Help! Horrible smell from freshwater tank

[jerrybrecko]

New to boating. Boat a 27ft Silverton cruiser. Used the fresh water a few times and didn't notice a smell. The battery died a month ago so I haven't been able to use the fresh water pump. Just replaced the battery and turned on the fresh water pump and the faucets and the whole boat reeks of sewage. so as I turned it on.

No idea of what to do?

 

[tpenfield]

:welcome: Jerry

Sanitizer would be good for you. I'm not sure if there is a special product for marine fresh water systems. I sometimes add a little bleach to the fresh water tank, just to keep things clean.

You might have to do an over dose to get things back on track.

 

[MTboatguy]

Camco makes a product that works pretty good to freshen up fresh water tanks, you can find it at any RV store and I know that the big W carries it as well, I use it every year.

 

[JoLin]

Can't figure why it would smell like sewage.

1. Run the faucets and empty the tank.
2. Put about 10 gallons of water and a cup of bleach into the tank. You want enough of the mix to fill the water heater. You're going to sanitize the water tank, heater, lines and faucets.
3. Run the galley "hot" faucet until you smell bleach coming through, then turn it off. Run the "cold" faucet until you smell bleach, then turn it off. Repeat with the faucets in the head.
4. Leave it all alone for 12-24 hours.
5. Run the tank dry and refill with fresh water.

I do that at the beginning of each season, and usually once at mid-season. I don't use the onboard water for drinking, but I could if I wanted to.

My .02

 

[Horigan]

Depending on how bad the growth is, you may need to gain access to the tank, open it up, and clean the inside with a cleaner and brush. Had to do this with my boat after I bought it.

 

[ahicks]

When "potable" (pink) anti freeze sits long enough, it can lead to a pretty bad smell. Thankfully it's easily rinsed. Bleach works well, but you need to dilute the heck out of it (1/2 cup/10 gallons), or you'll spend just as much time to rinse THAT smell out of it!

 

[MTboatguy]

Pick some of this up:

Camco 40208 TastePURE Marine Drinking Water Freshener

 

[JoLin]

When "potable" (pink) anti freeze sits long enough, it can lead to a pretty bad smell. Thankfully it's easily rinsed. Bleach works well, but you need to dilute the heck out of it (1/2 cup/10 gallons), or you'll spend just as much time to rinse THAT smell out of it!

If he runs the tank dry after the treatment, there'll be very little "mix" left in the system. I suggested slightly over-bleaching only because the OP said the smell was pretty horrendous. I'd want to kill or neutralize whatever is causing it. On a well-maintained system, I agree, a half cup a couple of times a year should keep it in good shape.

As for using something like the Camco Water Freshener, I'd personally sanitize the system with bleach first. I've never needed to add any stabilizers.

My .02

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Is your fill hole large enough to get ice cubes in if so what ever you choose to treat the tank or system with carry ice that will fit in the fill pipe when you get on the water load it up with your treatment and as much ice as you can get in it and go for a moderately rough ride. Easy to do here on the Columbia it might act as a scrubbing agent. This works for holding tanks in RVs that get sludged up toss a bunch of ice in the tank and go for a windy road trip. Then dump your tank. Of course don’t turn you pump on until it melts which wont take long. What are you filling your tank with. Your supply water may have something in it that likes the sweater in temps that can develop mid day in a tank. Many of them are not harmful. Some really cool stuff thrives just above 120 degree that can barely survive at 60 degrees. You do have to be carefull with bleach it is hard on metal and can age plastics faster than you want. Id find another water source for your potable water.

 

[ahicks]

<<<Id find another water source for your potable water.>>>

Oh, good Lord. An outstanding point. TASTE the water prior to loading up with it!!!!!!

It's DARN sure not going to taste any better when coming from your tank!

 

[jerrybrecko]

Horrible smells from sinks. What to do??

I posted an issue a couple weeks ago that when I use my fresh water tank to use the sinks and shower it smells horrible. Everyone told me to put the water treatment in the fresh water tank and I did. Now I just finally hooked up the dock water lines to the boat which goes straight to the sinks(no tank) and even that smells horrible when you turn the sink on. and this smells lasts in the whole boat for about an hour after turning sink on.

so the smell happens on dock water and it happens on fresh water tank with pump.

What could it be??

 

[Scott Danforth]

bacteria in your system.....use bleach water and flush out your sysetm

 

[jerrybrecko]

how would i get the bleach into the garden hose?

 

[jerrybrecko]

use something like this??

https://www.harrisseeds.com/product..._5gArgl2lF5RCc58kaM3zpn2cdtbCJtxoCV_AQAvD_BwE

or is there a better way??

 

[crazy charlie]

Fill your tank and add old fashioned bleach to the tank.Dont use the "concentrated" bleach.Run faucets so that the bleach water is in all lines.Leave for at least a few hours before flushing.When i sanitize my system I put a very high concentration of bleach in my system .I leave for only 15 minutes however it takes a while to flush the system completely.Also pour straight bleach down the drains.Charlie

 

[crazy charlie]

BTW you must have a fill cap somewhere.

 

[MTboatguy]

Can you describe the smell, is it rotten fish, poo, urine, garbage, etc.

 

[crazy charlie]

probably a sulphur smell.Unless you have a deal mouse in one of your drain lines.He may have been thinking he was coming in for a visit and was not able to leave.:disturbed:

 

[jerrybrecko]

cant really describe smell it just smells bad like lnothing i have smelled before

yes i can add bleach to the tank but the tank isnt the issue. the dock water lines are the issue arent those 2 completely separate systems?

 

[MTboatguy]

probably a sulphur smell.Unless you have a deal mouse in one of your drain lines.He may have been thinking he was coming in for a visit and was not able to leave.:disturbed:

We had the dead mouse thing happen in our Motorhome, it was god awful, I had to replace part of my plumbing because of it.