Hot Water Heater Question

[tjl]

I've got a problem with my hot water heater after it has sat for a couple weeks. After 3-4 weeks it smells really bad. I work swing shift and only get to camp once a month and after those 4 weeks the water is rotten. I've had many campers over the years and this is the only camper to do this. I have to drain it and refill it before each use. Here is a picture of the anode when I drained it. It is covered with a clear jelly like substance. I've never seen this before.

[GaryWT]

I had a jelly like substance in th hot water tank once, it was weird. Flushed it out and all was good. Not sure why but never noticed it again.

[Lee]

Hi,

Do you fill with "city" water or "well" water?

Reason I ask is,..... I have a simular problem. My house is on a well. It's wonderfully tasteing water but, .... it's not treated like "city" water. If I don't add a little bleach when filling up the tank and the RV sets for a few weeks, green algee starts to grown in both the fresh tank and water heater. It then cloggs up the water pump inlet filter. Learned this the hard way.

Lee

[tjl]

Hi Lee,

I'm on city water. I have to admit this one has me stumped.

[hankpage]

Originally Posted by tjl

Hi Lee,

I'm on city water. I have to admit this one has me stumped.

From your description it sounds like it is organic and not mineral, so maybe as mentioned running a little bleach through the hot water before leaving could be the solution. When I leave water in the system for any length of time I always leave one hot faucet open to release the pressure caused by the reaction of the anode.

[denverpilot]

http://www.biostel.ca/well_water_source_problems.php - I know you said you were on city water, but that sure sounds like the slime folks get in wells.