisiana back road next to a swamp filled with dead rats & a combination of a burning baby diaper cleaning factory/rancid foot oder testing facility.
Ok, so it stinks, BAD. I'm guessing something inside the heater has gone?

 

[Diver Down]

I know that several of the HOF members, including us, have had this problem. We fixed the problem by draining and flushing the tank and replacing the anode.

 

[Passages]

We've had other discussions on the dreaded stink water. Consensus was a bleach or peroxide flush is the best option.

 

[Pascal]

that happens if i'm away from the boat for more than 2 or 3 weeks and i didn't flush the heater before turning it off. now i turn it off and run a hot water faucet for a while beofre leaving

 

[REBrueckner]

Also check your water filter to be sure it is clean....

 

[CTdave]

I didn't mention that it is just the hot water. It's really a rancid sulphurish smell.
I'll drain the tank, bleech it, replace the anode & see what happens.
Thanks for the help!!

 

[Pascal]

Just try letting the hot water run for a while to rinse the heater, 10 or 15 minutes before bleaching. Usually that works for me

 

[CTdave]

Thanks P, I'll try that first!

 

[Chad]

Have this problem at home too. Google stinky well water to see what comes up. We found that we have bacteria that feed on iron. The annode in the water heater was like a buffet for them. We now flush all plumbing twice a year with a weak bleach solution. Also removed the annode. Where do you get your water? Smells like rotten eggs although I like your description better!
lol
Chad

 

[rsmith]

As long as the heater is bonded to the zinks on the bottom of the boat why do you even need one in the HW heater?

 

[wmfels]

my hot water in my rv did the same thing if you dont use it for a few weeks got the "rotten egg" smell just give it a shot of bleach it clears it right up. draining the hot water heater if it is going to sit for a while i think would be a good idea

 

[George]

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP80810979.htm

Use this instead. Bleach is not potable, you dont want to drink this, but it is safer and works real well

 

[Passages]

I would not use the potion mentioned above. It a Quatenary Ammonium compound. Flush good after using that stuff. Overkill IMHO plus it's 32 bucks a gallon.

Naw, stick with a cup or 2 of bleach which will cost you 50 cents. Hydrogen Peroxide is even better but costs a bit more.

 

[Trojan]

Peroxide is cheep and works good. Some times the smell will happen if your water is not hot enough. Look at your water temp. I had a cottage that had the same problem. I raised the water temp and the problem went away.
BILL

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I cure the problem in our cottage's hot water heater with Hydrogen PerOxide. I just remove the fill side tube and pour about 4oz. in and it is as good as new. Don't bother changing the anode, that isn't the problem. Water tanks that sit for extended periods have always had this problem and H2O2 has always been the cure.

 

[CTdave]

I cure the problem in our cottage's hot water heater with Hydrogen PerOxide. I just remove the fill side tube and pour about 4oz. in and it is as good as new. Don't bother changing the anode, that isn't the problem. Water tanks that sit for extended periods have always had this problem and H2O2 has always been the cure.

I'll give it a whirl tomorrow. Thanks

 

[jim rosenthal]

Another way to possibly help this is this: if your water heater has a coolant loop that is set up to heat fresh water from the engine coolant jacket, hook it up. When I run my boat, the coolant also circulates through the water heater in a pipe inside there; when I get where I am headed, I have 180F hot water. Doesn't take much of that for a shower. It also kills everything in the water heater tank.

Most sailboats and trawlers are set up this way. Quite a few replacement water heaters have the loop, but many folks don't connect it. It's a great way to have hot water any time you're running your boat, without having to run the generator.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I hooked my loop up to the engine's anti freeze. I did have one occasion where the water was hot enough to trip the overtemp sender on the water tank. Now the electric element won't work until you locate and reset that little red button. I do use and like that loop feature. I hadn't thought of Dr. Jim's comment though.