Fresh Water smells off

[John Mangan]

Hey everyone,

My fresh water tank has an off-smell to it and I'm wondering if there is something I can add to kill whatever might potentially be growing in there. It was fully cleaned out 2 years ago and I can see the tank from my engine compartment and there is no visible mold, mildew, etc. It also doesn't smell like mold or mildew either. Hard to describe, but just smells off.

 

[BillK2632]

To clean / shock the system:

1. Drain the tank.
2. Fill 1/2 - 2/3 full and add 1/4 of bleach for every 15gallons.
3. Run all of your faucets until you smell the bleach solution.
4. Leave the system off with the beach solution in it overnight.
5. Flush with fresh water.
6. Going forward, get a water purifier solution and add it everytime you fill the freshwater tank. Camco makes one you can buy at Walmart, but there are many others.

Even treating the freshwater, after 4 weeks or so - especially in hot weather - it will still start to get a funk - if I am not using up mine, I drain and fill it every 3 weeks or so.

 

[John Mangan]

To clean / shock the system:

1. Drain the tank.
2. Fill 1/2 - 2/3 full and add 1/4 of bleach for every 15gallons.
3. Run all of your faucets until you smell the bleach solution.
4. Leave the system off with the beach solution in it overnight.
5. Flush with fresh water.
6. Going forward, get a water purifier solution and add it everytime you fill the freshwater tank. Camco makes one you can buy at Walmart, but there are many others.

Even treating the freshwater, after 4 weeks or so - especially in hot weather - it will still start to get a funk - if I am not using up mine, I drain and fill it every 3 weeks or so.

Thank you so much. Appreciate it!

 

[BillK2632]

1/4 cup of bleach per 15gal, not 1/4 bleach!

 

[jmauld]

My suggestion is to empty the tank. Refill with fresh water, Add a 1/2 - 1 cup of clorox, Take the boat out and bounce it around. Then empty the tank, and refill again with fresh water.

There are some additives that you can put in and leave in the tank.

 

[mrsrobinson]

Another suggestion if you can, empty the tank before leaving the boat for long periods of time. If I'm going to be away for a couple weeks I empty the fresh water tank before I go.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Probably a sort-of rotten egg smell?

You'll want to drain the hot water heater, as well. Then add the bleach/water concoction (you don't need a lot of bleach), run it through all faucets and let it sit... then empty and flush.

 

[sbw1]

I used to use my fresh water up every week when I washed The boat. I would turn on the taps and let them run until empty. When I was done washing I would refill the fresh water tank. Water was always clean and fresh that way. We used it for the ice maker and never had issues. You need to begin with a sanitized tank before doing this.

 

[Shaps]

Hey everyone,

My fresh water tank has an off-smell to it and I'm wondering if there is something I can add to kill whatever might potentially be growing in there. It was fully cleaned out 2 years ago and I can see the tank from my engine compartment and there is no visible mold, mildew, etc. It also doesn't smell like mold or mildew either. Hard to describe, but just smells off.

I went with this:
https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Sanitizer-Detergent-Treatment-bottles/dp/B001TIV1KA

With very good results.
I think you will want to run the solutions though every bit of fresh water hose you have, including the fresh water taps in stern and anchor locker as well as transom shower.