Last summer we purchased a new Rockwood 8315 BSS travel trailer. As I always do when I de-winterize, I sanitized the fresh tank and lines with bleach water. For some reason, every time we have camped this year, there is a foul odor that comes from the faucets when we first set up camp. I would describe it as a sulphur smell. After I let the water run for a minute or two, the smell goes away, but I get the odor at all faucets, toilet, and shower until I let it run. I'm not sure if we got some bad water at one of the campgrounds and some bacteria has developed or what. We've only been to one campground this year where we had to use the fresh tank, all others have had water hook-up. So this morning, I am in the process of re-sanitizing the system to see if that helps. I have never had this happen before, and was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

When you sanitized, did you fill the tank with bleach water and then run your faucets to get the bleach water all through the pipes? You would also need to drain and fill your hot water tank to get the bleach solution in there.

Yes I did. In Washington State I hooked up water in a camp ground that had sulfur in the water, but it was filtered at the camp sight so there was no odor to it. There were signs that said sulfur.. So didn't think much of it. Got the rig home next day put the rig in storage. Three weeks later went to check inside the rig and the whole place smelled like rotten eggs. Flushed all the lines out let water flow through the system and have had no problems since then.

sfpcservice wrote:When you sanitized, did you fill the tank with bleach water and then run your faucets to get the bleach water all through the pipes? You would also need to drain and fill your hot water tank to get the bleach solution in there.Yes, I always run the faucets for a few minutes, make sure the water heater is full and all air is out of the lines. Then I let the solution set overnight before draining and rinsing the system. Having said that, I do sometimes forget about the outside shower. Last night when I ran the bleach water through all of the faucets, I actually got some antifreeze out of the outside shower head for a few seconds. I could be wrong, but I wouldn't think that would cause a sulphur smell through the rest of the system.

Do it again, or use hydrogen peroxide from a hair salon instead of bleach.Sulphur smell could be bacteria in the anode rod, which bleach won't kill. Cook the rod im an oven for 30 min at least 300f.

GordonThree wrote:Do it again, or use hydrogen peroxide from a hair salon instead of bleach.Sulphur smell could be bacteria in the anode rod, which bleach won't kill. Cook the rod im an oven for 30 min at least 300f.That's one I haven't heard of Gordon, since I'm now draining the system and I've got the anode rod out now, I'll bake it before I put it back in. Thanks for the tip.

Smelly water | Good Sam Community

Cool_Canuck
Explorer
Sep 09, 2016
Sulfates or hydrogen sulfide gas in the water giving a distinct "rotten egg" smell.

Some places have a high sulfur content in their water. Left sitting in an RV for awhile can bring out the worst. Simply drain the water heater and flush out the system with fresh water. It should all go away. If this is happening frequently and your water heater has a magnesium anode, change to an aluminium one. There are places I have camped that have a high sulfur content and I drain and flush the system when I return home.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Sep 09, 2016
If you are using a water filter, change it.
PaulJ2
Explorer
Sep 09, 2016
GordonThree wrote:
PaulJ2 wrote:

Went through the bleach thing again and it seems to be ok so far.
Wondering if there is a formula for adding a tiny bit of bleach with each fill of the fresh water tank? Simular to maybe city water?
thanks.

Sure thing, something like a capful or so taste, added to a mostly empty tank and then fill with water.

Camco sells a food grade sodium hypochlorite solution to keep your tank fresh. It's just bleach without any perfume, dye or other nonsense added. The instructions indicate 1 oz of treatment per 20 gallons. I've been happy with 1/2oz, and have only used it a few times so far, where the water will be sitting in the fresh tank for a week or more between outings.

Thanks, I'm going to do just that. I think also there is more going on here, as my 20 year old trailer i treated the same way and never had this problem for 20 years. Maybe reacts with the plastic plumbing that is used in rv's today. After setting a bit,the first cup of water smelled bad but after that was ok. Don't know what they use now but i think maybe Pex. My old trailer had a grey hard plastic type, new one looks like Pex from what i can see. Thanks again for the info.
mobeewan
Explorer
Sep 10, 2016
I think the Red Cross web site gives info for treating water after disasters using straight bleach. I think it gives the amount in drops per gallon.

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