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Old 12-10-2018, 08:29 PM   #1
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Strange water smell and taste

Recently installed a new KUUMA water heater. Now my water has a strange smell and taste. Not sure how to describe it, not quite e li electrical but not aluminum. No other changes, remove old install new. Does anyone else have a KUUMA or any other brand with this issue.
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Old 12-10-2018, 08:35 PM   #2
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Greetings,
Mr. S. Might it be residual material out gassing in the tank? Perhaps put a couple of gallons of vinegar in the tank and let it sit for a day or so then flush well. I would NOT suggest bleach.
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Old 12-10-2018, 08:41 PM   #3
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I said new install but it has been 3 months. I am thinking about changing the heating element.
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Old 12-10-2018, 08:50 PM   #4
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The Kuuma has an aluminum tank. I’m thinking that might be the source of the taste. If it is the source, I’m surprised it showed up so fast. Aluminum water tanks get pretty gross over time but it usually doesn’t happen over night.

Is there a high chlorine content in the water? That will react with aluminum.

Is it only the hot water that tastes bad?
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Old 12-10-2018, 08:58 PM   #5
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There is an optional Anode you can install and this will stop the smell/taste issue
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Old 12-10-2018, 08:58 PM   #6
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It was on both until I re-installed a check valve in hot water supply.
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Old 12-10-2018, 09:04 PM   #7
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I don't see any place to install an anode.
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Old 12-10-2018, 09:49 PM   #8
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Strange water smell and taste

Are you losing any engine coolant? Hopefully that is not what you are tasting.
Your hot water pressure tank should be higher than your engine coolant pressure, so any leak in the hot water heat exchanger should leak water into the engine coolant but it depends how your system is set up.
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Old 12-10-2018, 10:14 PM   #9
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Thought of that but we are still alive.
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Old 12-10-2018, 11:38 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Southx10 View Post
It was on both until I re-installed a check valve in hot water supply.
So now it’s only in the hot water?

In a household water heater, which I think are all glass lined steel, if the anode wears out, the water tastes and smells of sulfur.
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Old 12-13-2018, 10:16 AM   #11
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I just replaced the 30+ years old Atwood with the same brand, I did go to a 11 gallon over the 6 gallon. No problems whatsoever, the anode replaces the drain valve but I have no idea how that could affect the taste. Good luck on getting it sorted out.
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Old 12-13-2018, 10:42 AM   #12
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Kuuma water heater anode.

Quote:
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I don't see any place to install an anode.
Drain the tank and remove the drain valve assembly and see if there is a threaded rod stub on the inside of the tank...
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Old 12-13-2018, 10:49 AM   #13
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Welcome South. Have you called the manufacture?
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Old 12-13-2018, 11:49 AM   #14
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Check the temperature. If tank is too cool, some bacteria can thrive in there, causing stink and other problems. Had that happen on my dirt house with new water heater. Noticed hot water was not that hot, and after a few months I detected stink in the shower. Turned thermostats up and problem went away.

Edit: Do you drink your hot water? If you are drinking cold water and it smells/tastes funny, that is not your water heater. You probably have skunk in your fresh water tank.
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Old 12-14-2018, 09:42 PM   #15
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Manufacturer probably should have been one of the first things but wanted to see if it was a common problem.
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Old 12-14-2018, 09:45 PM   #16
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Taste and smell are in both Hot and Cold but this started immediately on insfall.
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Old 12-15-2018, 09:52 AM   #17
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I can't see how the water heater can explain stink in the cold water, unless your plumbing is run in a way where thermal expansion in heater can drive water backward into the cold piping.

Do this: Get water heater up to temp. Draw some cold and check for stink. Then run a few gallons through cold, then draw another glass and check for stink. If the second glass has stink, sounds like your fresh water tank has the skunk and water heater is not responsible.
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Old 12-15-2018, 10:53 AM   #18
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Thank you
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Old 12-15-2018, 12:55 PM   #19
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As bad as it sounds, it is worse than that...

When you're not using your food grade water hose, make sure to screw the ends together to keep critters out. One time, I found a frog skeleton in the water line, after we had a horrid smell (and taste) in the water... Drain everything, chlorine everything and wash out the frog bits...

and remember to screw the hose ends to each other to seal the hose EVERY time.
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Old 12-15-2018, 01:43 PM   #20
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That sounds delightful. How long did you frog. Screwing the ends together has been a standard for years.
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