The last couple of times out we have noticed an odor when using our hot water. I am wondering if some of the antifreeze made it's way into the hot water heater, and after not draining it for a couple week period could be causing the odor?Should I try to get some bleach in the hot water heater to kill the odor?

Drain and flush the water heater tank.

I would suggest shutting off your hot water tank heater and cooling it. Then use the isolation valves to isolate it. Remove the drain plug, and then stand out of the way, and lift the safety valve. Water should shoot out of the tank.Now what you need is a thinner hose that will fit into the tank through the drain plug opening, and spray water around in there from outside as it comes out through around your spray hose. This is attempting to get the pink from the tank.After that, fill the tank up partially, and drive around a bit to slosh the tank, then drain plug again and let it all out.After that, either one, or the other, or both, you might get to the point where you don't notice it.

Empty your HW tank, flush it with a tank flusher/your white hose stuck in the drain opening and let er rip, when finished doing that pour some bleach, maybe 1/2 cup into tank via the drain port, if you can get that much in, close drain port, fill the tank from your fresh water connection, open your taps until you can smell the bleach and then shut them off. Let it stand for maybe a day, if you can do that. Drain the tank and then refill and hopefully that takes care of the smell. I had the same problem, used bleach and so far no smell and we're into a month and a half of traveling using different campgrounds(knocking on my head). Good luck.

Smell is often associated with bacteria and sometimes anode rod (Suburban) ... if flushing or replacing anode rod doesn't work then consider adding a small amt of bleach (chlorine) to hot water tank (let sit for few hours to kill bacteria) then flush.

It may be sulfur in the water. If so the following is from the Atwood manual:"1. Turn off your main water supply. Drain your waterheater tank. Reinstall drain plug. Remove thepressure-temperature relief valve. With a funneluse 4 parts white vinegar to two parts water. (In a6 gallon tank that would be 4 gallons vinegar to 2gallons water).2. Cycle the water heater, letting it run under normaloperation 4-5 times. At no time do you remove thevinegar from the tank Once this has beencompleted, remove the drain plug and drain thewater heater.3. After thoroughly draining the tank, to remove thesediment, flush the water heater.If you elect to use air pressure, it may be appliedeither through the inlet or outlet on the rear of thetank or applied through the pressure-temperaturerelief valve. Remove the pressure-temperaturerelief valve and insert your air pressure throughthe pressure-temperature relief valve coupling. Ineither case, with the drain valve open, the airpressure will force the remaining water out of theunit.If air pressure is unavailable, your unit can beflushed with fresh water. Fresh water should bepumped into the tank either with the onboardpump or external water pressure. Externalpressure may be hosed into the unit eitherthrough the inlet or outlet found on the rear of thetank or the pressure-temperature relief valvecoupling located on the front of the unit.Continue this flushing process for approximatelyfive minutes allowing ample time for the freshwater to agitate the stagnant water on thebottom of the tank and forcing the depositsthrough the drain opening.4. Upon completion of the steps above, replace thedrain plug and the pressure-temperature reliefvalve.5. Refill tank with fresh water that contains nosulfur."

How do I get rid of odor in water | Good Sam Community

Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
Aug 05, 2014
I would suggest shutting off your hot water tank heater and cooling it. Then use the isolation valves to isolate it. Remove the drain plug, and then stand out of the way, and lift the safety valve. Water should shoot out of the tank.

Now what you need is a thinner hose that will fit into the tank through the drain plug opening, and spray water around in there from outside as it comes out through around your spray hose. This is attempting to get the pink from the tank.

After that, fill the tank up partially, and drive around a bit to slosh the tank, then drain plug again and let it all out.

After that, either one, or the other, or both, you might get to the point where you don't notice it.
downtheroad
Explorer
Aug 05, 2014
Drain and flush the water heater tank.

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