If this has been asked before I couldn't find it. We bought a new TT from a dealer a little over a year ago. Unfortunately due to the deaths of my son and wife, we never got to use it until about a month ago. Unfortunately, it appears that the dealer DID NOT drain the water system including the water heater or fresh water tank after pre-delivery testing and demo. So water sat over last summer, winter and this spring UGH ! Clearly we need to sanitize! But I've read where bleach can be bad for the water pump and other seals, as well as the W.H. I also read somewhere that you could use Hydrogen Peroxide in place of bleach. So I poured 2 16 oz bottles into the tank and ran it through all the pipes and water heater. a day or two later when I went to drain it all out, there was a foul sour smell coming from the water. I completely drained everything including the WH, refilled the 35 gal water tank adding a 1/2 cup bleach, and changed the bypass valves so bleach water would not go to WH. Then ran all fixtures H&C lines. at first the foul smell was still coming out but quickly went away. However I could not detect a bleach smell. Nevertheless I let it all sit overnight and in the morning, added another 1/2 cup bleach and ran all faucets again. If this does not take care of the problem, What else can I try??Thanks in advance, and I apologize for the long question.

When I sanitize I include the hot water tank - usually let the bleachy water sit overnight.

We were on a trip and our hot water smelled like sulfur. The water heater tank was drained, the anode replaced, and all was well. I now empty the water heater in between trips.

Given the mess that it was, I would open all the low point drains, and also drain the water heater. Get the system empty. Close the drains. Refill the water tank about halfway.You want 1/4 cup of regular bleach for every 15 gallons of water. Mix this amount of bleach into about a quart of water. Pour this into the water tank. Finish filling the water tank. Remove the bypass from the water heater so it will fill. Turn on the pump and run every outlet, hot and cold, until bleach water comes out. (This will take a couple of minutes.) Then let it all sit for 12 hours or so. Don't double up on the bleach.Then drain the system, fill with fresh water, and run all the outlets until water comes out. Then run them until the tank is almost empty. Repeat. You should be OK after the second rinse. The extra rinse will get all the bleach smell out. You should also sanitize your hose. Not a bad idea to do this first. Put a couple of tablespoons of bleach in a cup of water and pour that in the hose. Fill the remaining hose volume with water, screw the hose ends together and let that sit too. Rinse thoroughly.My condolences on the loss of your wife and son.

Does it have a whole house filter ? If so, change it.

"But I've read where bleach can be bad for the water pump and other seals, as well as the W.H."Bleach in the proper concentration is best choice. Never used anything else. I'd sanitize three times because of your issue and drive the TT as well as let each dose sit for 24 hours. Run each dose through the lines extensively.

Bad Water Smell | Good Sam Community

Coolerman
Explorer
Sep 10, 2020
Just did my Sonic Venture water system in preparation for out fall camping trip.
I used Clorox bleach.
Added the 2 cups of bleach to the fresh water tank, then filled it completely. This also fills the hot water tank as I drain that tank every winter.
Ran water through all the lines until I smelled the bleach. Let it sit in the lines and tanks overnight.
Next I opened all line drains, and pulled the anode from the hot water heater to drain it.
Flushed the fresh water tank twice, closed all line drains then hooked to city water and flushed all the lines for 5 minutes.
The last thing I did was to mix up 2 gallons of water with a couple of ounces of bleach added and using a funnel, poured that into my 50' fresh water hose, tied the ends together and agitated that around for a couple of minutes, then let that sit for a couple of hours before attaching it to a hose bib and flushing for 5 minutes. NOW I am ready to go camping!
garmp
Explorer II
Sep 02, 2020
I had a similar thing and traced it down to the hot water tank. Drained it,, pulled the anode and bought one of these. And was shocked at the **** that came out. Threw in some vinegar and let sit, then drained and all was well.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Sep 02, 2020
cahillprc2 wrote:
......Tomorrow I'll drain it again and flush everything with the baking soda and hopefully the bleach smell with dissipate. At least with the strong bleach smell I can be pretty sure everything has been disinfected ??

Yes, your system has been disinfected. BTW, it is likely that the bleach smell will decrease within a few days. In fact I often leave some excess bleach in the system after sanitizing it. That will help to keep the water safe and fresh for a few more days until it dissipates.
cummins2014
Explorer
Sep 02, 2020
wa8yxm wrote:
Bleach can be bad for the water pump and seals.. Well yes. straight up
But 1/4 cup to 15 gallons of water is what we use to sanatize.. I might, in your case. go a bit higher. say 1/3 or even 1/2 per 15 gallons

And another factor is time.. 1 hour 2. hours a Week
The first.. Not so bad. the week. not so good

Then flush with a mix of water and baking soda. Use about one cup for your entire tank (Dilove in warm water and add to tank)
Then fresh water.

Give it the old SNIFF test. and last a taste test.

You might want to run the bleach mix 2 or 3 times fresh water flush in between

Be sure to pump it through EVERYTHING.

I keep hearing this bleach thing, used it for 12 years on the same fifth wheel ,and never had an issue with anything. It sure seems like its the accepted method by many for many years . Once every spring works for me .
Sjm9911
Explorer
Sep 02, 2020
Yea , you have to open and sanitize all the lines. If you miss one the bad stuff can get back into the system.
cahillprc2
Explorer
Sep 02, 2020
Thank you everyone. I was able to remove the foul smell with the bleach and using about 1/3 cup per 15 gal. I almost forgot the outside shower but caught it after draining the bleach water out and refilling with fresh water tank. The water coming out of the faucets was still smelling pretty bleachy even after a good 15-20 min so I figured that would sanitize the outside shower since we only use that for washing off feet and equipment or the dog. Tomorrow I'll drain it again and flush everything with the baking soda and hopefully the bleach smell with dissipate. At least with the strong bleach smell I can be pretty sure everything has been disinfected ??
Etstorm
Explorer
Sep 01, 2020
If you leave untreated water (no chlorination) it will go bad quickly. I drain mine and flush with vinegar.
mobeewan
Explorer
Sep 01, 2020
If your hot water still smells like rotten eggs even after sanitizing you may have to add some white vinegar to the water heater tank and let it set. It is recommended to remove the relief vale to pour it into the water heater tank, but you could also use the winterizing connection to pump it into the tank by opening the nearest hot water faucet to the water heater.

Drain the water heater first before filling it with 2 parts vinegar one part water. So for a 6 gallon water heater tank you'll need 4 gallons of white vinegar. You'll need a little extra if you use the winterizing connection but don't have to mess with removing the valve. This will also help to descale the water heater if it's needed.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Sep 01, 2020
Bleach can be bad for the water pump and seals.. Well yes. straight up
But 1/4 cup to 15 gallons of water is what we use to sanatize.. I might, in your case. go a bit higher. say 1/3 or even 1/2 per 15 gallons

And another factor is time.. 1 hour 2. hours a Week
The first.. Not so bad. the week. not so good

Then flush with a mix of water and baking soda. Use about one cup for your entire tank (Dilove in warm water and add to tank)
Then fresh water.

Give it the old SNIFF test. and last a taste test.

You might want to run the bleach mix 2 or 3 times fresh water flush in between

Be sure to pump it through EVERYTHING.
TechWriter
Explorer
Sep 01, 2020
naturist wrote:
May I suggest using hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach?

A quart bottle in my 35 gallon fresh water tank pumped through the water system, including filling the water heater, and left for a couple days does as good as bleach.

"As good as bleach"? I disagree.

If you are using over-the-counter hydrogen peroxide (3% solution), then it won't be effective as a disinfectant.

To get something stronger like 12%, you'll end up paying about $20 for a 16 oz bottle.

Bleach is the most effective and least expensive disinfectant.

However, if you don't want to use bleach, then use Purogene.

naturist wrote:

Peroxide isn't hard on seals and hoses, doesn't leave behind any horrible and hard to flush out tastes and odors.

The RV myth that won't die. First, RV plumbing is either ABS or polyethylene. Bleach won't harm either. Finally, those "seals" in an RV are most likely made from bleach-tolerant Santoprene.

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