2017 Fresh Water odor in bath..

[Tobbun]

So one thing from our first trip was some fresh water odor. I put it down to winterization stuff not getting flushed enough. Came home emptied fresh water tank (both outdoor shower and both sinks). For me the grey water gauge hit the full indicator at about 20 gallons.

Anyway... Cycled all the water out. Refilled the freshwater tank using a filter on hose before it got to AI. I didn't notice that smell anymore.

Now about to head out and was checking everything and the odor is back. Doesn't happen with galley sink but does with bath sink or toilet. It is a sour smell.

This unit sat on a lot for a long time... Wandeing now if there is something in the lines to the bath.

Anything recommendations?

[FlyFishinRVr]

Here are a few thoughts:

- Personally, I don't use the water in the fresh water tank for drinking/cooking. I always bring bottled water for that. Given that, I sanitize my fresh water tank with bleach. I know that many people/sites claim putting just a little bleach in the water is fine for drinking (1/4 cup bleach for every 15 gallons of water...I actually use 1/4 cup for the whole tank), but we don't. Here's a good article on how to do it: https://www.rvtrader.com/research/ne...v-water-system

- Keep in mind that both the toilet and sink are in the bath, so you have a chance for odors from both the black and gray tanks to creep in there. I leave my bath vent open (never got any rain in there even during downpours), leave a SMALL amount of water in the toilet to keep the seal moist so it does its job and stays sealed, and keep the plug in the sink closed.

- Last but not least, I've found the best product to use in BOTH the black and gray tanks is Happy Camper. It's organic, has no funky smell to it, and used as directed works perfectly with no chance of having undissolved treatment packets clogging up the macerator.

After 1-2 tanks using the above process, your smells should go away and stay away.

[Boxster1971]

I also use the bleach sanitizing several times a year. For the gray water tank I use liquid automatic dishwasher soap to remove build up of crud and fresh smell to the gray tank that can get pretty bad over time. Dishwasher soap is a good detergent that does not produce soap bubbles.

I use bottled water for coffee, cooking and drinking - use the fresh tank water to brush my teeth.

[rmkrum]

Is it the water from the faucet giving the odor, or is the smell coming up the drain traps?

If it's the traps, run a fair bit of water down the sink and shower to put the traps back to normal operation.

If it's the water, more filling and flushing the tank and system with clean water is in order...and possible opening the low point drains to flush out the standing water in them.

[Tobbun]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

Is it the water from the faucet giving the odor, or is the smell coming up the drain traps?

If it's the traps, run a fair bit of water down the sink and shower to put the traps back to normal operation.

If it's the water, more filling and flushing the tank and system with clean water is in order...and possible opening the low point drains to flush out the standing water in them.

It is the actual water coming out versus the smell from the tanks. I have happy campers and use that. I used a pod the first time then cut a pod for the second time ( both grey and black tanks). I think the filter on the galley sink is potentially eliminating the odor. I don't really smell it from that.

I filled up a cup of water from bath, galley sink, and external.shower). The galley sink was noticeably cleaner.

[glcmranger]

I bet its your Air Admittance valve. Check under your bathroom sink for a black cap-looking thing. Replace it and your smell will go away.

[Tobbun]

Originally Posted by glcmranger

I bet its your Air Admittance valve. Check under your bathroom sink for a black cap-looking thing. Replace it and your smell will go away.

Would that affect the water going into the toilet?

[rmkrum]

The air admittance valve is a sewer vent. It prevents sucking water out of the sink trap when you drain it. It has absolutely nothing to do with the smell of water from the faucet or toilet when water is running.

That said, it can be a source of odors if it’s not working right.

[iaqstuff]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

The air admittance valve is a sewer vent. It prevents sucking water out of the sink trap when you drain it. It has absolutely nothing to do with the smell of water from the faucet or toilet when water is running.

That said, it can be a source of odors if it’s not working right.

Water stored in a tank can develop bacteria and those MVOCs have detectible odors. When flushing with city (treated) water, do not filter it. You want the chlorine-treated water to eliminate the bacteria on the inner tank and supply line surfaces. It may take several flushes over a few days to totally eliminate the issue. Then you can go back to filtering your intake water.
The alternative is adding your own chlorine in small amounts and allowing a dwell time - several times.

[Tobbun]

Originally Posted by iaqstuff

Water stored in a tank can develop bacteria and those MVOCs have detectible odors. When flushing with city (treated) water, do not filter it. You want the chlorine-treated water to eliminate the bacteria on the inner tank and supply line surfaces. It may take several flushes over a few days to totally eliminate the issue. Then you can go back to filtering your intake water.
The alternative is adding your own chlorine in small amounts and allowing a dwell time - several times.

Good to know... Yeah I have only filled it a few times and did that from home (suburbs of Dallas) and used a filter on the hose. Will eliminate that in the future.

[Tobbun]

Added the bleach today... Ran water to each location until I smelled the bleach. Had a small heart attack when the water pressure wasn't going but wasn't being patient enough for the water pump to build its pressure. I also never ran the hot water heater so started that up to run hot water through. The odor has already gone away but there is some algae coming out though. Not in a spot where I can do a full drain flush yet.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Tobbun

Added the bleach today... Ran water to each location until I smelled the bleach. Had a small heart attack when the water pressure wasn't going but wasn't being patient enough for the water pump to build its pressure. I also never ran the hot water heater so started that up to run hot water through. The odor has already gone away but there is some algae coming out though. Not in a spot where I can do a full drain flush yet.

If you are seeing algae - that is likely cause of odors. Algae build up is a problem in hot weather. I sanitize my tanks with bleach several times during summer to keep algae in check.

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by Tobbun

Added the bleach today... Ran water to each location until I smelled the bleach. Had a small heart attack when the water pressure wasn't going but wasn't being patient enough for the water pump to build its pressure. I also never ran the hot water heater so started that up to run hot water through. The odor has already gone away but there is some algae coming out though. Not in a spot where I can do a full drain flush yet.Attachment 313570

And don't forget to order a new galley filter so you can replace it when your flush is complete.

[bibbs]

Hello! he said “wintering stuff” Antifreese? Yuck that’s what smells, it takes weeks to wash that smell out of the pipes. Kitchen filter is taking the smell of that sink.
I used it once, never again!

[Titus]

I can smell the blue powder used in the black tank, but nothing from the gray tank. I have twice got the rotten-egg (sulfur) smell from hot water, but this is solved by filling the water heater with vinegar and cycling it a few times. I use a filter when filling the fresh tank, and sanitize it if its a long time between trips.

We use the fresh water tank for everything but drinking water. My wife (tender tummy) keeps a gallon of purchased or NPS filtered water-bottle refill water for drinking and I keep a gallon of 'any drinking fountain' water for drinking.