My husband and I have noticed a metal smell when we shower and then a metal taste in our water after we shower for the day. When we shower every day we constantly have a metal taste. This has been happening for a few weeks. My husband did drain our water heater a couple of times and it was better for a day or so. Then in went back to metal.We have a 2009 class B and it gets a lot of use. Could our water tank be rusting? Do we need to replace it? And on a not so important note could this be what's making my skin and hair so dry?Thanks for any input.

I doubt you have a metal fresh tank. Those went out almost 40 years ago. Draining the Water Heater will not get rid of most of the mineral deposits. You need to drain and then make a small tube connected to the pressure water hose and stick it in the drain opening of the water heater to help break up the minerals and get them loose. Then try to inject about a 1/4 cup of bleach into the drain hole, install the drain plug, fill the water heater and then drain again and keep doing it until clean water comes out. Doug

The only thing that should be metal is the hot water heater. Your water tank is most likely plastic, as well as the plumbing. Drain your water and try a different water source. Also boil or warm some cold water on your stove (not through water heater) to see if it still has a metal taste or smell.Brian

dougrainer wrote:I doubt you have a metal fresh tank. Those went out almost 40 years ago. Draining the Water Heater will not get rid of most of the mineral deposits. You need to drain and then make a small tube connected to the pressure water hose and stick it in the drain opening of the water heater to help break up the minerals and get them loose. Then try to inject about a 1/4 cup of bleach into the drain hole, install the drain plug, fill the water heater and then drain again and keep doing it until clean water comes out. DougIt's not a metal fresh water tank. It's coming from our hot water heater. It smells like water in the shower. Then when we turn it off and use the tap water I imagine it is the water that is still in the lines that taste like metal.We have drain and added a small amount of bleach. It's fine for a day or 2 and then right back to the metal smell/taste.BTW, the water always comes out clean and clear. Thanks for the input.

Cobra21 wrote:The only thing that should be metal is the hot water heater. Your water tank is most likely plastic, as well as the plumbing. Drain your water and try a different water source. Also boil or warm some cold water on your stove (not through water heater) to see if it still has a metal taste or smell.BrianRight, I am pretty sure it is the water heater as that is metal. Maybe it is rusting?We have used a different water source...same thing. Boiling makes no difference if it is the same day we showered(and had the water heater on). The taste and smell of metal is still there.As I said if we skip a day of showers and the water heater is not turned on the water tastes good and there is no metal taste or smell. This is why I think it is the water heater. I just don't know if it can be fixed or we need to replace it.

mikeandlisa wrote:Right, I am pretty sure it is the water heater as that is metal. Maybe it is rusting?If your water heater is an Atwood then it's tank is aluminum which doesn't rust, if it's a Suburban it's steel tank is lined with porcelain so no metal is in contact with the water. If your WH is indeed the latter it will have a anode rod and depending on whether it's aluminum, magnesium, or even zinc it's possible that's what may be causing your issue. You need to tell us just which WH you have. ;)

Metal Smell and Taste From Water | Good Sam Community

midnightsadie
Explorer II
Feb 19, 2018
soundguy has your answer. most likely a bad anode rod ,which can be changed.
drsteve
Explorer
Feb 19, 2018
Try replacing the anode rod if you have one.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Feb 19, 2018
“My husband did drain our water heater a couple of times and it was better for a day or so.” I agree with Sound....it’s the rod.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Feb 19, 2018
listen to the sound guy
SoundGuy
Explorer
Feb 19, 2018
mikeandlisa wrote:
Right, I am pretty sure it is the water heater as that is metal. Maybe it is rusting?

If your water heater is an Atwood then it's tank is aluminum which doesn't rust, if it's a Suburban it's steel tank is lined with porcelain so no metal is in contact with the water. If your WH is indeed the latter it will have a anode rod and depending on whether it's aluminum, magnesium, or even zinc it's possible that's what may be causing your issue. You need to tell us just which WH you have. ;)
mikeandlisa
Explorer
Feb 19, 2018
Cobra21 wrote:
The only thing that should be metal is the hot water heater. Your water tank is most likely plastic, as well as the plumbing. Drain your water and try a different water source. Also boil or warm some cold water on your stove (not through water heater) to see if it still has a metal taste or smell.
Brian

Right, I am pretty sure it is the water heater as that is metal. Maybe it is rusting?

We have used a different water source...same thing. Boiling makes no difference if it is the same day we showered(and had the water heater on). The taste and smell of metal is still there.

As I said if we skip a day of showers and the water heater is not turned on the water tastes good and there is no metal taste or smell. This is why I think it is the water heater. I just don't know if it can be fixed or we need to replace it.
mikeandlisa
Explorer
Feb 19, 2018
dougrainer wrote:
I doubt you have a metal fresh tank. Those went out almost 40 years ago. Draining the Water Heater will not get rid of most of the mineral deposits. You need to drain and then make a small tube connected to the pressure water hose and stick it in the drain opening of the water heater to help break up the minerals and get them loose. Then try to inject about a 1/4 cup of bleach into the drain hole, install the drain plug, fill the water heater and then drain again and keep doing it until clean water comes out. Doug

It's not a metal fresh water tank. It's coming from our hot water heater. It smells like water in the shower. Then when we turn it off and use the tap water I imagine it is the water that is still in the lines that taste like metal.

We have drain and added a small amount of bleach. It's fine for a day or 2 and then right back to the metal smell/taste.

BTW, the water always comes out clean and clear.

Thanks for the input.
Cobra21
Explorer
Feb 19, 2018
The only thing that should be metal is the hot water heater. Your water tank is most likely plastic, as well as the plumbing. Drain your water and try a different water source. Also boil or warm some cold water on your stove (not through water heater) to see if it still has a metal taste or smell.
Brian
dougrainer
Nomad
Feb 19, 2018
I doubt you have a metal fresh tank. Those went out almost 40 years ago. Draining the Water Heater will not get rid of most of the mineral deposits. You need to drain and then make a small tube connected to the pressure water hose and stick it in the drain opening of the water heater to help break up the minerals and get them loose. Then try to inject about a 1/4 cup of bleach into the drain hole, install the drain plug, fill the water heater and then drain again and keep doing it until clean water comes out. Doug

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