Sulfur smell from head faucet

Newsgroups Archive Prior to 2025
1

I have just acquired Nonsuch 30U #460 and I’m noticing a strong sulfur odor from the sink faucet in the head. Is this a good way to treat both water tanks to resolve this issue: put 10 mg/l concentration of unscented household bleach in each tank (about 1/2 cup bleach in each tank). After 24 hours purge all water and refill.

Thanks,
Dan Mills
Nonsuch 30U sakina
West River, MD

2

Dan,

I use Aqua Midi Tabs to purify my water in the tanks.
https://www.cleantabs.co.uk/product/midi-tabs/
It makes it totally drinkable, no foul taste whatsoever. I also used the Puri Sol to clean out the tanks when I got my boat. If you have the original aluminum tanks, you’ll want to clean and vacuum them out - lots of crud builds up over the years. At some point you might want to replace them and you can buy replacements made of polyethylene from the INA.

Good luck!

Bob Gehrman
NS30U #396 “Quickbeam”
Baltimore, Maryland

3

Dan,
Don’t use chlorine products in aluminum tanks. I have found the odor may come from foul water in the lines. You can run a chlorine solution through them which may do the trick. But chlorine in aluminum tanks will destroy them.
Don Ringsmuth
Selkie 30U
East Hampton, NY

4

Dan,

I also found it helps a lot if you filter the water you put into the tanks. Thus is what I use Camco TastePURE RV Water Filter - New & Advanced RV Inline Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector - GAC & KDF Water Filter - Made in USA - Camping Essentials for Fresh Drinking Water (40043)

[

Camco TastePURE RV Water Filter - New & Advanced RV Inline Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector - GAC & KDF Water Filter - Made in USA - Camping Essentials for Fresh Drinking Water (40043)

Camco TastePURE KDF/Carbon RV Water Filter: Experience pure hydration on the go with our freshwater travel accessories! Quench your thirst with confidence wherever adventure takes you. Camcos drinking water filter ensures every sip of water is spark
](https://a.co/d/5nWEwg5)

You can find these at Walmart etc.

Jim Cosgrove
FATE 30U #343
Galesville, MD

5

Dan, the filter Jim uses can be found at the Deale hardware as well.
I rigged a whole filter in combo with the RV filter. I will show you.
I would run the shower nozzle and the faucet in the galley.
If no odor it’s coming from the sink drain in galley or shower it the drain.

Sea water contains lots of little critters that die and cause the stink you describe.
I quit pumping my head with seawater a long time ago. If left unused for a few days pumping the head with seawater is very unpleasant.

6

Thank you all; very helpful.

Dan

7

The faucet in your head is possessed by a small demon (hence the sulfur smell). To remove the smell from your boat the demon must be driven away by following these simple steps.

  1. remove all of your clothing.
  2. open all the hatches on the boat.
  3. walk around your boat - (deck, gunnels and cockpit) slowly while chanting “Demom Away, Demon Away, Demon Away” starting at the port side and proceeding on a clockwise direction for three minutes.
  4. start your engine and proceed out for the harbor for a three hour sail.
  5. tie your boat up to the dock or proceed to your mooring.
  6. fill a glass with water from the afflicted faucet.
  7. slowly pour the glass of water over the stern.
  8. get dressed and go about your day.

This method is guaranteed to work on one attempt out of fifty.

Randy Gadikian
Phoenix Rising
NS26C #37
Buffalo, NY

8

Are you sure the odor is coming from the faucet? Have you poured a glass of water from head faucet to smell? If it is somehow coming from the fresh water tank, then it should also smell from galley faucet as well. Sulfur smell could be from toilet inflow hose, or seawater trapped in head sink drain hose when thru-hull valve is closed.
Don

9

That’s quite silly, Randy, everyone knows you proceed in a counter clockwise direction for three minutes!!

Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA

10

Baking soda, vinegar & hot water down the sink solve the issue. Thanks for all the guidance.

Dan Mills
sakina NS30U
West River, MD

11

Check again; counter-clockwise only in the southern hemisphere. Easily verified when you watch water drain from your toilet bowl while flushing.
Ed Strazzini
PELICAN, N33#36
Deltaville, VA