Chemical Water Smell

[RJM]

Originally Posted by sumac.rhus

I've flushed and filled my fresh water tank with my wonderful home well water multiple times. It still has the original noxious chemical smell from my very first experience the day i picked it up from ETI

There's plastic piping from the tank to the tap. Maybe drain the system and add water to the tank (don't turn on the pump) and try the water from the drain valve at the bottom of the tank in case it's not the tank.

I've also had that bad chemical taste using a plastic measuring cup. Use only glass now.

[sclifrickson]

We carefully filter the water going into our trailer (not the cheapo blue inline filter), keep the plumbing clean, and no matter where we go and how sulfurous or funky the source, what we drink and cook with is clean and delicious, right from the taps of our rig. Given that we travel for extended periods, and often far from ‘civilization’, it would be impractical to carry an equivalent amount of water in disposable containers. And why bother, if you keep your system and what goes into it clean? Do those of you who refill smaller vessels regularly also clean and sanitize them? You should, just as a reminder.

[dkirk]

We are also having a similar problem occasionally. My current thinking is that although I drain the fresh water tank at the end of a trip and refill before leaving again, a significant amount of water stays in the hot water tank and piping. This time I filled the tank and ran both hot and cold water for 5 minutes, then refilled. We will see how this works out next week and report back.

Dave

[steve dunham]

Escape uses PEX tubing for their water system piping . PEX is the residential standard in most newer homes and from my experience does not impart odor or taste into water
That only leaves the fresh water tank as the culprit and the tank Escape uses is NSF approved for potable water .
It may be nothing more than each individuals sensitivity to certain smells and taste .
We have run into campgrounds whose water has a strong smell / taste of bleach making the water safe but unpalatable.

[padlin]

my fresh tank doesn't drain completely, got to tip the trailer a bit if I'm concerned.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

We have run into campgrounds whose water has a strong smell / taste of bleach making the water safe but unpalatable.

If you put that water in an open container and leave it overnight, the chlorine will dissipate.

[sclifrickson]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

If you put that water in an open container and leave it overnight, the chlorine will dissipate.

Unless it’s chloramine, which is becoming much more common as a municipal disinfectant these days. It doesn’t evaporate like chlorine, and it tastes icky. But it’s safe. But the “disinfection byproducts”, where it reacts with organic matter in the water supply, are being recognized as a new hazard.

[sclifrickson]

Originally Posted by padlin

my fresh tank doesn't drain completely, got to tip the trailer a bit if I'm concerned.

Even if you do this the resultant moist and humid, oxygen rich container you leave behind is an ideal breeding ground for crud. If we plan to not use our fresh tank for more than a few weeks we fill it with chlorinated water, to combat anything growing in there. Sometimes even add extra bleach to make sure it’s sterile. Then dump and rinse before the next trip.

If there was a way to actually dry the tank out after draining, that would be a good option too, but I don’t know a practical way to do it.

[sclifrickson]

Originally Posted by dkirk

We are also having a similar problem occasionally. My current thinking is that although I drain the fresh water tank at the end of a trip and refill before leaving again, a significant amount of water stays in the hot water tank and piping. This time I filled the tank and ran both hot and cold water for 5 minutes, then refilled. We will see how this works out next week and report back.



Dave

Just as a reminder, you should never drink, or cook with, water from a hot water heater. The risks of various types of contamination go way up. With this in mind I only worry about whether the water from the cold rap tastes right [emoji1303]

[sumac.rhus]

ETI recommends re-sanitizing and let them know if doesn't work. Doesn't smell like an organic contaminant, but will try and follow-up afterwards.

Very familiar with chlorine, but not chloramine.... Interesting...

[Ian and Sue]

Originally Posted by sumac.rhus

ETI recommends re-sanitizing and let them know if doesn't work. Doesn't smell like an organic contaminant, but will try and follow-up afterwards.

Very familiar with chlorine, but not chloramine.... Interesting...

You could try some baking soda in the tank with some water it might help to absorb some of the odors, then flush the tank with clear water drain and refill.

Whatever you do after sanitizing , fill and drain the tank a couple of times. Does the water have a Sulphur smell? Sometimes using chlorine actually brings out the Sulphur smell as it oxidizes the dissolved Sulphur compounds(and therefore not noticeable) form and it becomes hydrogen sulphide that we can smell and taste.

[Escapist]

sumac.rhus We feel your pain. We picked up our 2018 Escape 19 on Jan 30 2018 and spent the night in the rain at Fort Langley Campground getting organized and packed prior to heading to Quartzsite. Our first coffee on Jan 31 was plastic tainted. Almost gave up coffee. We drained our tank and once on the road bought bleach and added a 1/3 cup to an almost full water tank and let it slosh around as we negotiated I-5, l did this twice, then rinsed and flushed the tank several times and no longer had the chemical odour in the hot water or water tanks. We have always carried potable water for coffee, but in the excitement of picking up the new trailer we forgot our rule. Hope you resolve your issue, lots of good input in this post.

[akmacs]

Never had a chemical smell but we have used vinegar and baking soda with a tank filled about 3/4 full and then drove around for a while to slosh it around pretty good. We drained and refilled a couple times and that freshened our tank but I don’t recall how much vinegar or baking soda we used. Our situation was a sulphur like smell since our motorhome was stored in a hot climate for a couple months with a partial tank of water.

[Upfisk]

We asked Escape to fill our water tanks at pickup. ICK! The chloride smell and taste was overpowering. Our second night we drained the water tank and then connected to great Portland, OR City water and the taste was great. Along the way we have connected to other highly chlorinated water sources and ICK again. Finally ordered some beer making tablets from Amazon. These remove harsh flavors in the source water to make great tasting beer. I grind up the tablets between 2 spoons, then sprinkle the powder in the fresh fill inlet. Then add a dash of bottled water to carry the powder into the tank. Usually 2-3 tablets clean up the foul chlorine taste within a day.

[sumac.rhus]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Surely at least one (or a combination) will work.
Will re-try tackling when have a few days off next week.
Whatever works, sounds like the 'beer making" tablets could be good to have on hand - certainly part of the fun of being on the road, is not knowing all of what will come our way.

[Upfisk]

Campden tablets, 100 for $4.95

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Upfisk

Campden tablets, 100 for $4.95

Organic?

[sclifrickson]

Originally Posted by Upfisk

Campden tablets, 100 for $4.95

These are composed of:

“Potassium metabisulfite, K2S2O5, also known as potassium pyrosulfite, is a white crystalline powder with a pungent sulfur odour. The main use for the chemical is as an antioxidant or chemical sterilant.” -Wikipedia

Sounds like the cure is worse than the problem.

But as ever, YMMV.

[sumac.rhus]

Originally Posted by Upfisk

Campden tablets, 100 for $4.95

Cool! Thanks

[jeffrow]

Originally Posted by sclifrickson

These are composed of:

“Potassium metabisulfite, K2S2O5, also known as potassium pyrosulfite, is a white crystalline powder with a pungent sulfur odour. The main use for the chemical is as an antioxidant or chemical sterilant.” -Wikipedia

Sounds like the cure is worse than the problem.

But as ever, YMMV.

Not really.... very small tablet treats 10 gallons very quickly. It basically removes chlorine and chloramines from water. I would crush a couple in a gallon of water and dump into the tank if I felt the source water was the issue. I use it when making beer all the time, our water here is pretty dodgy.