Atwood WH STINK!!

[klassic]

As any of you regulars here know, I have nothing but trouble with my NorthPoint.
New trouble..the water heater STINKS BAD..REAL BAD. Nose burning.
I’ve done the vinegar method (apparently Atwood’s approved method)
It cut the smell down by 85%.
I used a camera scope and looked inside, before and after, and saw no real difference of whatever is clinging to the interior of the tank. I expected funk to come pouring out after draining the vinegar, but nothing came out.

I’ve had RV’s for 12 years and never had this problem.
How do I get rid of this stink?? This is the first aluminum Atwood I’ve had.
I’m thinking about yanking it and putting in a Suburban.

And on another note.
The only place the stink comes from is the hot water valves that are hw only. On the sink faucet and the bathroom faucet it comes from the cold too. How the heck does the cartridge pass the stink to the cold side and not let the hot in??

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by klassic

snip...
the water heater STINKS BAD..REAL BAD. Nose burning.
I’ve done the vinegar method (apparently Atwood’s approved method)
It cut the smell down by 85%. ...snip...
The only place the stink comes from is the hot water valves that are hw only. On the sink faucet and the bathroom faucet it comes from the cold too. How the heck does the cartridge pass the stink to the cold side and not let the hot in??

So BOTH hot and cold stink and vinegar cut down on the bad smell.

Is it likely you got a batch of bad water when camping?
Have you tried using bleach to clear out the system?
Do you use a carbon filter when connected to campbround water?

[Magnolia Tom]

Klassic

I had some stinky hot water once but after flushing the water heater and running a little vinegar, it went away. Maybe your water filter needs to be replaced as well? That’s all I can think of

[klassic]

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

So BOTH hot and cold stink and vinegar cut down on the bad smell.

Is it likely you got a batch of bad water when camping?
Have you tried using bleach to clear out the system?
Do you use a carbon filter when connected to campbround water?

JUST the hot water. It only gets the cold water at the faucets with a single lever.
The cold is fine in the shower, outside shower, the fridge, the low point cold drain. It is rank in all hot water.
I’m on the campground water..it is fine at the faucet.
It baffles me how the stink in the HW skips into the cold at the single handle cartridge faucets.

[klassic]

Originally Posted by Magnolia Tom

Klassic

I had some stinky hot water once but after flushing the water heater and running a little vinegar, it went away. Maybe your water filter needs to be replaced as well? That’s all I can think of

Water filter is fine.
It’s still coming from the WH tank. After letting it cycle for 10hours with 5 gallons of vinegar and 2.5 gallons of water. It still has a smell.
Maybe I have to do it again.

My camera showed mountains of something clinging to the inside that never came out.

Is this just an aluminum tank problem??

[WinnieView]

Most well water and Atwood aluminum HWHs don't 'mix well'.

Adding some store-bought hydrogen peroxide will usually eliminate the odor.

[klassic]

Originally Posted by 2008Seneca

Most well water and Atwood aluminum HWHs don't 'mix well'.

Adding some store-bought hydrogen peroxide will usually eliminate the odor.

I should add a bottle to the water inside the hw tank and let it sit??

[WinnieView]

Originally Posted by klassic

I should add a bottle to the water inside the hw tank and let it sit??

For our 10 gallon HWH we would only add about a cup.

[TCNashville]

Originally Posted by 2008Seneca

For our 10 gallon HWH we would only add about a cup.

Drawing a blank here. How do you get the peroxide in the HWH?

[WinnieView]

Originally Posted by TCNashville

Drawing a blank here. How do you get the peroxide in the HWH?

On our Atwood we would remove the pressure relief valve and use a funnel.

[Marine71-76]

We have had units over 25 years and never had an Atwood until the Jayco. Never had any issue with the Suburban smelling, no matter what water we used (well or city).

Our water continues to stink - this last trip, it was coming from the cold. A new filter was installed - in fact, there are 2 filters on the unit & both were new. We also have a water softener on the unit (6 years of using it and NEVER any stink until the Jayco).

We need to go down & open the low drain valves as we forgot to do that when we returned. Hopefully that will help some by draining the water out of the line.

[TCNashville]

Originally Posted by 2008Seneca

On our Atwood we would remove the pressure relief valve and use a funnel.

Gotcha, that makes sense. We have an Atwood 10 in our Eagle and never had a problem with stinky water. I drain it after each trip.

[Rock]

Klassic
Probably has something to do with ur brakes or outriggers or schwintec slide!!!!
Can u possibly have anymore stuff go bad!!!! Just cleaned another brake of grease thank u self adjusting brakes.

Rock