So, we are getting our 2006 Winnebago Outlook 326A ready for an extended journey, and are encountering the sulfur smell coming out of the water heater (apparently caused by bacteria proliferating in water left in the heater while it was stored...yay!). We have already done a bleach flush of the heater (dump old water from heater through drain, add dilute of bleach to fresh tank, run hot taps until bleach water fills heater, wait overnight, blow out heater water through heater drain, flush whole system with fresh water), and though it did take the stank down from a 10 to about a 3, it's still there. We have a camphost position starting in 2 weeks and need to have hot water! Can anyone assist us who can offer advice we can count on? We don't have time to experiment, unfortunately, we just need it fixed.Water heater is an Atwood.Thank you, O great ones, please share your wisdom with us newbies so we may not stink of old eggs...

IF the bleach treatment didn't get rid of the sulfur smell then you will need to do a vinegar soak.FLUSHING YOUR WATER HEATER TO REMOVETHE ROTTEN EGG ODOR1. Turn off your main water supply. Drain you water heater tank. Reinstall drain plug. Remove the pressure-temperature relief valve. With a funnel use 4 parts white vinegar to two parts water. (In a 6 gallon tank that would be 4 gallons vinegar to 2 gallons water).2. Cycle the water heater, letting it run under normal operation 4-5 times. At no time do you remove the vinegar from the tank or open any faucets. This will take time cause WH has to cool down then refire repeat for 4-5 times.3. Once this has been completed, remove the drain plug and drain thewater heater.4. Flush/rinse water heater thoroughly with a wand thru drain hole stirring up any sediment. Then turn on water supply and force flush out drain hole.5. Turn off water, install drain plug, then turn water back on and open PRV letting water flush out thru it.6. Let PRV snap close, open faucets hot side one at a time to flush linesNo more stink of old rotten eggs.

Sounds like my dad's old Winnebago Chieftain in San Diego County. He rarely took it out, and sulphur content in the water in Fallbrook is terrible. All we could really do is flush, flush, flush. Sooner or later it'll go away, and if you're going on the road the problem may not last long.

I would not use vinegar in the system after bleach which will release chlorine gas without a great deal of care. Flush again and use bicarbonate of sodium.

Look for an aniod rod in the water heater, and remove it.Dusty

I agree with just flush flush flush. Some water smells like sulfur right out of the faucet. I my own house we get it now and then, we are on a rural water system.

Sulfur Smell from Water Heater - Please Help!

msiminoff
Explorer II
Jan 10, 2014
As others have mentioned, the sulphur smell is a result of the anode rod. Anaerobic bacteria in the tank reacts with the aluminum and/or magnesium from the anode and creates hydrogen sulfide gas (that's the sulphur smell).

I suggest that you drain the water heater, replace the anode with "combo anode" that is made from aluminum & zinc. Then add a bottle of hydrogen peroxide (just as effective and much safer than chlorine bleach) to the heater tank, fill with water, and allow it to sit for a few hours. Then flush another two times with fresh water and your you'll be odor free.

Cheers,
-Mark
RoyB
Explorer II
Jan 10, 2014
I also get the same smell when my batteries are being boiled out... Might check the battery fluid levels as well...

Roy ken
n7bsn
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
If you remove the Anode, replace it; or you will be replacing more then just the anode. It's there for a reason.
ReneeG
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
Dusty R wrote:
Look for an aniod rod in the water heater, and remove it.

Dusty

We had the problem of the sulfur smell, so we checked our anode rod - nearly eaten away. Replaced it and no more smell.
darbyjudy
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
I had the same problem when I had a new water heater in the home replaced. They had to remove the anode rod. After it was removed the smell was no more. So that is one thing to check.
Pipeman
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
I poured bleach into the heater via the drain plug. I poured it in until it started to drain out. Put the anode rod back in, filled it with water, ran it through the system and let it sit for a day or so. I then drained it and flushed the whole system with clean water. When I dewinterize I will do it again to be on the safe side and install a new anode rod. Hopefully that will solve the problem.
dave17352
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
I agree with just flush flush flush. Some water smells like sulfur right out of the faucet. I my own house we get it now and then, we are on a rural water system.
Dusty_R
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
Look for an aniod rod in the water heater, and remove it.

Dusty
Shadow_Catcher
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
I would not use vinegar in the system after bleach which will release chlorine gas without a great deal of care. Flush again and use bicarbonate of sodium.
SCVJeff
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
Sounds like my dad's old Winnebago Chieftain in San Diego County. He rarely took it out, and sulphur content in the water in Fallbrook is terrible. All we could really do is flush, flush, flush. Sooner or later it'll go away, and if you're going on the road the problem may not last long.