Rotten egg smell, cold water?

[freewayrandy]

I read where the water heater can be the cause but, when hooked up to city water, why am I getting it on the cold side?

[MoonShadow_1911]

I read where the water heater can be the cause but, when hooked up to city water, why am I getting it on the cold side?

The bacteria that causes the rotten egg smell usually starts in the water heater. From there, it can contaminate the cold lines as well by traveling back through from the cold water feed line on the hot water tank. You will need to sanitize your system to get rid of that bacteria.

There are a few methods to sanitize your system. 1. The tried and true bleach method.
1a. Drain all water from the system.
1b. Calculate how many gallons your system holds, including the hot water tank.
1c. Use 1/4 cup of bleach for every 15 gallons in your system.
1d. Using a 5 gallon bucket, dilute the bleach by 1 gallon of water for every 1/4 cup of bleach.
1e. Use the "winterizing" selection on the Nautilus panel and pump the solution into the fresh water holding tank.
1f. Fill the fresh water tank with water, making sure to turn on the pump and going the hot water heater and all the lines, including the spray port.
1g. Let this sit for at least 12 hours.
1h. Drain and flush everything with clean water 3 times (this wastes a bunch of water).
1i. If you get a bleach smell or taste after flushing the system, use 1/4 cup of vinegar or 15 gallons of water and fill the system again, let that sit for 6 hours, then flush it once with clean water.

2. Iodophor. Usually used in sanitizing beer brewing equipment.
2a. Read the directions, but usually 1 oz per 5 gallons of water.
2b. Dilute the solution in a 5 gallon bucket.
2c. Use the "winterizing" selection on the Nautilus panel and pump the solution into the fresh water holding tank.
2d. Either drive with it, or let it sit for no more than a few hours
2e. Drain everything.
2f. (Some don't do this next step, I do just to be sure) Flush everything once with clean water.

There are other ways to sanitize your system (Camco sells a bottle of sanitizer that you mix with water, fill your system, let it sit for a time, drain and flush), however I've never used them.

[freewayrandy]

Thanks. Was thinking that would be my next step.

[RicknBobbie]

If that doesnt work, check a water sample from your potable water hose before it enters the camper. We had a problem last season and tried everything to fix it. It turned out to be a bad hose. A new hose fixed the issue.

[MoonShadow_1911]

If that doesnt work, check a water sample from your potable water hose before it enters the camper. We had a problem last season and tried everything to fix it. It turned out to be a bad hose. A new hose fixed the issue.

Yeah, you can sanitize the feed hose as well. Thanks, I forgot to mention that!

[freewayrandy]

I'll do that.

[JKellerJr]

1d. Using a 5 gallon bucket, dilute the bleach by 1 gallon of water for every 1/4 cup of bleach.
1e. Use the "winterizing" selection on the Nautilus panel and pump the solution into the fresh water holding tank.
1f. Fill the fresh water tank with water, making sure to turn on the pump and going the hot water heater and all the lines, including the spray port.

Yeah, you can sanitize the feed hose as well. Thanks, I forgot to mention that!

I usually just fill the end of the hose with the required amount of bleach, hook it to the water supply and fill the tank through the powerfill to tank setting.

[Retread68]

Don't forget the washing machine hookup lines if your RV is prep'd for washing machine. They are often forgotten.

[freewayrandy]

Don't forget the washing machine hookup lines if your RV is prep'd for washing machine. They are often forgotten.

I did that. Flushed everything. Smell is gone.

[Topothemorning]

Did u change the water filter?A carbon filter will give u a rotten smell.