Last Updated on 8 months by Todd
If you are an avid RV traveler, you know the importance of finding the best water filter for your home. You can’t drink contaminated or unfiltered water when traveling in places like Europe, where the drinking water is not regulated as stringently as here in America. Best RV Water Filters can be hard to find because there are so many on the market today that claim they’re “the Best.” But what does this mean? What makes the Best Mini-RV?
RV water filters are not the first thing you should think of before going on a trip. It can be hard to have good-tasting water when you go camping.
It is important to have clean water for many things, like brushing your teeth or washing the dishes. You do not want to wash your dishes with dirty water that looks like something out of a horror film. Dirty water can damage your RV’s plumbing system, too.
After you read these RV water filters, be sure to read our guide on choosing the best RV water filter for your needs. We have taken everything we know about RV water filters and put it in an easy-to-read article in this post. The article tells you what type of filtration system is good for your RV.
Contents
What Does an RV Water Filter Do?
An RV water filter is to clean water. It can remove dirt, sand, heavy metals, and small things like bacteria and viruses.
Water quality at campgrounds is not the same. Some have water that comes from a place near the city. Others have water from wells and old pipes near the septic system. It is important to take care of your health. The water in some areas might be bad and dangerous if you drink it. If you wash in it, it can also be bad for you. That’s when an RV water filter comes in handy.
RV water filters offer three primary benefits:
- They work to remove chlorine and other contaminants from the water.
- Protect your plumbing and appliances from damage. This is what sediment can do to them.
- Some things can keep you safe from harmful bacteria and other microorganisms.
They’re also a fantastic method to save money while simultaneously reducing pollution. Because you won’t need to buy costly bottled water or waste plastic, they’re an excellent way to save money and reduce your environmental impact. Locating plastic recycling plants may be difficult, depending on where you are going.
RV water filtration and purification systems can be simple or fancy. We will tell you about different kinds of them.
Types of RV Water Filters
There are two main types of RV water filters.
1) Exterior RV water filters that go between the fixture and the RV’s fresh water tank,
2) Interior drinking water filters between the fresh water tank and the faucet used for drinking water.
Exterior Water Filters for RV
These RV water filters filter all of the water that goes into your RV. The inline RV water filter is also for finding a water filter for your RV’s hose.
There are many types of RV water filters. Some are simple and inexpensive; others are complicated and more expensive. Most RV water filters have two parts: a sediment filter or carbon filter that takes out dirt, then a second filter that makes the water safe to drink.
These filters will remove sediment and odours from the water that goes into your RV’s fresh water system. They won’t remove or kill bacteria and viruses and are designed to filter material larger than 20 microns from your water.
Carbon Inline RV Water Filters
Many campgrounds have chlorinated city water. Carbon filters remove the taste and smell of chlorine from the water you drink. This is good because it makes the water taste better and doesn’t smell bad.
Carbon removes chlorine from water by a process called adsorption. Water flows through the filter and as it does, chlorine and other contaminants stick to the surface of the carbon block. This means they don’t enter your RV’s water supply.
Carbon filters can remove unwanted things from water. They make the water cleaner. Carbon filters are usually only needed if the water is dirty with bacteria or sediment.
Sediment Inline RV Water Filters
Sediment filters catch dirt and other things in the water. This helps stop dirt from getting into your other filters. It also protects your plumbing system because it doesn’t get too much wear and tear.
If the water in your house is brown or yellow, you should get a sediment filter. Sometimes even if the water does not taste bad, it could be because there is dirt in it. A sediment filter will help with this too.
If you are not getting your water from a standard municipal system, you should get a sediment filter. These filters are sold as two-step filters with carbon.
Best Inline Water Filter for RV 2022
Our top picks for inline RV water filters are small, portable units that combine carbon filtration and sediment removal. They’re easy to carry and usually affordable. These will make your water taste better and remove bad smells.
Clear2O CRV2006 RV –
The Clear2O CRV2006 RV is the ideal filter for your RV or marine environment. The solid block carbon filter reduces contaminants in water, including chlorine and other chemicals in drinking water and showering, cleaning, cooking, and rinsing.
Clear2O’s wide body design with UV coating adds durability to your filter while making it easy to install without the need for tools. Ideal for RV and Marine users to drink water and shower, clean, cook, and rinse.
This is the water filter that we use. It has a 1-micron filter that lasts for 3 to 6 months.
At this state park, the water supply is highly chlorinated, resulting in a strong chlorine odor in the shower. After reading reviews, I decided to give it a try and couldn’t be happier! Yes, there is somewhat less pressure, but some of it could be due to the 225 foot hose that I need to attach to the water source…!!!
There is no smell, and I don’t even have to buy bottled water for my coffee maker anymore. I also own the Clear2O Dirtguard pre-filter, which I am completely satisfied with.
Camco 40043 RV/Marine Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector
Camco’s GAC-40043 drinking water hose filter is an easy way to provide your family with healthier, better-tasting drinking and cooking water.
This product reduces bad taste and odors from tap water and sediment, chlorine, and more. It also features a 20-micron sediment filter that removes particles up to 20 microns (one-fifth of a human hair).
This makes it perfect for use at home or while RVing, camping or traveling. The Camco water filter 40043 can be attached to any standard garden or water hose.
Camco’s KDF Drinking Water Filter is a premium filter that provides superior protection against bacteria growth while the filter is stored or not in use. The KDF is made from copper, zinc, and activated carbon media blend. It reduces chlorine taste and odor and sediment, rust, dirt, and other impurities that may be present in your water source.
The Camco Premium KDF Filter includes a flexible hose protector to reduce strain on connections while minimizing kinking. Depending on usage, this filter should be replaced every six months or sooner.
Waterdrop RV Inline Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector
Waterdrop also has a 20-micron filter element that lasts for 3 months. It is similar to the Camco TastePure, but it costs less.
The Waterdrop RV inline water filter is an easy-to-install, affordable solution for the highest quality city water hookup. Waterdrop filters are designed to take advantage of your RV’s existing plumbing system and deliver purified drinking water directly into your tank or through your faucet.
Waterdrop’s unique design makes it one of the best inline RV water filters on the market. The durable housing protects the filter from damage, even in extreme temperatures (between -40°F & 185°F). This means less maintenance and fewer replacements.
I utilized two of these filters in my garden since I grow organically and attempt to enhance the soil’s microbiome. Why would I want chlorine in the water to wipe out all of those beneficial microorganisms? This is a fantastic filter; it’s much better than others on the market.
This is a fantastic water filter. We have it in our RV, and it’s really simple to set up. This way, we can be confident that our tank won’t get full of germs or other contaminants. The delivery was amazing; it came the next day! A fantastic company to deal with, as well as a great water filter.
Omnipure K2567-Bb Kdf Inline Water Filter
Omnipure K2567 1/2 lb. Carbon Block Water Filter with KDF Media is an inline component filter for a multi-stage system that can be used to reduce chlorine and other impurities, improve the taste and quality of water, and protect your equipment from the harmful effects of hard water. It features activated carbon media that reduces chlorine and other impurities to improve the taste and quality of water for up to 1500 gallons of use. The primary use is as an inline component filter for a multi-stage system.
I bought these filters for my ERO-375 Filter Set (WE309), which I’ve been told has to be replaced every year. As far as I can tell, the Omnipure K2567-Bb Kdf Inline Water Filter fulfills its promise; however, I have not tested the water output versus the input and have not run the system without it present.
AQUA CREST RV Inline Water Filter with Hose Protector – Best water filter for rv hose
AQUACREST RV inline filter is the best water filter for your RV. It uses advanced GAC, KDF, and fluoride reduction technology to ensure that you can always enjoy refreshing and tasty filtered water.
I’m a big believer in Preventative Medicine. I was looking for a garden hose filter, and I came across these while browsing for one. The pricing is much more reasonable (please keep it this way and I will be a loyal lifelong customer) and does a better job of filtering. I hooked an RV hose to one of these filtering units, added a misting water system and a timer, and my plants are now cheerful and don’t have yellow leaves.
A bit off topic, but I can’t believe I’m paying for contaminated water… because I am sensitive to chlorine, I have filtration for drinking water, but gosh, I didn’t realize how terrible it was until this year when I built my greenhouse.
I bought these to hook up for filling emergency water supply tanks. I connected one to the hose in Arizona, where hard water is a problem, as a test. To my surprise, it removed all of the minerals and left the car without spotting! Furthermore, drinking tap water straight from the hose after filtering is preferable than filtered house water! And since you get two of these for less than the price of one from other sellers, it’s a great deal! I highly suggest these to everyone.
The micron rating is 20 microns. The strength of food-grade plastic housing has been increased to prevent bursting and then ensure your safe-to-use experience effectively.
Compared with other RV water filters, the AQUACREST RV inline filter adds a fluoride reduction function to protect your teeth effectively, bones, and digestive system.
AQUA CREST is the most advanced water filtration system designed to meet your multiple water needs. It can be connected to a standard garden hose or faucet, and it will provide you with clean, tasty, and safe drinking water at all times and places.
The inline RV/Marine Water Filter has unmatched durability that can last an entire camping season for three months (about 200 gallons) of pure drinking water. This long-lasting product gives you an amazing way to enjoy outdoor activities with your family and friends!
Top Picks for RV Canister Water Filters
Clearsource Premium RV Water Filter System – Best water filter system for rv
The original RV in-line water filter system, the Clearsource, is the only system that includes a two-stage filter. This means you get cleaner, safer water than other systems. The 0.2-micron stage filters out more contaminants than any other system on the market.
This makes for better-tasting coffee and healthier drinking water for everyone in your family. Enjoy crystal clear ice cubes and shower with fresh, clean hot, or cold water every day of your RV adventure!
This is the first filter that I’ve tried that showed clean water testing results. I tried the most popular Camco in-line fliter, and our water still had an odor. I purchased a Water Works Bacteria Growth Check Kit and conducted several tests over the course of a week. There was a lot of growth. The test color was maxed out, which was rather disheartening.
Finally, I upgraded to the Watts in-line filter, which is more expensive and superior. However, I discovered both Clearsource and Watts at the same time, with a $200 price difference separating them. The odor from the tap was gone after I put in the Watts filter, but water test results showed that it had grown by about midway on the growth chart for water testing tests. We’re full-timers who want to reduce our consumption of bottled water; therefore we weren’t too happy with this result.
Finally, I was able to install the Clearsource unit a few weeks ago. Installing it was tough for me because I’m used to doing things myself. However, since the fittings on the filter end of the hose do not move, I needed assistance not losing my temper while twisting them onto the equipment. It’s inconvenient, but it’s an important failure point on Watts’ device, therefore I can appreciate why they were addressed.
In the end, honestly, if I had hose end caps, I could have stretched out the length of fresh water hose in a straight line and simply converted it into the fitting without worrying about my fresh water hose spinning in the dirt. But that’s all hindsight now.
Camco EVO Premium RV & Marine Water Filter – Best water filters for rv campers
Camco’s EVO Premium RV and Camper Drinking Water Filter is a quick and easy way to ensure you and your family are drinking clean, great-tasting water. The unique 5-micron sediment filter reduces the taste and odor of chlorine as well as sediment, bad taste, and odors in your drinking water. The result is fresh, clean, great-tasting water every time.
The Camco EVO Premium RV/Camper Filter features a granular activated carbon (GAC) block that absorbs dissolved organic matter such as pesticides.
I used this on one camping season in my RV and didn’t have any problems. I recommend keeping a few extra Hose O rings on hand just in case you lose one. On the first trip of the season, I lost one, so I had to use a spare to be able to connect up fully at the campground.
Allow a few minutes for water to run through the filter after filling it with water. The water will appear black at first since all of the carbon dust has been removed. I store this and my 25′ clean water hose in separate tote. This tote contains my Y adapter and PSI regultor.
When I get home, I remove the bag and set up the filter in it to assist with draining. Then, when all of the water has drained, I simply pour it out into the yard.
Drinking-Water Filters for RVs
Purification is a good way to clean water. It can get rid of germs and other things in the water, so it is safe.
The flow rate for these water purification systems is low, and some people might want to use a separate tap for drinking water. Today we will talk about three methods of purifying water: (UV) light, reverse osmosis, and activated carbon.
UV Purification
Ultraviolet purification systems are great for water that might not be safe. They can kill bacteria, viruses, and other bad things that make people sick.
UV lamps get rid of bacteria and viruses in the water. When they break up the genetic code, it kills them. This is safe because you do not need to worry about getting sick from a UV lamp.
There is a light in the middle of the system. The water needs to be in the light for at least a little time, or it will not be clean. If you leave it longer, then your water will be cleaner.
UV systems make your water safe to drink. They do not change the taste or smell, but they will catch things in the water. You need an inline filter for this too.”
Some viruses cannot be removed by filtration, so UV purification systems are great for those.
UV systems do not affect how fast water is filling your glass. They also use little electricity and will last for several years before you need to replace them.
Popular UV Water Purification Brands
Viqua makes different stainless steel ultraviolet water treatment systems for your RV. These can help make the water clean and safe to drink.
Bluonics makes water purifiers for RVs. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on the product with lifetime technical support.
Reverse Osmosis Systems for RVs:
Express Water offers different models of reverse osmosis water filter systems. The 5 stage RO water filter is the least expensive. It can attach additional filters such as the UV water filter and an alkaline water filter which are included in the 11 stage system below.
Our water is very clean. An 11-stage UV and reverse osmosis process go through our water, which is good for your health.
iSpring makes a filter that you can put under your sink. It has a water softener and also a faucet and tank.
Which RV Water Filter is Right For You?
What type of filter do you want? This will depend on where you camp and how you like to travel. Ask these questions:
- What’s in the water? If you are at an established campground, a filter that removes small particles should be enough. If the water looks or tastes bad, you will need to filter it.
- How much filtering is needed? You’ll know how much filtration is needed once you’ve figured out what’s in the water. If there is no obvious mud and you just want to eliminate chlorine and bad flavour, a regular inline water filter that removes anything larger than 20 microns should be sufficient.
- How often will you use it? Some people use their RV only a few weeks per year. This means that an expensive purification system might not be worth it, but an expensive system could be well worth the cost for those who use their RV full time.
- What’s the cost over time? It would help if you did the math. It would help estimate how much water you will drink and use in your RV throughout your travels. This is hard because it is difficult to know how many people will be in the RV and how long. The cost of an RV water filtration system can be expensive, but if you don’t travel often, it might not make sense for you at all because you could buy big jugs of water from Walmart that are already filtered.