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Old 08-28-2019, 01:55 PM   #1
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Bad Odor from water system

We have a bad odor that is plainly related to the water system. Smells sort of sour and is present whether connected to town water or boon docking. It comes when opening taps in kitchen or bathroom or flushing toilet. It is not a sewer smell. It has been present ever since we picked up the trailer last August.


I have emptied the water system and refilled the fresh tank with a water bleach mixture, filled all pipes with the mixture and let lie for a day and then repeated the procedure with a baking soda mixture. I have done this twice in the last six months. And even when the trailer is not used at all and lines remain fully drained within a few weeks the odor is back.


It seems to me that this is possibly a water born bacteria that is causing the odor, but it is driving me crazy. We have had stick built trailers before and never had this problem, so I like to think it is not something I am doing.


Any ideas or suggestions would be most welcome.
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Old 08-28-2019, 02:10 PM   #2
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Where does water originate?

Grand Forks water system?
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Old 08-28-2019, 02:18 PM   #3
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Is it hot water or cold water odor?
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Old 08-28-2019, 02:52 PM   #4
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This came up in another thread just recently but I be darned if I can find it.
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Old 08-28-2019, 03:22 PM   #5
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It is present regardless of where the water comes from, Saskatchewan to Arizona same problem. Hot or cold, same odor.
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Old 08-28-2019, 03:26 PM   #6
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Is it the same odor out of the bathroom sink as the kitchen sink? Did you change the faucet in the kitchen? Just trying to help determine if it's the Pex, tanks or faucets.


NEVER mind, I saw you answered MY question in the top post. D'oh!
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Old 08-28-2019, 03:28 PM   #7
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Flush out your water heater and change out the anode
If the anode is bad or it is the wrong metal , you can get a rotten egg smell from the water .
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Old 08-28-2019, 03:35 PM   #8
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Same smell all outlets, hot or cold. I will try an extra flush of the hw tank. Checked anode this past winter and looked good but will get a new one and try that. There was an eggy edge to the smell. What is the correct anode.
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Old 08-28-2019, 03:43 PM   #9
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No new faucets either. All is as it came from escape.
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Old 08-28-2019, 04:03 PM   #10
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Put the hot water side in bypass mode and see if it goes away it’s something in the water heater. Hope this helps.
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Old 08-28-2019, 04:48 PM   #11
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Have you sanitixed the system with bleach? Drain the system first including the water heater, then do a complete fill with bleach added to the water. 1/2 cup mixed in will be fine. Then drain the entire system and if you like fill it for a rinse and drain. I don't usually bother with the rinse on my annual flush as it really does not have much bleach left after draining.
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Old 08-28-2019, 05:00 PM   #12
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When you filled your fresh tank with the bleach solution, did you fill your hot water tank too?
If not, here's how to do it.
Open the pressure release valve on the hot water tank and turn on your pump -- it will pump the water from the fresh into the hot water tank.
Wait until water flows out the release valve, that's how you know it's full.
Then close the release valve (water pump should then turn off by itself since it's able to build up pressure).
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Old 08-28-2019, 05:14 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goalie39 View Post
When you filled your fresh tank with the bleach solution, did you fill your hot water tank too?
If not, here's how to do it.
Open the pressure release valve on the hot water tank and turn on your pump -- it will pump the water from the fresh into the hot water tank.
Wait until water flows out the release valve, that's how you know it's full.
Then close the release valve (water pump should then turn off by itself since it's able to build up pressure).
Even easier, just turn on a hot water tap and when water comes out of it, you know the water heater is full.
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Old 08-28-2019, 05:14 PM   #14
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This might help.

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Old 08-28-2019, 05:29 PM   #15
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Thanks for all the suggestions, all of which I have done except replacing the hw anode. Will get a new anode and do the bleach thing again but can someone tell me if the usual aluminum anode is what escape uses or is some other metal recommended.
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Old 08-28-2019, 05:42 PM   #16
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I've never done it but I have heard of cleaning out the HW heater with vinegar. You can do a search on google or some such if you're interested in trying it.
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Old 08-28-2019, 05:45 PM   #17
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I've never done it but I have heard of cleaning out the HW heater with vinegar. You can do a search on google or some such if you're interested in trying it.
Similar to what you do with a coffee maker, run diluted vinegar thru it.
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Old 08-28-2019, 05:46 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by canakiwi View Post
Thanks for all the suggestions, all of which I have done except replacing the hw anode. Will get a new anode and do the bleach thing again but can someone tell me if the usual aluminum anode is what escape uses or is some other metal recommended.
the correct anode is magnesium. aluminum anodes are offered as they last much longer, but the down side is they don't actually protect anything.
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Old 08-28-2019, 05:56 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
the correct anode is magnesium. aluminum anodes are offered as they last much longer, but the down side is they don't actually protect anything.
Another reason it might be a not be a good idea to use aluminum anodes in drinking water are studies have shown that it may be a factor in causing Alzheimer’s.

Magnesium anodes work better anyway.
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Old 08-28-2019, 06:06 PM   #20
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So magnesium anode, thank you for that. I will get a new anode and sanitize the system again. Will be a week or so as I'm currently 150 Km from the nearest RV dealer.
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