Chemical Water Smell

[Canadian Jennifer]

Hello, we just purchased our 21’ Escape. When using the kitchen sink, the water had a harsh chemical smell which had me boiling my bottled water to make a hot chocolate.

How many times do I need to flush out the water tank and what should I flush it with? Hope someone knows an answer.

Thanks

[sumac.rhus]

Originally Posted by Canadian Jennifer

Hello, we just purchased our 21’ Escape. When using the kitchen sink, the water had a harsh chemical smell which had me boiling my bottled water to make a hot chocolate.

How many times do I need to flush out the water tank and what should I flush it with? Hope someone knows an answer.

Thanks

I've been meaning to ask about this for two years - THANKS FOR POSTING THIS!!

[gbaglo]

I have to wonder why the bottled water doesn't smell?

[Canadian Jennifer]

I only used a store bought water bottle to boil my water for my hot chocolate. Trying to figure out how to rid of the chemical smell. Yuck!

[Jim Bennett]

That is strange to have a harsh chemical smell. Did you add something. I am pretty sure Escape does not add anything.

I have noticed a bit of a plastic smell that goes away after a while. If you wish to you could do a santitize which will remove some of that odour. Just add 1/2 cup of bleach to a jug of water and add it to a full water tank. Open all taps until you smell the bleach. Let that set for a few hours and drain everything good. Some people will fill with fresh and flush everything, drain the water tank and refill. I do this every year or two as well to freshen the water system.

You do have to include filling the hot water tank with the sanitising water. I usually just pull the plug to drain it out then recap to flush.

[sumac.rhus]

I have flushed my fresh water tank at least 6 times. The water continues to have a very strong chemical smell. It's not like drinking out of a plastic bottle that was left in the sun. Friends have taken a sip despite my telling them it's not potable, and quickly spit it out as I look at them in disbelief for not trusting their noses, let alone me. The closest thing I can associate the aroma with is a volatile adhesive - it's that bad. This thread will finally get me to asking ETI about it.... Kinda nice to know it's not just me having the problem.

[Jim Bennett]

I have drank water out of both my Escapes without a problem. I do the odd sanitize as mentioned above. We do have good water in Calgary. I have been to a few areas where while we do fill up with water, I don't care for the taste and replace the water as soon as I get to some better stuff.

[Donna D.]

I don't have any first hand experience with this stuff, but maybe you should try it... https://www.amazon.com/Camco-40207-T.../dp/B000EDUTQS

[Rossue]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I have to wonder why the bottled water doesn't smell?

Ever hear of BPA-free water bottles? Pretty common now.

[sumac.rhus]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I don't have any first hand experience with this stuff, but maybe you should try it... https://www.amazon.com/Camco-40207-T.../dp/B000EDUTQS

Jennifer - didn't mean to hijack your query - Again thanks for your asking!
Maybe somehow the very first fill created a problem.....though... ...it was a number of tanks ago and previous to two winterizations and de-winterizings...... But will give Donna's suggestion a try. - Thank you.

DID you email ETI, will share any advice they extend.

[sumac.rhus]

(don't know how I stuck the "you" into my last line......I "DID email ETI", was what was intended)

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Ever hear of BPA-free water bottles? Pretty common now.

You didn't say thank you for giving you the opportunity to attack me.

Yes, I've heard of BPA-pretty much everything.

[sclifrickson]

Originally Posted by Canadian Jennifer

Hello, we just purchased our 21’ Escape. When using the kitchen sink, the water had a harsh chemical smell which had me boiling my bottled water to make a hot chocolate.



How many times do I need to flush out the water tank and what should I flush it with? Hope someone knows an answer.



Thanks

The Owners Manual that should have come with your new trailer has a section on sanitizing your new tanks. There’s a lot of other important-to-know information in there as well that you may want to familiarize yourself with.

[Rossue]

Scott- you're right about the need to read manuals however the fact is most people don't which is why you haven't seen a paper manual in your cell phone box for years.

Never noticed a funky taste with the fresh water tank as to this day we don't use it for that purpose and carry a 3 gallon jug to fill the one gallon for drinking water obtained at Glacier machines and other sources.

[padlin]

We sanitize the water system anytime the trailer sits for a month or more unused, which works out to 2 or 3 times a year. I include the hot water tank and pull the anode several times in the process, putting plumbers tape on the fitting when finished. Takes me half a day.

We don't use the trailers water supply for consumption unless it's water from home. Some campgrounds water has a bad taste or smell, once it's in the tank we won't drink from it. Not saying it's unhealthy, just not something I want to drink.

[steve dunham]

There must be a chemical available that will get rid of the chemical smell / taste in your onboard water system
We have owned 3 FG trailers and we’ve experienced bad taste / smell in our water system on several occasions , everytime the culprit was lousy water .

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

We have owned 3 FG trailers and we’ve experienced bad taste / smell in our water system on several occasions , everytime the culprit was lousy water .

This has been our finding too. We use this stinky water for all cleaning and use filtered water for cooking and drinking. Once rinsed out with a good water all is fine again.

I have a habit of testing the water at a campsite by smelling and a wee taste before we ever hook up to it, and if bad I might not use if I have enough on board.

[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

[sclifrickson]

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

Have you done the initial sanitization, as recommended by Escape in your Owners Manual?

[cpaharley2008]

I'm still drinking British Columbia water.....