Sulfur Smelling water even with filter

[Grunge Grown Up]

Hey everyone - I need some advice/help here. The water in my HTT smells disgusting and I don't know what else to do. Here's the backstory.

Last Thanksgiving (2012), when we hooked up to the CG's water outlet, the water smelled like sulfur. So we trekked to the nearest Walmart and picked up one of the Camco inline filters. Got back, hooked it up, ran the water a bit, smell is gone.

This past weekend (2/15/13), we went camping. It was the first time camping since Thanksgiving. We hooked up to the CG's water outlet, and the water stunk like sulfur again. I thought it was the filter drying up, so I trekked back to Walmart for another. Got back hooked it up, ran the water a bit, STILL STINKS!

What am I missing here? Is the smell built up in the lines? I am hooking up to the city water input, and not using the water tank.

[Crabman]

Did you drain the hot water heater tank after the Thanksgiving trip? If not the water can lay there and really stink after a few months, been there done that. My suggestion would be to drain then sanitize the water system with bleach and water, instructions for that procedure are in the owners manual, not a hard process.

[Grunge Grown Up]

Thanks. I'll try that sanitizing. Our hot water heater is propane, and we didn't run it over Thanksgiving. But we did run it the previous time. Where does that drain from? Is that the Low point drain that is underneath the TT?

[Doug]

The hot water tank has a drain built into the bottom side. Usually a white plastic plug looking thingy with a heax head.

[Crabman]

You have to open up the water heater hatch on the outside of your trailer and remove the plug that dougtoms referred to.If it is an Atwood, the socket size would be 15/16" and you would likely need an extension to reach it, if like mine. After the plug is out, open up a hot water faucet and the water will drain out the plug hole. Reinstall the plug and fill with water again before using the water heater.

[mcfarmall]

Are you using an activated charcoal element in your camco filter or is it a string wound element? Charcoal is for taste and odor, string is for particulate only.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by Crabman

You have to open up the water heater hatch on the outside of your trailer and remove the plug that dougtoms referred to.If it is an Atwood, the socket size would be 15/16" and you would likely need an extension to reach it, if like mine. After the plug is out, open up a hot water faucet and the water will drain out the plug hole. Reinstall the plug and fill with water again before using the water heater.

Also open the pressure relief valve after removing the plug, this will allow the water to drain out faster.

If the smell and icky taste is from the stagnate water heater water, I would flush the tank a few times then use the sanitazing method mentioned in the owners manual. Many people make up a valve to replace the OEM plug so that after each trip you can drain the water heater.

[Chakara]

Had this on a prior trailer I owned. Almost exactly what you describe. Flush, flush, flush is what finally got rid of the smell. Flushing all the water lines, both city connect and from the tank. The tank is harder, partial fill, drain, repeat.

Do the tank first using the faucet closes to the tank. Also fill and dump the hot water heater numerous times. Once that is all good, pick one faucet and use it to flush the city water lines.

I watered the hell out of my flower beds during this process As it was all grey water I piped my Sewer Solution over there to not totally waste as much water.....

-Chak

[DMRGMC]

Have a look at this site. There are some ways of dealing with the odour.

http://www.waterheaterrescue.com/pag...r-heaters.html

[Crabman]

The bleach sanitizing method killed the odor in my system quickly and easily. 1/4 cup bleach to every 15 gallons of water, let soak several hours, drain, then rinse system with fresh water.

[Grunge Grown Up]

Originally Posted by mcfarmall

Are you using an activated charcoal element in your camco filter or is it a string wound element? Charcoal is for taste and odor, string is for particulate only.

We are using activated charcoal.

[Grunge Grown Up]

Thanks everyone. Looks like I will be flushing and sanitizing the water heater and water system this weekend.