There’s nothing worse than walking into a smelly RV bathroom when you turn on a hot water tap. You’ve been on the road for days, maybe weeks, and the last thing you need is to fill up your shower with a foul-smelling substance. That foul odour is often sulfur-a rotten egg smell that permeates the air and lingers for hours. If this sounds like you, you may wonder why my RV’s hot water smells like sulfur.
Are you having a problem with your hot water heating system? This is the RVers’ guide to fixing problems. Before you call your dealer, check a few things. Does the problem seem to be isolated to only one or two faucets? Is it always the same faucet, or does it vary? Is the hot water only warm, or does it only produce hot water or cold water? Is the problem only in the shower, or does it happen in other places? Is the problem intermittent? Is it only happening when you drive, or is it constant when you aren’t driving?
Here Are the Reasons Why Hot Water in Your RV Smell Like Sulfur:
The water heater is 10 years old
If the hot water in your RV smells like rotten eggs, chances are your water heater is 10 years old and needs to be replaced. The odour is caused by corrosion.
The water heater is not insulated
The problem is not with the hot water coming from the water heater but the excess gas that builds up in the water lines. To address this issue, remove the water heater and insulate the water pipes.
The water heater is clogged
A water heater is an important appliance in motorhomes and RVs, and it helps provide a constant flow of hot water for showering and performing certain tasks. However, when this essential appliance becomes clogged, it can lead to issues such as an overflowing water tank and an unpleasant sulfur smell emanating from the hot water. In such instances, you may need to call in a plumber to unclog the water heater. If the appliance cannot be unclogged or fixed, it might be necessary to replace the water heater entirely. Consulting an experienced plumbing professional like the ones at DJ Plumbing & Heating (https://djplumbing.ca) can be the key in these situations. They can assess the severity of the clog and recommend the best course of action. Their expertise ensures that your RV’s water heating system functions efficiently, providing you with clean and hot water without any disruptions.
The water heater is rusted
The hot water smell in your RV can linger long after you’ve turned it off. If the smell is coming from your water heater, the problem is likely a rusty tank and rusted water heater. Rusted tanks can be repaired, but it’s smart to replace the rusted water heater altogether.
The water heater is leaking
The reason is the water in your trailer, or camper water heater is leaking. This is a problem because hot water is a valuable resource. The more you use, the more you have in the tank, and the longer the trip or trip home. Therefore, a water heater leak can damage your water heater and cost you money.
Hot water in your RV will usually smell like rotten eggs, but don’t worry; it’s not dangerous. It really isn’t that uncommon. We have a couple of RVs that we own, and we’ve experienced it more times than we can count! So, what is it? You might not be surprised to learn that garage sale water heaters are a major culprit — and, yes, you should replace the hot water heater. So, if you notice that stinky smell, it is time to replace the water heater in your RV.
Gas water heaters of any age can rust inside the tank, resulting in sulfur-smelling water. You can usually do nothing to fix a worn-out tank except replace it, but you can avoid spending a ton of money on a new one if you understand your hot water system well.
Driving or riding in an RV or camper often means enjoying the great outdoors. But when it comes to basic amenities, it’s easy to forget what it’s like to have a shower at home. Fortunately, a residential-type shower head can replicate almost any shower home you are used to. However, if your shower smells like sulfur, then you know there’s a problem with your shower.
Your RV’s water heater is probably the culprit. However, there could also be other culprits, such as a faulty water pump, the anode rod wearing off or leaking, old copper piping, corroded tanks, etc.; my RV smells like rotten eggs because of the sulfur that naturally occurs in my water. Hot water smells bad when the metal pipes start rusting. The sulfur in my well water comes from dissolved pyrite, a byproduct of mining. It is a sure sign that my water is contaminated with sulfide. If RV owners had a way of testing their water for lead, copper, sulfate, magnesium, calcium, and zinc, they would be able to avoid unpleasant smells.
Sulfur is a gas that is created when it is found in water. It is almost always bad and can cause many health issues. Sometimes when a home’s water heater is old, it can produce too much sulfur. If it is not removed, it can lead to corroded copper pipes, water heaters, and septic systems and cause a rotten egg smell.