|
04-16-2017, 02:55 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 100
|
Bleach in water heater?
We just had our first outing this year and discovered a horrible odor from the hot water line. Smells like rotten cabbage. Last year when I sanitized for the first time I bypassed the water heater because that's what the owners manual said to do. I think it needs a good dose of bleach but is it OK to run a bleach solution through the heater? Would this damage anything?
|
|
|
04-16-2017, 03:50 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Fuquay-Varina
Posts: 884
|
I just sanitized our Greyhawk this weekend and ran it through the water heater. But then your post made me wonder. My manual doesn't mention bypassing the water heater when sanitizing --- but our Greyhawk came with the Girard tankless water heater. It now has a Suburban 6-gallon tank model because our dealer swapped it out last summer for us.
I can't imagine why the chlorinated water would harm anything, but I'll be watching other replies to this thread with interest.
__________________
2014 Greyhawk 31FK
2007 Honda Shadow Sabre 1100cc
|
|
|
04-16-2017, 04:19 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Magnolia
Posts: 4,856
|
Funny thing is we had the same rotten egg smell from our hot water this weekend. I simply drained all the water from the water heater tank by removing the plastic plug and smell was gone afterwards.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
2016 North Point 377 RLBH, with a few mods, disc brakes, shocks, Sailun g rated tires, wet bolts
2014 Ford F350 Platinum sold
2017 Ford F350 Lariat, CC, 6.7PSD, DRW, Trailer Saver BD3 hitch
|
|
|
04-16-2017, 04:28 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 100
|
Well I just drained the heater and I could smell the odor. When it stopped draining I rocked the trailer to get any remaining water out and a clump of clear slime came out. It's getting bleach wether it likes it or not. I also bought a hose attachment so I can flush the tank through the drain opening.
|
|
|
04-16-2017, 04:40 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: State of Confusion
Posts: 5,053
|
With the plug open, you could turn on the city water and let it flush the hot water tank.
Murff
__________________
Murff
2015 White Hawk 20MRB (It's last year)
2017 F150 2.7 Eco Boost 3.73 Gears
|
|
|
04-16-2017, 04:42 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Alberta
Posts: 639
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murff
With the plug open, you could turn on the city water and let it flush the hot water tank.
Murff
|
That's what I would do as well.
__________________
2024 GMC HD 3500 Duramax Ultimate Denali Dually. Firestone Ride-Rite 7500 lb.
2022 Pinnacle 36SSWS, 20K B&W Companion
|
|
|
04-16-2017, 04:49 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 100
|
Good idea. BTW, this is a Atwood 6 gallon heater.
|
|
|
04-16-2017, 05:58 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,991
|
I bleach mine every spring. Just did it last night. Flushed the tank and limes today.
|
|
|
04-16-2017, 06:13 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: White Bear Lake
Posts: 409
|
I had the same problem awhile back. Yep, using the recommended bleach solutions per the manual (and soaking time) takes care of the problem. And no, that level of concentration will not harm your water heater at all!
__________________
2012 Ford F-150 Eco, SCrew, 4x4, MaxTow, HD Payload
SOB, used to be:Jayco 26.5 RLS
|
|
|
04-16-2017, 06:25 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 100
|
Thanks for the info everyone. I got the tank flushed out real good and tomorrow I'll run the bleach solution through it.
__________________
2016 Jay Flight 24RBS
2016 Ram 2500 CC 4x4 6.4l HEMI
Sold :( 2006 Ram 3500 SRW, QC, 4x4, Inline 6.
|
|
|
04-17-2017, 03:01 AM
|
#11
|
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 38
|
I think our manuals differ ... You said "Last year when I sanitized for the first time I bypassed the water heater because that's what the owners manual said to do." I just checked my owners manual and it didn't say anything about not sanitizing, BUT what it did say was to bypass the water heater with antifreeze when you winterize.
So I wouldn't worry about the bleach ....
__________________
____________________________________
John
2011 Jay Feather Ultra Lite X213
2000 Chevy 2500HD Silverado
|
|
|
04-17-2017, 05:52 AM
|
#12
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 23,369
|
I have flushed mine out with this tool in the drain hole. It will wash scale or anything else out. Often sitting water in the tank will lose the smell with just a flushing but a little chlorinated water will make it even better IMO.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...electedIndex=0
__________________
Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
|
|
|
04-17-2017, 06:17 AM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Campbell Hall
Posts: 2,835
|
I feel that it is always a good idea to sanitize the water heater along with the rest of the water system.
Usually, a bad odor (often sulfur dioxide "rotten egg") is from trace amounts of sulfur in the water already. The sulfur and water react with the anode rod in the water heater (or just the metal tank) releasing sulfur dioxide and the hydrogen stays with the metal.
When this happens at home, usually swapping the type of anode rod (city vs. well) cures the problem.
To the OP, include a good flushing of the water heater if you feel that sanitizing is unacceptable.
__________________
TT 2015 19RD "TheJayco"
TV 2003 F-350 "Montblanc" - Housebroken chore truck
Sitting in The Cheap Seats.
And proud of it!
|
|
|
04-17-2017, 06:59 AM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Abingdon
Posts: 6,177
|
I always flush the HWH thoroughly after every winter with the city water connection. Have never ran bleach through it, but I imagine it wouldn't hurt.
__________________
2013 Jayco Eagle 328 RLTS
2021 Keystone Montana 3121RL
2013 F350 6.7L 4x4 CCLB
W/Air Lift air bags (front & rear)
Equal-I-Zer™ WDH & B&W Companion
|
|
|
04-17-2017, 07:05 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Saskatoon Sask Canada
Posts: 10,730
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murff
With the plug open, you could turn on the city water and let it flush the hot water tank.
Murff
|
Using a double female adapter you can put the hose onto the pressure relief valve (open it) remove the plastic plug at the bottom turn on the water and back flush the HW tank that way...
__________________
Seann
2004 Chev Silverado Duramax optioned past the max. 2009 Jayco Eagle 308 RLS 900watts of solar, Lithium batteries (400amp hour), 3000 watt (4000 surge) whole house inverter.
[LEFT][COLOR="DarkGreen"][B]104days202445/2023[B]2022/151/ 2021
93/2020]157/2019[B]219/2018[206/2017 215/2016, 211/2015, 196/14, 247/13, 193/12
|
|
|
04-17-2017, 07:49 AM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Worcester
Posts: 1,428
|
There's a guy on youtube that uses a vinegar solution to clean/flush the HW heater. I haven't tried but I may if the heater stinks when I open the trailer in a few weeks.
__________________
2016 Jay Flight 38FDDS
|
|
|
04-17-2017, 07:55 AM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: White Bear Lake
Posts: 409
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mike837go
I feel that it is always a good idea to sanitize the water heater along with the rest of the water system.
Usually, a bad odor (often sulfur dioxide "rotten egg") is from trace amounts of sulfur in the water already. The sulfur and water react with the anode rod in the water heater (or just the metal tank) releasing sulfur dioxide and the hydrogen stays with the metal.
When this happens at home, usually swapping the type of anode rod (city vs. well) cures the problem.
To the OP, include a good flushing of the water heater if you feel that sanitizing is unacceptable.
|
Many hot water heaters don't have an anode. The other big cause are naturally occurring bacteria in the water supply that find the heater a nice warm place to live. Harmless, but stinky. Hence the bleach.
__________________
2012 Ford F-150 Eco, SCrew, 4x4, MaxTow, HD Payload
SOB, used to be:Jayco 26.5 RLS
|
|
|
04-17-2017, 10:56 AM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Beaverton, Oregon
Posts: 174
|
I too bypass my water heater when sanitizing the water system. My 2016 Whitehawk Towables Owner's Manual has you bypassing the water heater in step one of the sanitizing instructions: "Sanitizing Instructions. 1. Turn both the electric and LP gas water heater switch(s) to OFF. Set the bypass valves to bypass the water heater; valves A&B closed and valve C open (refer to Water Heater Bypass Valves section)."
It is not until step 18 that you reopen the bypass valves after you have drained the bleach solution out (step 13), refilled with fresh water (step 14) and drained it again (step 17): "18. Water heater bypass valves (if so equipped): Close bypass valve C, open valves A&B on water heater, replace water heater drain plug."
So, this makes me wonder if the instructions are wrong because there was still a little water in the bottom of my water heater below the lip of the drain plug that has been sitting in there all winter. I've already sanitized my water system, so I'm going to buy one of those water heater flush wands and flush it out before my first camping trip.
__________________
2016 Jayco Whitehawk 27DSRL
2010 Ford F-150 XLT Supercrew with Max Tow
|
|
|
04-17-2017, 08:46 PM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 100
|
That's the same wording as my manual. If I remember correctly it's exactly the same for winterizing. I think they copy and pasted the text for both sections and really didn't think it through.
I did the bleach soak today and flushed tank using city water connection. Smell is gone.
__________________
2016 Jay Flight 24RBS
2016 Ram 2500 CC 4x4 6.4l HEMI
Sold :( 2006 Ram 3500 SRW, QC, 4x4, Inline 6.
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|