Metal Smell and Taste From Water

mikeandlisa wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Atwood water heater with aluminum tank.....need to do an acid etching.

Vinegar Soak!

Turn off water supply (or bypass water heater)
Drain water heater and reinstall drain plug
Remove T&P Relief Valve
Using a funnel pour vinegar into water heater via T&P Opening
*6 gal tank---4 gallons vinegar/2 gallons water
**10 gal tank...7 gallons vinegar/3 gallons water

Reinstall T&P Relief Valve

Turn water heater ON...let it heat then cool down and reheat 4X
**Do Not use the water....let it heat/cool/soak
Best to let it operate overnight/into next day


AFTER 4x heat/cool cycles
Turn water OFF
Relief Pressure ---POP open T&P
Then remove drain plug and let it drain

When Drained....turn water supply back on (or if bypassed --place back in service) and let it BLAST out of drain hole
Drain/flush couple of times

Install drain plug

Fill water heater by turning water supply back on....bleed air out by opening hot side of faucet

Turn water heater ON.

Thank you for that.

X2
My water gets that taste every so often also. I don't even remember what type of metal my hwh tank is made of. I just do it.

I do what old biscuit does and it cleans up the smell and taste.

Sometimes all I do is open the drain plug and turn on the water and let the water blast out. Then shut off water and Use a turkey baster and fill with vinegar and/or bleach while plug is open an then turn water back on and let it blast out again. That cleans out the bottom of the tank which is a good couple of inches that does not drain out.

Actually I put this process on my 6 month 'maintenance list' whether it tastes/smell or not.