Hot water tank treatment

[Dilly541]

The previous owner of our trailer let the water (well water) go stagnant in the hot water heater and it STUNK. Overpowering sulpher "rotten egg" smell. I rigged up a contraption I thought I would share and treated it.

The challenge was filling the tank while it was in bypass with the substances I wanted to use to treat the smell/bacteria. I got a spare drain plug, drilled a hole in it and inatlled a nylon hose barb. I attached a length of clear plastic tubing to the hose barb and put the other end over the tip of my garder sprayer. First step to de-scale it, I filled the sprayer with vinegar and pressurized it and filled the tank and let it sit. After an overnight, I recovered the vinegar by lowering the tubing back in the jugs. I then treated it with some hydrogen peroxide. That sat overnight, then I rinsed it out with water and baking soda.

The final rinse was with clean water and it took a bit for the reddish water to go to milky then finally clear but with NO SMELL. I left the plug out for now. I hope I have it licked.

[LHaven]

Originally Posted by Dilly541

After an overnight, I recovered the vinegar by lowering the tubing back in the jugs. I then treated it with some hydrogen peroxide.

Took me a couple re-reads to figure out that you used the peroxide in the heater, and not in some weird chemistry experiment to purify the vinegar in your jug.

[Dilly541]

Oh boy...I can see now that it does seem a bit confusing. Yeah...I recovered the vinegar for use in cleaning etc later. Then I treated the tank with peroxide to kill any remaining bacteria...

Yikes. I am no Bill Shakespeare

[ChuckS]

I would still sanitize the entire RV water system lines using some Clorox and let it sit in the entire water system for 24 hours so the free chlorine has a chance to do some good..

[Dilly541]

Thanks Chuck. That is the plan and is on the list. I just haven’t fully de-winterized it yet. Still getting some cold nights up here. Almost ready.