Bleach in water heater?

[wwt]

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?

[NC Roamer]

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.

[Magnolia Tom]

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.


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[wwt]

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.

[Murff]

With the plug open, you could turn on the city water and let it flush the hot water tank.

Murff

[cariboocreek]

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.

[wwt]

Good idea. BTW, this is a Atwood 6 gallon heater.

[Jagiven]

I bleach mine every spring. Just did it last night. Flushed the tank and limes today.

[Flapper]

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!

[wwt]

Thanks for the info everyone. I got the tank flushed out real good and tomorrow I'll run the bleach solution through it.

[jmoors]

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 ....

[norty1]

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.



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[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.

[TWP723]

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.

[Seann45]

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...

[jloco]

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.

[Flapper]

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.

[WyEm]

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.

[wwt]

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.