Fresh water smells

laylapt

2005 Fiesta Vee - we put fresh water in the tank and it comes out of the faucets stinking something awful.  Black flakes and water at first and then will look cleaner but still smell.  We have cleaned the filter, flushed fresh water through several times but can't seem to get rid of the stench.  Any suggestions?

DanD2

Run some diluted bleach through your system, then neutralize with vinegar. Do a search, the correct ratio's are in here some where's. 

Gregg

Fresh water or ocean ? Bleach or vinegar.but not to much.

MarkB

Might be your water heater. How was it stored over the winter. Did they sanitize? 

LaRea

Is it only hot water, or hot and cold?  

Black flakes ... not good.  Find the fresh water tank and hold a flashlight up to it.  The tank is light-colored plastic, so you'll probably be able to see if there's any dark discoloration inside. 

If not, it's probably in the water heater as @MarkB said.  You can probably remove some of the hoses and flush it with fast-moving hose water to see if that helps, and then do bleach.

MarkB

If they don't turn the heater on, but run open the hot water tap, they will get cold water through the tap, but it's coming from the heater. 

Michael T

Check the anode in your water heater. If it has failed or is failing black flakes and the "sulfur" smell will be bad. Also the lining of the hot water tank may have failed but If the smell is from the hot water supply my money is on the sacrificial anode. the fresh water tank can be cleaned as @DD2 and @Gregg have said with bleach. But not too much bleach as it is corrosive in too strong an amount. we use about 3/4 cup on a 50 gallon tank - the run water through like crazy.

laylapt

Thank you everyone.  We will try them all!