Fresh Water Smell
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3870
Printed Date: 03 Jun 2025 at 5:32am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Fresh Water Smell
Posted By: tattulip
Subject: Fresh Water Smell
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 5:59pm
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I had a big problem with my fresh water this past weekend. My son had borrowed my camper and left water in the fresh water tank. Then next weekend, my other son borrowed it and he said the water smelled like rotten eggs. When he got it home, he put white vinegar in the tank and flushed it out. A month later (last weekend) I am running the water and the water coming out of one faucet (not sure if it was the hot or the cold) smells SO bad!  To me, it smelled like almond extract. It was so strong it set off the gas alarm.I got behind the tire and drained opened both drains. Water coming out of one drain had the smell and the other was okay. Why are there two drains? Any idea what could be causing my problems? |
Replies:
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 7:08pm
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Apparently you opened the hot and cold water drains, which are separate. The main drain is at the bottom of the fresh water tank. I have no idea what caused the odors. I never had that problem in the Midwest nor have I encountered it since we moved to Florida. Every now and then I use a mild bleach solution in the fresh water tank and run it into all the hot and cold water lines, making sure the hot water heater is filled with it. After a few hours I drain the fresh water tank, flush it out refill it with fresh water. Then I run the fresh water through all the lines and the water heater to eliminate the chlorine smell and/or taste. I am just guessing, but I bet the smell is originating in your water heater. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 7:30pm
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Usually when someone has an odor problem with the water system it comes from the water heater. Bacteria react with the anode rod. From what I've read you need to get a pint of hydrogen peroxide into the water heater and let it slosh around, then flush. I can't think of an easy way to get that concentration of hydrogen peroxide directly into the heater without draining some of the water in the tank, removing the hot water output line and then getting the peroxide into that hole. Close it up and go for a drive. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2013 at 2:24am
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The rotten egg smell probably came from water that had sulfur in it. Usually the smell comes from the hot water giving off the gas. The cold water would be okay unless the sulfur level was really high. If that was the problem, just flushing a couple of times should clear it up. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |