Smelly water?

pwollsch · Post by **pwollsch** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:55 pm

New boat, still learning her personality '74 F36....... Filled up fresh water tanks, water smells bad coming out all sinks. Ran tanks out.
Refilled them two more times and ran out with same results.
City water hook up smells same when ran in boat...
All water going thru my boat smells bad?
I checked the city water source = OK, I can drink it!
I changed hose I fill with.
Smells like it could be from winterizing, but foul???
Need help! Getting ready for cruise!

The Dog House · Post by **The Dog House** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:32 pm

Try putting baking soda in your water tanks, fill the tanks with water, and let it sit for a day. Empty the tanks by running the water through the taps and refill. The baking soda will get rid of a lot of smells and tastes. Good luck!

pwollsch · Post by **pwollsch** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:34 pm

Thanks! I will try it.

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 7:43 am

i bleach mine several times a year

RWS

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:17 am

RWS wrote:i bleach mine several times a year

RWS

X2

I also only use only bottled water for drinking or cooking .

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:37 am

The Dog House wrote:The baking soda will get rid of a lot of smells and tastes.

We never drink the water from the holding tank.

As RWS and Paul said, a little bleach in the tank does wonders.

todd brinkerhoff · Post by **todd brinkerhoff** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:48 am

An old mariner told me some cheap vodka works too...you won't get the bleack smell.

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:50 am

prowlersfish wrote:
RWS wrote:i bleach mine several times a year

RWS

X2

I also only use only bottled water for drinking or cooking .

+1

Bleach works very well

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:51 am

we do drink ours

1 there is a particulate filter screen before the pump

after the pump is a large system filter with a cartridge - that filter housing is clear, so we can see what's in there, or not. This filter is generally clean

there is a little charcoal filter attavhed to the galley sink fawcet that can be turned on or off as needed

there is an in line filter for the cockpit ice maker

After the bleach, we have been known to run some vinegar through the system and drein/fill drain/fill a few times

keep in mind our tanks are NOT aluminum, but are fiberglass, built into the hull ...The inside surface is actually gel coated.

We believe we are safe.

Please tell us if we aren't.

Comments?

RWS

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:54 am

RWS . The water in my tanks maybe safe But its a persnal choice for us to use bottled water for drinking . Lots of folks use there water from the boats tank .

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:59 am

rossjo wrote:
The Dog House wrote:The baking soda will get rid of a lot of smells and tastes.
We never drink the water from the holding tank.

As RWS and Paul said, a little bleach in the tank does wonders.

Holding tank ? OMG never

. Btw Never put bleach in your holding tank ( for the head ), the reaction can cause a poison gas . But water tank is ok .

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 9:23 am

Oops .... well technically that was right - we never drink from the holding tank

We never drink from the WATER tank either ... and a little bleach in the WATER tank will do wonders.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 9:25 am

You had me worried there ,

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 3:32 pm

Ha! Smelly water indeed.

pwollsch · Post by **pwollsch** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:20 pm

Thanks every one. Since my head and fresh water is all on one system, I will avoid the bleach. Perhaps I need to add a shut off so I can flush the system and avoid the bleach getting into the head water source.

I ended up going to our marina and picked up a bottle of De-Winterizer by Camcorder. After two treatments and system flushing, I can now do my dishes.

I too only drink bottled water.