Does anyone know why an Insinkerator hot water dispenser has started to produce bad-smelling water?

Question

The dispenser is about 4 years old and is fed with purified, reverse osmosis water

Answer 1

It may be contaminated with algae. Even filtered water can get this growing in it. It may not get used enough and has become stagnant. Try dismantling and bleaching the reservoir, wash and rinse well and put back together. Start making a pot of french press coffee a day if you drink coffee, so you can draw enough water through to keep it relatively fresh.

Answer 2

I am having the same problem and here is what I have found. I have the kind with the round knob on the top and Insinkerator told me I had to flush out the tank. Here is what I have done so far with limited results.

Steps:
Unplug the heating unit (very important)
Run the water until it comes out cold.
Make sure you have a large container that can hold at least a gallon of water ready.
If you have the same type of system that I have, the faucet refills the heating tank as you pour out the hot water so it should now be safe to unscrew the drain plug on the bottom of the unit.
If you can, let the water rush out for better flushing action.
Look in the water that was in the tank and I'll bet you see some white crystallised particles (looks like plaque) and makes the water smell eggy. I'm not sure what it is, but it acts like sulfer. I have been able to get the water back to almost fresh by draining the unit a couple of times (tapping and shaking the unit as it drains) but after a couple of weeks it comes back.
My next step is to take the unit out (something I'm not quite sure how to do) and try cleaning it that way.

Hope this helps.
Let me know if you find a answer and I will do the same. [e-mail]

Good Luck.

Answer 3

My Insinkerator hot water dispenser doesn't have a filter, but there is no odor, But the old one did develop a smell in its old age because the heating element had deteriorated. It's possible that yours needs to be replaced, but 4 years isn't very old for one of these things. You might want to check your model number on the Insinkerator site, because they did have a product recall not long ago. If you have one of the faulty ones, you can trade it in for a new one, free of charge.

If your dispenser isn't involved in the recall, I suggest you empty it using the plug at the bottom of the unit instead of just by sending water through the spout the usual way. Refill and empty it a couple of times. If it still has an odor, there may be some mildew in there. You will have to disconnect the inlet hose and add some bleach solution to the tank. The opening is quite narrow; you'll want to use something small like an eye dropper or a squirt. bottle or a turkey baster. Fill the tank with bleach and water and let it stand for a few hours before flushing it with fresh water. It will probably be easier to totally disconnect the thing and remove it from its place under the sink.

Answer 4

Insinkerator Hot Water Dispenser

Answer 5

Hey, I used to sell these things for the past two years. Here is what I think might be going on. Check when is the last time you changed the water filters on the osmosis system. There are quite a few filters that should be replace at least every three months. If you can use charcoal filters. A common misconception is that charcoal will leave a weird taste, but charcoal is one of natures filtering agents. Charcoal will filter out a lot. If this doesn't work, take out the dispenser and soak it in a disinfectant. If all this doesn't solve the problem than you still have some other options. You need to check your plumbing. If you have galvanized pipes, you need to get rid of those. If you have copper, than change your pipes. You should use a new type of pipe called pex tubing. this is a cross linked poly tubing. This would be good because as metal gets older it will start to change the taste of the water.

Answer 6

Insinkerator Hot Water

Answer 7

Likely, a deteriorating rubber gasket inside the tank.
I had the same nasty odor coming from my insinkerator instant hot water dispenser. I sanitized the tank with bleach, and the smell was gone for a day or two. I have just replaced the tank with a newer model recommended by insinkerator. Out of curiosity I took apart the old smelly tank expecting to see some strange growth inside. The inside of the stainless steel tank and the heating element looked perfectly fine. However, there is a red rubber gasket between the heating element and tank interior. This gasket looked okay, but when i wiped a paper towel across it, it showed signs of deterioration. The paper towel, my finger, and probably the water all had red substance from the red rubber gasket..
So, if you have this nasty smell, don t bother with anything other than replacing the thing

Answer 8

People with wells have this problem as well. I know how to do what you need done but the average homeowner hasn't the equipment.. There is bacteria in you little tank. Well owners will have a similar problem, once in a great while, with their large water tanks..The best way to alleviate the problem is to inject bleach into your water system and let it feed through. I have a pump that I inject the bleach into the system. If you have a WHOLE HOUSE filter you can drain the filter and fill the filter with bleach and then run your instant hot 'till bleach comes out.. This will solve the problem...

Answer 9

Even with the reverse osmosis, you have a mineral build up in the system and that's what your smelling. Sometimes you can hire a plumber to use a hose adapter to your spigot and run the water backwards in the system and knock out the buildup in the unit and pipes.

Answer 10

I'm actually a doctor and it is quite a common problem that when submerged in hot water, they tend to **** quite uncontrollably. When subjected to cold however, the **** inverts into a tasty vomit. I strongly recommend sticking your finger up your *** and inserting a ball gag into your dirty mouth. You disgust me ******. Kind regards, Dr. K Pogostick