I own my second rv. I bought a 24' 1982 camper 2 years ago. We loved it. Got damaged in an ice storm. Ended up selling it and buying a 2003 38' Salem. It is AWESOME! The Cummins pulls it ok. Here is my problem. I never had a water problem in the first camper. In this new one, my water stinks if it sits for more than a week. I have not ran any antibacterial stuff though it yet. I'm getting ready to. But, I never had to do that with my old camper. Is there something different on the newer ones? Once you start using the antibacterial stuff, do you have to keep using it?

Thanks,

 

You most likey have some bacterial growth going on in the lines or fresh water tank. I run some bleach water through the system occasionally to sanitize the system. Don't put too much in like I did. I had a heck of a time getting it flushed out. Before I sanitized it, I had a little odor from some well water that I had put it it. The bleach water took care of that problem. I have never tried the antibacterial stuff before. Bleach was cheaper.

 

This is what I do...

Pour bleach into the end of your fresh water hose so it sanatizes the hose, to. Use about 1/3 cup cheap bleach (no whiteners, purfumes) per 50 gal fresh water. As the tank is filling, when it shows 2/3 turn on the pump and run the bleachy water out of all the taps.

Let it sit for 4 hours or so, then dump the fresh water tank, and drain the water heater. Fill and dump it again with fresh water, and purge the bleachy water out of the pipes.

 

Awesome guys. Thanks. I will try this either tonight or tomorrow sometime.

 

I have been told that if you can drive around a little with the bleach solution in the fresh water tank it should theoretically help kill any bacteria in the upper part of the tank. If there is any?

Same guy also said that once you get the bleach flushed out if you still have a bleach smell you can add some vinegar to get rid of it.

 

I had to add 3 cups of bleach instead of 1/3 cup, make sure you flush really good though.

 

Routerguy likes to make sure everything is killed!!! HEHEHE I think we are going to have anther get together soon.

 

All good information guy's.
I've done the same with my previous and current units when they sit for a long periods. (i.e. during winter) I figured out the best bleach/water ratio to avoid the excessive bleach odor. After each trip I try to completely drain the water from the entire system. Nevertheless, before each trip I still do a bleach flush just to be on the safe side. When in doubt we always carry (6) 1 gallon jugs of water that we can pick up for .99c at the dollar store.

 

Ditto on the Bleach,

I don't drink the House water, Travel a lot and fill at many different places, Only takes one bad fill up to get sick.

Easy to carry a few store bought jugs of drinking water

 

I had some stinky water myself and put in a cup of bleach per 30 gal of water, drove it around for a hour or so to slosh it around, cleaned it right up. I too also go with bottled water for drinking and cooking, just one less thing to go wrong on a trip

 

Well, I didn't have a chance to fix it over the weekend. But, we also buy our drinking water. It is hard to use that water to brush your teeth though. I plan on putting the bleach in and driving it so that I can try to make sure it is completely taken care of. I am so tired of the smell. I love the new, larger camper but I can't take the smell. We will be in it next week, over the 4th, a week in July, and at least one week in August. We will probably also do several weekends in between then. We enjoy it a lot but that smell is horrendous. I will be sure to let you know as soon as I get the smell taken care of.

Thanks again for all the responses.

 

Rotten egg smell? Sulfer water, won't hurt ya, just smells

 

I only wish it was sulfer water. I know that smell. Have it often with my well. That was not the problem. It is a stench that burns your eyes if the camper has set. For example, when I went in the camper last night, it had sat for 2 weeks. When I turned the water on, it started burning my eyes and throat. I put a cup of bleach in and started filling the tank. My water hose quit "producing" water. To make a long story short, I have a bad pump in my well. I have lived at this place for 5 years and have put a new pump in every year. Last year, I upgraded to a submersible pump but it hasn't even lasted as long as the other pumps. Not sure what to do. But, needless to say I didn't get the camper finished. Now, I'm at the office working and really need to be home trying to figure out what is going on with my water.

 

may want to get water analysis; is pump part going bad?
Could be acidic, or fine grit,
is pump at bottom of well, should be up a few feet

Good luck..