350 - Water smell

Water smell

Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 350
Forum Description: 350 Hints and Tips
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15303
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 23:37
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Water smell

Posted By: Pack396
Subject: Water smell
Date Posted: 11 August 2025 at 18:21

Good Summer evening Hanse owners.

We are enjoying our days in our Hanse 350 .(2008 - 2 cabins config with bathroom aft).

This is our first Summer with it.

When using the deck shower and the bathroom sink, the water comes out with unpleasant and "funny" smell.

A few weeks ago we emptied the clean water tank, washed it and filled it again with a good treatment of bleach. We emptied and filled it again and poured a good amoung of vinegar, making sure the heater was drained as well.

I honestly thought this was enough to get rid of the smell and recover the

cleaned water flow. At least for shower and to do the dishes.

I have to confess that we did not fully cleaned or treated the brown water tank yet, that we have permanently open to discharge at sea. We do not use it a lot and never in port.

Unfortunately, the first few minutes of water flow in the deck shower and bathroom sink/shower continue to have that smell. After a couple of minutes the smell disappears almost completely.

It does not happen at all with the kitchen sink.

I can only suspect contamination from the brown water circuit that over night flows into the clean water pipes aft of the boat. Is that possible? Could there be any other reason for this?

As I said, we are new to the boat and there might be a hidden valve somewhere that I don"t know or aother simple/stupid reason for this...

Thank you in advance.

Pack

-------------
Pack

Replies:

Posted By: Forth2
Date Posted: 12 August 2025 at 04:16

The smell comes from algae buildup in the faucet. Take it apart and clean the parts and filters. The algae builds up in the shower head.

Posted By: Brufan
Date Posted: 12 August 2025 at 08:33

"contamination from the brown water circuit" NO WAY impossible.

But algae in plumbing are the first culprit. Re-clean the system and leave bleached water stay of one week or so.

-------------
Bruno

hanse 355 - 57

S/Y Spicy Ginger

White hull, 2 cabins, Volvo D1-30, Selden rig, removable mainsheet track system, Simrad (now B&G)-Jefa autopilot.

Posted By: Mark Pullen
Date Posted: 12 August 2025 at 17:14

Hi, firstly, there is no connection between the black water tank and the fresh water system. You should be able to follow the black water exit pipe from the seacock to the bottom of the tank. Likewise from the heads to the top of the tank.

Re the fresh water system flush, a few questions:

1) How full was the water tank when you flushed?

2) How much bleach did you use in the tank?

3) What type of bleach?

4) Does the smell occur when using hot, cold or both?

Checking the fittings sounds like a good start...

-------------
Mark