Stinky Hot Water from Tap

[Harpmary]

Hi - Wondering if anyone can provide insight into why we're getting stinky hot water out of our tap (we have an 1989 IP 31'), and also what we can do to correct it. The smell is rotten egg/sulfur-like. We've flushed the system several times to clear the anti-freeze.
Thanks, - Mary

[sailingdog]

Have you shock treated the water system recently? If not, it is probably about time to do so. The stink is probably from bacteria decomposing and breaking down in to hydrogen sulfide-based compounds... which is what gives the rotten egg smell. Peggie Hall's instructions are probably the best on the subject, given that Peggie is the goto person on marine sanitation systems.

[arf145]

Sounds like bacteria. Peggy Hall's shock treatment for water systems is basically: fill the tank, then add 8 oz of bleach per 10 gallons of tank water, then run the solution through all taps (hot and cold) until you smell the bleach. Let sit for at least 8 hours but no more than 24 (solution can be corrosive over time). Then drain and run clean water through all taps until no bleach smell exists.

You can find Peggy's description of this by searching Shock Treatment.

Tom

[sailingdog]

Or by clicking the link in my post above...

Originally Posted by arf145

Sounds like bacteria. Peggy Hall's shock treatment for water systems is basically: fill the tank, then add 8 oz of bleach per 10 gallons of tank water, then run the solution through all taps (hot and cold) until you smell the bleach. Let sit for at least 8 hours but no more than 24 (solution can be corrosive over time). Then drain and run clean water through all taps until no bleach smell exists.

You can find Peggy's description of this by searching Shock Treatment.

Tom

[Harpmary]

Thanks, for the suggestions. However, we can't use bleach in our systems - we have aluminum tanks. Bleach is a definite no no.

[k1vsk]

Short term exposure to chlorine solution won't create any appreciable precipitation of aluminum chloride salts or harm the aluminum tank walls but repeated use should be avoided.

An equally if not more effective alternative is to use hydrogen peroxide which is an equivalent disinfectant, won't harm aluminum tanks, plumbing, rubber gaskets or seals and has the added benefit of a greater retention time with no after -taste.

If you choose this alternative, don't use drug store bought peroxide which is too dilute a solution.

[Tempest]

In addition to the above, what condition are your hoses in? could it be time to replace? How good is your fresh water supply? Some towns on the New Jersey Shore have had fresh water with a sulpher odor to it.

[eherlihy]

Also - Note that this is in the HOT water taps, not both taps. In addition to shocking your water tank, I believe that you probably have a heavy buildup of goo in your hot water heater. Here is what I suggest;

Buy a new heating element for your tank.



TURN OFF THE HOT WATER BREAKER ON YOUR AC DISTRIBUTION PANEL.
Empty the hot water tank.
Remove the electrical heating element. Use a 6 point socket and a breaker bar, as this is likely to be REALLY stuck.
Inspect the tank through the heating element port. Clean as necessary...
You could add some bleach to the hot water heater only through this port.
Replace the old element with a new one.

[RichH]

There SHOULD be a MAGNESIUM ANODE inside (most) hot water tanks.

When the magnesium anode is totally consumed, the electrolysis then starts attacking any aluminum .... and attacks aluminum sulfate salts there accumulated and such a chemical reaction includes the production of H2S Hydrogen Sulphide and similar stinks.

If you dont have a tank anode, and this is a 120v heated system, **dont have a galvanic isolator attached to the boat system's ground** ..... you'd better quick check the polarity, and 'proper wiring' etc. on the 120v supply feeding your boat !!!!!!! If the tank never ever had a magnesium anode, you can bet the farm that you'll soon be putting your nose into either a Defender or West Marine Catalogue for a new hot water tank.

[bubb2]

Many hot water heaters have a sacrificial magnesium rod built into to them to act as anode so that the galvanized tank lasts longer. When this rod comes into contact with very hard water that has a high iron content you get the rotten egg smell.
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The way to fix this is to remove the plug that holds the rod and cut the rod off with a hack saw and replace the plug. This can usually be found between the cold water fill and the hot water discharge. This would be under the sheet metal cover of the heater.