Confession is good for the soul (figured out the stinky hot water)

[john6206]

Ok, as long as I’m confessing… Let me be clear, MY WIFE figured out the stinky hot water.

In my defense, in every marina we stopped at between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, the water spigots on the docks next to the shore power were potable water, usually city water. There was one harbor with a sign posted that said, ”yep, the well water is yellow and smells a little, we deal with it every day here, it’s totally safe for drinking.”

However

Turns out when you fill the water tanks with water that comes straight out of the marina, the cold water doesn’t smell too bad, but if you put that crap in a six gallon tank and heat it up and seal it off for several weeks… yowza!

I drained the water heater, filled it and drained it again several times, then I recommissioned the water system as if it were springtime (plus one extra cycle of bleach water).

Good news is I don’t need to replace the water heater or the water pump, and no one got sick.
Got away with some embarrassment and the knowledge that I need to read signs more carefully.

which I guess means I need to read signs.

 

[dlochner]

When the hot water begins to smell like rotten eggs, it is a sign the anode in the tank needs replacing. Where it is located depends on the brand. Find it and replace before commissioning in the spring.

 

[john6206]

@dlochner
no anode in the seaward s-600, they do sell one for it with the instructions that you can remove the drain and put the anode in that spot. Might be worthwhile if I want to prolong its lifespan.

 

[rgranger]

When the hot water begins to smell like rotten eggs, it is a sign the anode in the tank needs replacing. Where it is located depends on the brand. Find it and replace before commissioning in the spring.

Or it means you put water in the tank that contains sulfur (i.e. yellow water).