Best RV Water Filters

While some RV water filters are quite simple devices designed to lessen or eliminate odors, unpleasant tastes, and sediment, others go to great lengths to eliminate bacteria and viruses. Traveling throughout North America in an RV will allow you to experience the many different tastes and varying quality of water across the continent. And you’ll soon find yourself wanting the best rv water filter to prepare for these changes. So how do you find the best one for you?

Check out our full buyers guide below!

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Best Selling RV Water Filters

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  RV Essentials

  Camco TastePURE RV Water Filter

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  Toxins in your water can be easily eliminated with the help of the Camco TastePURE RV Water Filter, which features a big capacity and is ideal for use on boats. The GAC (Granular Activated Carbon) filtering method in this water purifier works to get rid of nasty stuff like chlorine, lead, and sediment from your drinking supply. To further purify your water, the Camco TastePURE RVWater Filter features a 20-micron sediment filter. This water purifier is convenient because it can be used in a variety of settings, including at home, the office, and while traveling.

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  RV Supplies

  Clearsource Premier RV Water Filter System

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  The Clearsource Premier RV Water Filter System protects against contaminants and bacteria in your water using a two-stage filtration process. The system features a powder-coated standalone chassis and oversized canisters that allow for maximum water flow. This Filter System is made of high-quality materials and is designed to last.

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  RV Supplies

  Camco TastePURE RV Dual Canister Water Filter

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  This RV Water Filter is a two-stage filtration system that provides a high flow rate and protects against chlorine, bad taste, odors, sediment, bacteria, and other contaminants. The first stage filter is a 5-micron sediment filter that removes heavy sediments, chlorine, and bad tastes and odors. The second stage filter is a .5-micron carbon block cartridge that offers protection against lead, VOCs, cysts, giardia, and other contaminants. The Camco TastePURE Dual Canister Filter is a complete kit that includes 2 filter canisters, a built-in stand with rubber feet, a 4-foot fresh water hose, 1 canister wrench, 1 replaceable premium spun polypropylene 5-micron sediment GAC/KDF cartridge and 1 replaceable premium 0.5-micron carbon block cartridge.

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  RV Supplies

  BELVITA RV Inline Water Filter (90 Degree Hose Elbow Included)

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  The BELVITA RV Inline Water Filter is designed to eliminate stress and strain on your water intake hose fittings. Made of high-quality materials, this water filter will last an entire camping season. To prevent kinking and straining on your hose, the water filter comes with an anti-kink flexible hose protector.

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  RV Supplies

  Camco EVO Premium Water Filter for RVs

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  In order to improve the quality of the water in your recreational vehicle, Camco created the EVO Premium Water Filter. There is a 5-micron hose, filter housing, a 12-inch extension hose, and a replaceable polypropylene filter cartridge included with the filter. The CSA has certified the Camco EVO Premium Water Filter as having a low lead content, and it complies with the low-lead requirements of both California’s AB1953 and Vermont’s Act 193.

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  RV Supplies

  RV Water Filter Store | RV Water Filter System (Hose Fitting Included)

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  The Essential RV Water Filter System is designed to provide unlimited clean, refreshing water to your recreational vehicle. This system features two separate filters that work together to remove harmful contaminants from your water. The first filter is made of a high-quality plastic that is resistant to chemicals and breakdown. The second filter is a coconut shell carbon block that creates great tasting water. With a limited lifetime warranty, this system is built to last.

Buyers Guide For RV Water Filters

If you have and often use an RV that has its own water system, it is important to be familiar with RV water filtration.

Water piped straight from campsites to your RV’s faucets and shower might be odorous and contaminated. Whereas consuming and using this water may not get you sick, it will certainly reduce the enjoyment of your family vacation and make you regret using water in your RV. Therefore, water filtering is necessary.

When it’s time to change the water filter in your RV, chances are you won’t be overjoyed. The work is rather dull, but it is critically important. However, you can enjoy your next road trip with your family knowing that everyone is well-hydrated and healthy thanks to the right water filter.

We all know it can be a major issue if any RV appliance fails. That’s why it’s so important to do it correctly the first time. This guide was written with that end in mind.

What to Consider When Choosing

Choosing a new water filter involves a lot of consideration. There are a surprising number of factors that determine the quality of performance for such a dull piece of machinery. We hope that the next section will help you narrow down your options and make an informed purchase.

Micron Rating

The micron rating of a filter provides additional information about the particle sizes that it will effectively filter out. A filter rated at 0.1 microns will, therefore, remove more particles than a filter rated at 2 microns. The micron rating of a filter may also be represented by a symbol like ” ᤫm.” This term, short for “submicron,” is used exclusively to describe filters that remove contaminants from water at the tiniest possible size.

Flow Rate

A water filtration system for an RV with a low micron count may seem like a good idea, but it has the opposite effect on the flow rate. As a higher level of resistance is needed to effectively filter out particles using an RV water filter, the amount of water that can pass through the filter and into the RV’s water system is reduced. The quantity of filtered water produced each minute is indicated by the flow rate, which is expressed in gallons per minute.

Ease of Installation

We advise picking a filter with a straightforward installation procedure, unless you have extensive experience with plumbing installations. Modifying your RV’s pre-existing water system to fit a new filter could lead to leaks. Ignoring even a minor leak can result in dry rot, mold, or mildew.

If you are not experienced with plumbing and are intimidated by the installation process that comes with canister-style water filtration systems, we suggest an inline water filter as a good starting point. Even though you’ll have to screw in the filters each time you hook up to a new water supply, you won’t have to make any adjustments to the plumbing in your RV. However, if you know your way around a plumbing system, a canister-style system will prove to be the most convenient option.

Source of Water

Fill your tanks with water mostly from reliable sources. If the donated water is deemed drinkable, you can expect that it will be verified. This also goes to campsites with well water.

However, it is impossible to tell when the previous test was conducted, and pollution may develop readily.

Water supply does not remain drinkable indefinitely. A recreational vehicle’s storage tank is comparable to a huge, heated dish. It is easy for slime and algae to accumulate, which is the reason you really have to clean and sterilize your apparatus. Washing the tank and the pipe will remove any slime and silt that escaped the filtering system. Every year, you must clean and disinfect your tanks.

In addition to the danger of becoming ill, RVers who do not use filtration systems must also struggle with the effects of pollution and contaminants in the water on the network, especially the storage tanks.

Each drink does not have to be a courageous act. There are readily available, simple-to-install water filtration systems for RVs that take the anxiety out of drinking water.

Quantity of Water

If your water is often bad or contains sediment, you must filter the whole supply. Most RVs are equipped with sediment and odor filters.

The majority of campsites provide chlorinated municipal water. Some RV parks provide well water for RV usage. Some RVers add a carbon filter in their filtration system in order to eliminate the taste and odor of chlorine from the water used in their RV.

If you solely carbon filter the water you drink, you should anticipate the water you use for bathing and brushing your teeth to have a chlorine-like flavor and odor.

Regularly, you must clean and sterilize your fresh water tanks to avoid stagnation. Full-time RVers who routinely empty and refill their tanks should not worry too much about stagnation, but they must still disinfect their tanks.

Part-time Tank maintenance must be performed with extreme caution by RV owners whose rigs sit unused for months at a time. When it comes to keeping your tanks sterilized, nothing beats frequent cleaning.

Whereas if water you receive for use in your RV is not very contaminated, an inline RV water filter for your kitchen faucet may suffice. In such a scenario, a UV unit or ceramic filter would be optimal.

In your RV, a reverse osmosis system provides the greatest degree of water filtration.

Maintenance

Proper inspection and maintenance of all RV filters is required. When you need to replace your filtration system varies based on a variety of factors, such as the kind of filter you have, the amount and quality of water you use, and your travel plans.

If uncertain, it is usually preferable to replace things too early than really late. Maintain a constant supply of new filtering or filter cartridges throughout the RV season, and examine your filter minimum once every week during high usage. If the cartridge seems unclean, it is preferable and safer to replace it.

Placing a completely closed valve on the basic water intake stream before connecting the filter would keep filter and water supply management much simpler, whatever the type of filter. This enables you to halt water flow from making a mess anytime you have to replace the filter or any other part of the system. Construct a bypass method in order to keep drinking unfiltered water if your filters fail and you cannot find a new one.

The completely closed valve is also useful for winterizing the RV since it prevents water from getting into the plumbing while you remove the existing water. Remember to disconnect and remove the water filter in your RV after all the pipes are clean.

Maintenance Costs

You should consider the long-term savings of a water filter in addition to the upfront price when calculating your budget. Don’t forget to add in the price of repairs and a new filtration system. When you factor in the cost of buying a new filter every three months at a minimum of $25, you’ll be looking at a yearly expenditure of at least $100.

Therefore, it is the more cost-effective choice if you can find a comparable model for less than $100 that only needs to be replaced once every 12 months. Filters with more involved installation processes also typically have more expensive lifetime maintenance needs.

Pressure Regulators

Depending on the sort of filter you select, you should purchase a water pressure regulator. Designed to maintain a set PSI (pounds per square inch), such devices contain your RV’s water systems securely.

Despite the fact that this is a typical number for municipal water connections, the majority of RV water systems are not designed to withstand pressures beyond 100 PSI. This is where pressure regulators come into play. They protect your RV’s plumbing from bursting by intercepting incoming water and keeping it at a safe and functioning pressure (typically between 60 and 85 PSI).

The Filter

Filters are classified by class. “NSF Ratings” are the evaluations utilized by the National Sanitation Foundation depending on the amount of chlorine that may be eliminated.

• Class I filters can eliminate 75 to 100 percent of chlorine from the water.
• Class II filters reduce up to 75% of the chlorine in the water.
• Class III filters reduce half of the chlorine from water.

Carbon particles have been used to purify water for generations. Producers nowadays can develop highly porous carbon cubes, which are better to the particulate carbon filters of the past, due to technological advancements.

Recently, the carbon block with modifications has really been made. This is a filter constructed from carbon-infused fibers.

Water provides pathways that allow granular activated charcoal to move.

Concrete block filters are rated highly by the NSF. This happens because the micron size of the filters is so fine that it additionally eliminates cysts and certain bacteria. They are now more costly than the granular filter, but they are worthy of the extra cost.

Close to SBC filters are MCB filters. They get a greater flow rate and a better durability, but instead are valued similarly.

Filter Lifespan

A water filter’s lifespan depends on a number of factors. Personal preference is the primary consideration. The longer you go without replacing your filter, the more money you’ll spend on a replacement. Unfortunately, you won’t know this until you see discolored water coming from the tap.

Most filters come with built-in replacement interval suggestions from the manufacturer. The duration of these rankings is typically between three months and a year. They end up saving you cash as a bonus.

Filter Sizes

The greater the size of the filter, the greater the number of pores, and thus, the greater the flow. The narrower the filter, the fewer the pores, hence flow will be constrained. Get the biggest available canisters to increase circulation. Furthermore, silt and other pollutants clog filters. If you have flow issues, you might want to check or change your filters.

Budget

Value is frequently dictated by a system’s filtration capacity, which influences the time required to filter water. Certain RV water filters have the capacity to remove more disease-causing germs than many others; therefore, they are often more costly.

Types of RV Water Filters

If you want pure, as opposed to merely clean, water in your RV, you’ll want a filter system with a higher price tag and a lower volume of water than the typical filtration system. These water filters are most effective when combined with some other filtration process.

Countertop Water Filter

Using this system to purify water after it is drawn from the faucet is a fast and simple solution for obtaining safe drinking water. This solution gives a portion of greatest drinking and preparing water, yet provides no pipe protection. We suggest pairing this system with an inline filter whether you take this approach.

For the sake of convenience, some RVers choose to bring countertop water filters. This is due to the fact that they can be transferred effortlessly from the house to the motorhome. They can be used immediately without setting up anything.

A countertop filter’s main drawback is that it takes up valuable real estate in a motor home that may already be at capacity. Further, it may take some time to refill these filters. Time spent filtering water can add up if you’re trying to cook with more than one gallon at a time.

These filters are not “on-demand,” so they can’t filter multiple jugs at once. There’s only so much water you can get your hands on.

Ultraviolet Light RV Water Filter

UV light aids in the prevention of waterborne diseases. It may be harmful to humans and is fatal to microorganisms; more than any other, if not all, of the micro – organisms in the water dies. Those that do not are often kept infertile, preventing them from reproducing if they penetrate the body.

UV light is the most effective method for eliminating pathogens in water that are not eliminated by filtering. The system is reasonably inexpensive, user-friendly, and has no effect on rate of flow. It should be combined with a canister filtration system to provide pure, pathogen-free water throughout your RV.

These devices typically consist of a tube that holds the water and a UV lamp in their center point. The more the water is left towards light, the more thoroughly it will be disinfected.

A UV purification system is an effective method for disinfecting water in an RV when it has been contaminated with harmful microorganisms. The core component of UV purifiers is a UV lamp housed in a sturdy enclosure. Microorganisms like viruses, bacteria, and protozoa have their DNA damaged by the UV rays as water flows through the chamber.

Water that has undergone UV purification is safe to drink because the harmful microorganisms that were present before are rendered inactive. The use of a UV purifier is essential if you intend to fill up your RV from an untreated water source, as doing so will protect you and your passengers from illness.

Reverse Osmosis

Systems using reverse osmosis are by far the most successful water filtration systems, eliminating almost all pollutants, such as sodium chloride and minerals. Nevertheless, they are pricey. In addition, they squander a great deal of water in the process, which is not environmentally friendly and is not conducive to successfully doing so. This strategy is appropriate for folks who do not camp off-grid and spend a large amount of time in locations with very unclean water.

In addition to improving the water’s odor and flavor, RV water filters eliminate sediment and other impurities. The majority of RV water filters are available in canisters that can be installed anyplace on the vehicle. These systems treat every drop of water that enters your RV.

Reverse osmosis is one of the best types of water filters for use in RVs because of their ability to reduce TDS by more than 99.9 percent while also enhancing water’s flavor, RO filters are widely regarded as the best RV water filters. Chemicals, metals, bacteria, and drugs are just some of the things that can be filtered out using reverse osmosis.

This makes it an attractive option for campers who spend extended periods away from municipal water supplies but still require potable water.

In-Line System

This is a basic and compact water filter for beginners. It is advised for RV users who only drive their vehicles occasionally. They may be screwed onto a regular hose for attachment.

Inline filters are attached externally to a water hose. Although they operate in a similar fashion to under-sink filters, these devices are installed between your water supply and your water cooler. They serve the same purpose as under-sink filtration systems by removing impurities from the water, but are wall-mounted instead.

Standard Canisters System

This is the optimal option for water filtration. They offer a greater flow capacity than in-line filters and may be tailored to address your particular water needs.

Canister filters are state-of-the-art for RVs because the water goes through a series of filtration stages. The user can adjust the filtering criteria with these tools.

These filters are most useful because they can be permanently installed internally and used without being constantly reconnected. Yet, filters need to be changed frequently, and leaks can go undetected if the filter is placed in an inconspicuous location.

Jumbo Canisters System

These filtering systems are perfect for RVers who travel full-time. They provide the same benefits as the regular canister, but offer a higher flow rate and need less cartridge replacements.

Many variants of water filters are available for use in recreational vehicles. The purpose of the filtering process will determine the best type to use. It’s important to know which RV water filter will be most effective in removing bacteria, chemicals, organic matter, or all of the above.

Sediment

Using a sediment filter on your faucets and showers can increase their useful life by removing debris like dirt and leaves. This is due to the fact that if dirt and other debris get into your faucets, it will eventually become clogged and unusable. A sediment filter is what you need if you want clean water from your faucets without the sediment that clogs them. To prevent your water’s bacteria and chemical filters from becoming clogged by larger particles, you can use these as a prefilter first.

Activated Carbon

When it comes to removing harmful substances from drinking water, activated carbon filters rely on the adsorption process. These filters can function on their own or as part of a larger system’s filtration pipeline. Activated carbon is the most efficient method for filtering chlorine and chloramines out of water, and it can be made from a variety of natural materials like charcoal or coconut shell.

The elimination of heavy metals and volatile organic compounds is an added bonus. A water filter using activated carbon relies on the amount of time the water spends in contact with the media. The longer the media is exposed to the water, the better it can filter out contaminants. That’s why lots of gravity countertop filters use activated carbon filters.

Ceramic

A ceramic element with tiny holes is used as a filter in ceramic water purification systems. These filters remove sediments, bacteria, protozoa, and giardia cysts from the water, making it safe to drink in your RV. While they are effective at removing these types of contaminants, they are not as efficient when it comes to chemical pollutants. Some ceramic filters, however, have a carbon component that enhances their ability to filter chemicals, leading to better tasting and smelling water.

Under Sink Systems

Exactly as the name suggests, under-sink water filter systems are placed beneath your sink to purify the water supply. You can use them to make your drinking and cooking water at the campground more pure. Some campers prefer these filters because they are simple to set up and can be relocated with little effort. They don’t clutter the kitchen or take up any valuable counter real estate.

Types of Containers

One-canister System

A single-canister system helps eliminate flavor and aroma issues, in addition to collecting silt.

Dual-Canister System

A double system will eliminate dirt concerns along with taste and smell issues. Additionally, they may minimize the amount of chemicals, lead, parasites, and sometimes even toxic substances in your water.

Three-Canister System

The multiple canister should contain a smell elimination filter, so if mineral accumulation in the water is an issue, an RV–PH barrel may be included.

How We Chose Our Top Picks

As a husband and wife duo, we definitely get most of our learning done while on the road. When it came to finding the best RV water filters though, we researched the most popular items that are sold online and compiled a list of the benefits and drawbacks associated with each kind of RV water filter. Then after, we reviewed all of the evaluation, comments, and feedback from our rv peers, we chose our favorites.

We looked at performance, cost, and value to determine the best RV water filters for the largest possible audience in the United States. Multiple testers’ ratings and comments were also taken into account, as well as those of a wide variety of end users.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the characteristics of KDF?

KDF, or Kinetic Degradation Fluxion, may be added to carbon filters in order to eliminate microorganisms. These filters are ideal for RV owners who have used their vehicles occasionally. Used to suppress bacterial development in filters is silver nitrate.

Can a Single Unit remove Sediment and Smell?

Sure. Typically, RVs with a built-in filtration unit or combo unit feature particle treatment and carbon filtering. These devices are small and affordable. As carbon powder-impregnated paper, they typically have a lesser smell absorption capability. They are inferior to dedicated carbon filters.

Does Reverse Osmosis purify each and every drop of water?

A maximum of 30 percent of the water in a RO system will be filtered. Therefore, reverse osmosis requires significant volumes of water, since 70% of the water used is wasted.

Is the Water 100 Percent Pure?

2 – 20% of the pollutants in the water will go by, based on the state of your reverse osmosis machine. Reverse osmosis will eliminate all particles and the majority of minerals.

Is filtering all the water in my RV a viable option?

Complete filtration is a costly and challenging operation. However, almost clean water that is suited for all uses in your RV is readily accessible.

How long do RV water filters work?

The average lifespan of a filter is three months. However, there are a number of variables, including the number of people using the RV’s water and the RV’s overall water use, that could necessitate replacing the water tank sooner. A good filter can extend the life of your HVAC system by as much as a year.

In general, it’s preferable to replace a filter as soon as possible rather than waiting until it stops working. Keeping track of the date of the last filter change and scheduling a reminder to inspect it before too much time has passed are both helpful practices.

Do I really need to get an RV water filter?

As with many things, water quality varies depending on location. Not only that, but rusty and broken water hookups are a common sight at campgrounds. The water can be made safe for drinking and cooking with just a simple RV water filter. Premium water filters are so effective, they can even protect against health problems.

Can chlorine be eliminated by RV water filters?

All chlorine tastes and smells can be eliminated with the RV water filters. Nonetheless, chlorine’s antimicrobial properties allow it to effectively disinfect the water supply.

Where should I keep my RV’s water filter?

Since they don’t mind sitting in water or being dried out, they can be kept in either wet or dry conditions. The filters don’t require special care other than a dark, dust-free environment to be stored in. In order to maintain cleanliness, simply remove the wet filters, drain the canisters, and replace them. CDB-KDF filters are best stored submerged in water.

Final Thoughts

Knowing what to look for when shopping for an RV water filter is essential to ensuring that you and your family have access to safe drinking water on the road. Although there is a lot of information out there about RV water filtering systems, the best one for your needs will become immediately apparent once you know what to look for. Several factors, including cost, desired water purity, and the presence of contaminants to be removed, should be taken into account when settling on the best RV water filter for your needs.