Any of these issues can prevent a water heater from working properly and may require service. ... in the morning the water is still warm enough for a shower. Why is my tap water white? Permalink. The sulfur smell in water is actually the hydrogen sulfide gas. What to Do About Sulfur Smell in the House Track down the source of that “rotten eggs” odor ASAP. When I first turn on the water in my shower, the bathroom has a smell like rotten eggs. Even in small amounts, Hydrogen sulfide makes the water develop a horrible taste and smell. Most people who own RVs smell this awful odor at least once. © 2020 Good Sam Enterprises, LLC. Addition of chlorine into sulfur smelling water will eliminate the hydrogen sulfide. Use a strong chlorine solution to disinfect the plumbing system. We recently stopped at a campground with our grandchildren for a weekend in Michigan. This is only noticed in one shower in the house and not in the faucets or other appliances. Excess sulfur in drinking water can cause dehydration and diarrhea. Rv water smells like sulfur But if your cold water does smell, you should start your web search again, because this article only addresses how to fix rotten egg smells in your hot water). These may indicate signs of sulfur bacteria. For this, you need to install an air compressor or blower in your tank to introduce a large volume of air in order to execute this process properly. MY BAD! Your shower drain could be the culprit. How to Eliminate Smells in the Shower Drain. rec.outdoors.rv-travel . Thorough cleaning of the shower drain and fixing the plumbing problems usually gets rid of the bad smell. Different smells are caused by different things. If you like Trailer Life, pay just $18.97 for 11 more issues (12 in all). Long-term exposure can cause fatigue, dizziness, headaches, poor memory, and irritability. Upon arriving home I hooked it up to shore power overnight and in the morning smelled sulfur near the camper. You can also consult a state certified laboratory to have the water tested. If your RV toilet smells when flushed, try putting a little scent or essential oil in the water flush. If bad water is a reoccurring problem in your area, consider installing a water filtration system. In addition, the aluminum and magnesium rod in the water heater reacts to form hydrogen sulfide gas. We’ve seen that sulfur in water is not harmful to health, but its horrible smell makes the water unbearable. Otherwise, write “cancel” on the invoice, return it and owe nothing. The bleach kills the harmless bacteria that enjoy living in the water heater and produce the odor from sulfur in the water. link to Why Is My Tap Water White? Important Water Heater Safety Note If the toilet bowl area smells like urine, it may be due to a leaking wax ring seal around the floor drain. Rotten Eggs Smell from a Washing Machine. Besides the strong egg smell, You’ll notice corrosion on your metal plumbing system and on pipes. To ensure safety, have your water tasted to clear all doubts. What Should I Do? Step 2 It smells like something scary has been sitting in your toilet since the last time you used it. When a shower drain smells like sewer gas, there’s probably rotting debris, draining problems, or general plumbing issues. There is no problem with the kitchen sink or shower when we use the hot water. There are three major causes of bad toilet smells. If you discover that the water contains hydrogen sulfide gas, introduce chlorine into your plumbing system, call an expert to do aeration, or invest in a water system for hydrogen sulfide removal. ATC’s Game Changer PRO Series Toy Hauler, Vance Reading Light with Integrated USB Port, San Diego RV Resort’s Open-Air Study Hall, Two for One: Nacogdoches, Texas, to Natchitoches, Louisiana, Stay Connected: 18 Trailer and Fifth-Wheel Hitches. Our 5th wheel is 10 months old. Further, by help of an expert, you can introduce compressed air into the water distribution system. For a rotten egg smell, it could be one of two things. The gas is created by a bacteria that is common in sewer lines. Step 1 Open a window to increase air circulation and pull some of the odor outside. These may indicate accumulation of hydrogen sulfide. First of all, you need to figure out where the smell is coming from. Q: When we first turn on the hot water at our bathroom sink in our Paradise Point fifth-wheel, we experience a very strong sulfur odor coming from the sink. We went on an overnight in our 320S after charging on shore power. Mesh bags filled with scent hanging around RV are another good idea- pot pourri like this is perfect for that. The Environmental Protection Agency has not put a regulation on the level of sulfur in water. Also, check out TrailerLife.TV for our expert RV how-to videos. The smell is caused by the anode rod material reacting to the minerals in the water. These bacteria, which use sulfur as an energy source, chemically change natural sulfates in water into hydrogen sulfide-which emits a distinct rotten egg odor. In addition, it damages plumbing, stains toilets, sinks, and clothing. If the odor issue comes from the reaction between the magnesium anode and your water, several options are available to you. Tip: Replace your Magnesium Anode rod with an Aluminum Anode rod to get rid of the sulfur rotten egg smell in your RV hot water tank. In most cases, the water heater is likely to harbor sulfur bacteria since it creates a warm environment for them to thrive. You should do the bleaching job annually as a regular maintenance procedure.  Trailer Life magazine’s core purpose is to enhance the RV lifestyle by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, tests and reports about all things RVing. Your water smells like sulfur because of the presence of sulfur bacteria or hydrogen sulfide. Doesn’t matter if we’re in Virginia or Florida, same smell. Either this bacteria is growing somewhere in your plumbing system, or there is a leak in your sewer line that is allowing the gas and/or the bacteria to leak out. In... Why Is My Water Yellow? During your twice a year routine RV water heater maintenance, it’s important to look carefully for loose connections, corrosion, insect intrusion, and insect nest building. Running some water down all the drains may help. It’s important to have your water tasted when you notice the rotten egg scent or any smell for that matter. They include Continuous chlorination and use of Activated carbon filters. You’ll also notice bacterial slime. We’ve mentioned that the sulfur smell is as a result of high levels of hydrogen sulfide in water. After about a minute, the smell goes away and everything seems normal, no more smell in the shower or the water. Water Smells like Rotten Eggs. Comments for Foul Smell in RV. Water softeners provide a perfect place for these bacteria to thrive. Well, White water from the tap can make you anxious about the safety and quality of your drinking water. If you have an Atwood water heater, it will likely look like the image below. When switch on the water heater, you’ll notice sulfur or rotten egg smell. Many areas of the country are plagued with water that smells of sulfur. Joann Fisher, via email, A: You’re on the right track with the vinegar treatment, Joann, but also try using 1/2 cup of bleach per 15 gallons of freshwater capacity in your trailer as a treatment. So you need to figure out what you’re dealing with before you can solve it. Why is my water yellow? You know it’s time to clean out the shower drain when your bathroom starts to smell like something died. Foul Smell in RV. We’ve also seen this process on water heaters without anodes; some are made of aluminum, which is reactive and susceptible to the reaction. Have an expert look at your water distribution system to settle all doubts. A toilet smell that resembles the stench of a rotten egg means that there is bacteria in the water from the drain system. It can also irritate the skin and eyes. Well, at low levels, sulfur is not harmful. Hydrogen sulfide makes the sulfur or rotten egg smell you’re now too familiar with. Depending on your budget, likes, and your location, the market has many Water treatment options for hydrogen sulfide removal. At times, this mineral build-up can cause your hot water to smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. has been sitting for 3 months. The water smells like rotten eggs or sulfur because of the high concentration of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) in the water. Some water smells like sulfur right out of the faucet. Hydrogen sulfide gas makes the water smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. Checkout this website for a list of certified drinking water laboratories. What usually happens is that, the sulfur taste and odor are so unpleasant; as a result, most people avoid drinking it. Our battery didn’t last through the night before our CO detector started beeping. In most cases, the smell of sulfur will be caused by high magnesium content water that comes into contact with the original anode already present within the water heater. Detailed instructions are readily available via a short Internet search. In addition, the accumulation of hydrogen sulfide in the water heater can also trigger a strong sulfur smell every time you use the heater. You can also inject ozone gas into the tank to quickly get rid of the pungent sulfur smells. So, Why Does My Water Smell Like Sulfur? You can shower in water that smells like sulfur; the only problem is that you might get the sulfur scent on your body. RV mistakes 101 folks! 7 Key Reasons. Generally, a sewage-like or rotten egg odor in your tap water results when sulfur-reducing bacteria grow in your drain, water heater, or well. This question runs in the minds of most people. This may be black, white, or grey paste on your water appliances. Therefore, you need an aggregate filter or sand to eliminate the yellow particles. The best home water system for removing hydrogen sulfide gas are many. Why Does My Water Smell Like Sulfur? After all, there have been several incidences of water contamination in the recent past. Explore the greatest in RVs, travel, gear and more. When the sewer line gets clogged, backed up or springs a leak too close to the duct system, then a methane gas may find its way inside your RV. Establish which of the faucets has the sulfur or rotten egg smell. All Rights Reserved. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. If you’ve been there you know the kind of nuisance this unpleasant smell causes. Hey Its Craig the Odor Dude here. RV Air Conditioner Smells Like Sewer RVs do not have a lot of space. Imagine you go out to your camper to get it ready for your next trip, and as soon as you open that door the green smog comes rolling out and it hits you right in the face. The battery was the culprit and was hot to the touch. I … If your plumbing fixtures and silverware have black stains, you could be dealing with hydrogen sulfide gas. Wonder What It's Like To Shower In An RV? Some hot water heaters use a magnesium rod to slow down any corrosion taking place inside the water heater, extending the life of the heater. Chlorine reacts with hydrogen sulfide gas to produce unscented, yellow particle. The most common cause of smelly water is anaerobic bacteria that exist in some water and react with sulfur and the magnesium or aluminum anodes that a lot of RV water heaters feature. If you step into your shower and you get a sulfur smell coming out of the drain, it usually means that trapped Anaerobic bacteria is producing the sulfur odor somewhere down deep, and it will keep getting worse … Consult a well expert to do the job for you. This smell is not harmful to heath. Even the larger models will have some cramped corners and there is t=he possibility that the sewer line is too close to the duct system. You can install showerhead water filters to remove the sulfur smell as well as other contaminants in your shower water. Discussion: Help. In addition, hydrogen sulfide gas causes black and yellow stains on bathroom or kitchen fixtures. So, why does your water smell like sulfur? 2015 Bighorn 3875FB. Most people have become more... We all love clean, healthy water. By finding out where the smell is coming from you’ll know the best treatment option to consider. The buildup of grease from soap and rotting hair can quickly clog your drain. So, on this blog I discuss the water benefits, water facts, drinking more water, and purifying water etc. There are several reasons why your water may turn white. Even in small amounts, Hydrogen sulfide makes the water develop a horrible taste and smell. Furthermore, excess concentrations of hydrogen sulfide can create unpleasant smell on the resin media of a water softener. If you notice a rotten egg smell on your softened water, then it means the system has sulfate-reducing bacteria. Leave your house for a few hours, when you return smell the water from your cold and hot faucets. So, why does your water smell like sulfur? If you did it may have sulfur in the water and it will smell like rotten eggs. When your shower water smells like rotten eggs, you don’t have to call a costly plumber. On top of that, Breathing in sulfur is linked to airway irritation and coughing.