Help. At campground. Bad smelling water

Tea

I have a new to me 2017 320 S.  The previous owner did not use the hot water.  Now at campground when I turn the hot water nozzle on in the shower it smells awful. Is there anything I can do here in the campground to get rid of the smell so I can use the hot water?  I haven’t turned the Alde on to heat the water.  

Sharon_is_SAM

Does the water in the taps or toilet smell funky, too?  Have you sanitized the fresh water tank and plumbing lines?  Is there an odor from the P trap in the shower?  Are you hooked up to city water or are you using the fresh water tank?

Tea

No have not sanitized fresh water tank.  I’m connected to city water.  Yes all water traps smell. 

Sharon_is_SAM

The p traps may have been dry and it could be gases coming up from the tanks.  You can put some soapy water down the drains.  Turn on the exhaust fan.  If it was the p trap gas, the odor should go away.  Try that first.

Tea

Thank you.  I will try that.  

Sharon_is_SAM

Is the water discolored?  

Tea

No, the water is not discolored.  

Sharon_is_SAM

Does the hot water faucet inthe sink have the same odor?

Tea

Yes. 

Sharon_is_SAM

Take a cup of water outside and see if it still smells.

I wonder if the previous owner never emptied the Alde tank?  Even though they said they never used the hot water doesn’t mean the tank never filled.  The Alde tank does not get hot enough to kill the cooties that may be in the tank, I think the tank needs to be cleaned.  You need to contact Alde.  
Now If it were me, at a campground with full hook ups, I would disconnect from city water,  add a 1/4 cup of diluted bleach to your fresh water tank and fill it up with fresh water, run the pump and open all your taps to get bleach throughout the plumbing, then turn off the taps and pump and let the water sit for several hours.  I know technically you should not expose the Alde to bleach, but chances are a single exposure should not matter.  Check your pump filter to see if there is any debris and check periodically as you run the pump.  Then, empty and fill the fresh tank with water and flush the system until there is no further odor of bleach.

Tea

Thank you I will try that.  I don’t have full hookups here. Just water and electric.  

tybladesmith

@Tea, Have you smelled the water coming from the city hydrant? Maybe the campground system needs to be flushed - it is early in the camping season? Do you have a filter on your city water hose?
Just some more possibilities!

Tea

I did have a filter on the city water hose. I took it off during the diagnosis stage. I’m here with other camping friends and they don’t have the odor,.  Thanks for the suggestion.  

Tea

Update: its a new day right.  I emptied the fresh water tank. I will sanitize it later. I ran a lot of city water through the system and thankfully the smell dissipated.  It took longer than I thought but I had no realistic idea of a time frame.  Patience and persistence pays off...and the help of the people on this forum.  

Tea

Another related question, until needed, should the hot water heater remain off?  With electric not propane.  

Sharon_is_SAM

If you turn on the Alde to heat the cabin, it will automatically heat water in the Alde tank.  If you don’t need cabin heat, but you want hot water available, just turn the thermostat down so the glycol does not circulate.  You will then have a ready supply of hot water.  In the summer, some folks just turn the Alde on an hour before they plan to need hot water.

Tea

Great.  Thank you.  

Tea

Now onto my next project.  Installing the foam In the windows to keep the bugs out.  

ScottG

Tea said:

Another related question, until needed, should the hot water heater remain off?  With electric not propane.  

If you don't need cabin heat, there should be a "hot water only setting" on your Alde control panel.

However, I find that the Alde heats water so quickly, there's not good reason to leave it on all the the time just for one or two uses a day. The unit itself gets pretty warm and that may not be desirable when camping in the summer.

This applies to use with electric or propane.

Tea

Update thanks to everyone here. I was able to enjoy the use of my shower and sink with hot water during my 2 week camping trip.  So awesome. 

Sharon_is_SAM

Glad you worked it out!  Did you sanitize the fresh water tank?

Tea

No, I have not yet sanitized the fresh water tank.  Just got home from trip.