10 Best RV Water Filters in 2021: Reviews by RV Gear Lab

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Everyone needs access to clean, fresh water. It’s also essential for RVers whether you’re staying at a campground or some remote location. For this, it’s important to invest in an RV water filter, which makes the water supply free of harmful contaminants and safe for drinking. On top of that, a good water filter would also be able to prolong the life of RV’s plumbing system and equipment. To help you choose the right product, we’ve prepared this guide with the top 10 best RV water filter options in 2021.

Best RV Water Filters in 2021

Top 10 RV Water Filters Reviewed

Camco 40045 TastePure Inline RV Water Filter

The best selling RV water filtration system in 2021 is the Camco 40045 TastePure model. It’s the perfect choice for anyone searching for a high quality water filter designed for RV use as it offers effective filtration and large capacity.

The filtration system features granulated activated carbon, which provides effective filtration for the water coming into an RV. It filters heavy metals, lead, mercury, aluminum, and other water contaminants. It also features a 20 microns sediment barrier, which additionally removes sediment, chlorine, odors, and bad taste.

The granulated activated carbon and sediment filter are also combined with KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion), which keeps the filter from degrading when it’s not in use. It prevents the growth of fungus, mold, and other undesirable bacteria. This means that even if you leave your filter unused for a long time, it will provide the same level of clean and safe drinking water.

This KDF technology also uses a chemical process of oxidation/reduction in order to remove chlorine, mercury, lead, and hydrogen sulfide. As a result, you can get safe drinking water that is free of chemical taste and odor.

You can connect this filter to any standard garden hose. It features an inline design that installs without any assembly required. So, you can have it set up and in use in minutes.

This RV water filter comes as a pack of two and each one lasts an average of 3 months or 500 filtered gallons of water. With a total of 6 months of filtration, you can be sure that it will last you the entire camping season.

Another great thing about this RV water filter is the high flow rate. It will provide 2.5 gallons per minute, which it achieves by having the wide body of the filter. And if you do notice the water flow slowing down, which will probably happen after 3 months or so of use, it usually means that it’s time to get a new one.

You can also be assured that this is a safe filter to use since it has been tested and certified. It is NSF 42/53 listed and it also CSA low lead content certification.

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Aqua Crest AQU-RV2

If you’re looking for a high RV water filter that can also remove fluoride, then we recommend checking out the Aqua Crest AQU-RV2 product. It’s a high efficiency filtration system that removes most water contaminants, ensuring that you get fresh and good tasting drinking water.

Similar to the products mentioned above, this filter also uses multi-stage filtration. It features a 20 microns sediment barrier, GAC, KDF, and fluoride remover. The KDF part is a kind of copper-zinc alloy, which not only helps to remove water contaminants but also works to keep the filter bacteria-free when it’s not in use.

The result of these stages of filtration is a highly effective removal of chlorine, sediments, heavy metals, arsenic, fluoride, and more. In all, it gets rid of most water contaminants, such as lead, chlorine, heavy metals, and more, delivering clean and safe water without any bad odor or taste.

Unlike many other RV water filtration systems, this unit additionally removes fluoride. This can be beneficial for your teeth, bones, and digestive system.

To keep your water supply clean, the filter is also made with food-grade plastic housing. This ensures that the material will not leach any contaminants into the filtered water. On top of that, it’s a strong material, which prevents the filter from bursting during use.

One more advantage of this RV water filter system is its reasonable price, so you don’t have to worry about it putting a hole in your pocket. Moreover, it comes as a pack of two, so you can enjoy clean and safe drinking water in your RV for a total of about 6 months. Though, the actual lifespan will depend on your water usage and the quality of the water that you’re getting from the source. However, for most RVers, this filter should be enough to provide clean drinking water for an entire camping season.

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Culligan RVF-10

The Culligan RVF-10 model is also one of the best RV exterior water filters. It’s a popular choice among RV owners due to a number of reasons. The main one, of course, is that it can provide you and your RV companions with great tasting water that is safe for drinking and cooking.

The filter features granular activated carbon filtration. It removes most water sediments, chlorine odor, and taste. This product has also been tested by NSF and the results have shown that it meets the aesthetic reduction of chlorine taste and odor. It also meets its standards for reductions of VOCs, lead, mercury, and nominal particulates class 1.

This filter also offers good value. One single cartridge lasts about 250 gallons of water, which would be about 3 months for most people. And when the lifespan of the filter is over, you just need to replace the cartridge. The filter is also compatible with different replacement cartridges, so you can choose one that would offer the level of filtration that you need.

Due to its design, the filter is ideal for exterior installation. It features 3/4-inch flexible hose couplings, which provides an easy connection to a standard garden hose. To give you an easier time setting it up, the filter also comes with a hose connection kit that includes a 1 foot hose.

Moreover, the housing is made of durable plastic material, which should last for many years of use. It’s also slim and sturdy, which makes it easy to store in the compact storage space of your RV.

For the filter’s operation, it needs to be kept in an upright position. For this, you might need to purchase a water filter stand, which would mean additional cost. Alternatively, some users have recommended just putting it into a bucket with the hoses on each side holding it up.

This filter doesn’t use KDF technology. When left unused, it can get moldy. That’s why if you’re leaving your filter unused between seasons, it’s better to remove the cartridge, drain it and let it dry before packing it away.

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Camco 40019 TastePure XL

There’s one more highly effective RV water filtration system from Camco. The Camco 40019 features similar filtration technology to the Camco 40045 model. However, this product comes with only one filter but additionally includes a flexible hose connector. This connector provides heavy-duty protection for the fittings. It minimizes strain on the connectors in order to prevent kinking. As a result, you get unrestricted water flow going through the filter.

The design of this filter also features a wide body. Due to this, you get a higher flow rate compared to many other RV water filters. This 2.5 GPM high flow rate allows quick access to a supply of clean drinking water.

It connects to any standard water hose, such as a garden hose. This means that it can have multiple uses. You can use it for your RV’s water supply, for your boat, or gardening.

The filter can last up to 10,000 gallons of water, which is an impressive capacity and one of the highest offered in the industry. With this capacity, you might not need to replace your filter sooner than after 6 months.

For filtration, the unit uses several stages for efficient contaminants removal. There is a 20 microns sediment filter that removes particles that are greater than 20 microns. It also includes granular activated carbon filtration, which reduces most of the contaminants, such as chlorine, heavy metals, lead, mercury, and more. Lastly, there’s also KDF filtration, which not only reduces contaminants but also prevents the growth of bacteria and fungus. So, while your filter is in storage between your RV camping seasons, you don’t need to worry about bacteria and fungus growing inside of it.

This filter is also safe to use. It is low lead certified and it’s compliant with the lead level laws. So, it both removes lead from the water supply and also ensures that no lead gets leached into your drinking water from the filter itself.

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Camco 40645 Weekend Water Filter

If you’re looking for the most affordable RV water filter system, then the top rated option is the Camco 40645 product. Though cheap in price, it offers effective water filtration, reducing most water contaminants.

Due to the price, this might not be the most advanced water filtration system. It uses granular activated carbon but does not have a KDF bed. The granular activated carbon offers the capability of removing sediment, chlorine, and foul odors and taste. It can also remove other particles in the water if they are greater than 150 microns.

So, while this filter delivers effective results in improving the taste and odor of your drinking water, it will not remove as many contaminants as the Camco 40045 model, for example.

Another difference between this filter and the Camco 40045 is the flow rate. The 40045 water filter has a slightly wider body, which provides a higher flow rate. Due to this, the Camco 40645 is a better choice for smaller applications and the 40045 for higher flow ones.

This filter connects to any exterior connection, such as a standard water hose. It connects without any complicated assembly, so you can have it set up and filtering water within minutes. It also features an inline design, so you can connect it between a campsite’s water source and your RV’s fresh water tank. This streamlines the flow of water, delivering you high quality drinking water.

The filter also offers good capacity. It lasts about 120 days before becoming ineffective. This means that you can get an entire season of these before replacement. Especially considering its low price, this long lifespan is definitely an advantage.

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Culligan RV-800

The Culligan RV-800 product is another highly recommended RV water filter. Buying a product from such a known brand as Culligan, which has been around for many years, you know you’re getting a reliable water filter. They continue to deliver high quality water treatment products and one of their best RV water filtration offers is this Culligan RV-800.

The filter is designed for exterior installation between a water source and your RV’s fresh water tank. It easily attaches to any standard garden hose or any other flexible water hose with a 3/4 inch coupling. It also includes a 12 inches flexible connector hose, which you can connect either to the inlet or the outlet end of the filter.

This is an advanced filtration system that provides an efficient solution to reducing most of the water contaminants. It features granular activated carbon and KDF, removing sediment, chlorine, bacteria, and more. It also offers a reduction of contaminants with 5 NTU maximum of turbidity, which is a measurement of the water’s clarity or the amount of the suspended particles.

The filter is also equipped with bacteriostatic filter media, which prevents bacterial growth when the system is not in use. This means that this filter both reduces and prevents various contaminants from getting into your drinking water.

One more advantage of this filtration system is its long lifespan. Its high capacity filter cartridge can last up to 2,000 gallons of water, which is impressive for such an affordable product. Depending on your water usage, one filter would last you three to six months, meaning that most likely you won’t need to replace it more than once per season.

This RV water filter also offers a good flow rate. At 60 psi water pressure, it can deliver a flow rate of 1 gallon per minute. This might not be the highest flow rate you can find, but it’s very reasonable for RV use, working efficiently and fast to produce clean water.

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Clearsource Premium RV Water Filter System

For the highest quality performance in filtration, we recommend taking a look at the Clearsource premium RV water filter system. It’s the most expensive system on our list, but it does offer a lot of value for the money.

The first thing that stands out about this water filter is the durability of the design. It’s engineered for long lasting performance. It features a powder coated chassis, stainless steel fittings, and tight sealing buttress threads. Due to this design, you won’t have to worry about the filter getting any damage even when it’s rough on those RV trips.

Another great feature of this filter’s design is the stand that it comes with. The stand is built-in, which offers more convenient use. Unlike other in-line water filters, for which you need to additionally buy a stand or come up with some other solution, this product already comes with the issue solved.

Secondly, this filter also offers amazing water filtration capabilities. It achieves it by using two stages of filtration where the water first goes through one oversized filter canister and then another.

For the first stage, it’s equipped with a 5 microns filter. Its purpose is to filter out sediment and other bigger particles. During the second stage, the water flows through a coconut shell carbon block that filters out contaminants down to 0.5 microns. This means that it would be able to remove bacteria, giardia, cysts, VOCs, and more.

The result of this two stage filtration is clean water that is safe for drinking and cooking. On top of that, the use of the coconut shell carbon results in great tasting water. It’s very effective at removing foul tastes and odors, so it provides better tasting water than with standard carbon filters.

The capacity for this RV water filter is 2,000 gallons. For an occasional camper, this would mean replacing the cartridge annually. For the frequent traveler or a big family, this would mean replacing it about every 3 to 6 months.

This is not a cheap filter, but it’s made to meet the industry’s highest standards and it gets the job incredibly well. It can eliminate contaminants that many other RV water filters miss. Not that many other RV water filtration systems can filter down to 0.5 microns.

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Waterdrop WD-RVS-1

Water is another well-known water filtration brand and one of their products designed for RV water filtration is the Waterdrop WD-RVS-1. It provides efficient filtration, delivering water that is safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing needs.

The filter offers superior performance and maximum contaminants removal due to the use of multiple stages of filtration. First, the water goes through a pre-sediment layer, which filters sand, suspended solids, and other large sized particles. The next stage involves granular activated carbon filtration. Its main purpose is to reduce chlorine, its odor, and its taste.

During the filtration process, the water also flows through an advanced filtration layer that reduces fluoride and arsenic. The next stage of the process is KDF, which further removes heavy metals and hydrogen sulfide. And finally, the water flows through the last filtration layer that helps to remove any of the remaining suspended contaminants.

The result of this multi-stage filtration is a crisp and clear water. In all, the technology this filter uses can reduce contaminants down to 20 microns. Moreover, the filtration improves the water’s taste and smell, making it well suitable for drinking.

The filter is made of high quality materials that are food-grade rated. This means that while it’s filtering out the water contaminants, it will also not leach any of them into the water from the filter itself.

Being an in-line filter, this unit features simple and quick installation. It doesn’t require any assembly or extra tools for the setup. It does additionally come with an anti-kink flexible hose protector. This handy tool will help to keep the hose from kinking and with this, it will prevent any strain of the water flow. It will also help to reduce the strain on connections, preventing their breaking and leaking.

As with most other RV water filters, the lifespan of this product is about 3 months. It can be more or less, depending on your water usage. However, in most situations, it will be perfect for the entire RV camping season.

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AmazonBasics Inline Water Filter

The last RV water filter that we’d like to mention in our top 10 rated products list is the AmazonBasics inline water filter. It’s also a good quality product that delivers effective suspended contaminants removal.

For filtration, this unit uses the combination of a 20 microns sediment filter and KDF technology. The sediment filter layer removes any large particles. The KDF layer removes smaller suspended particles, such as chlorine, aluminum, cadmium, heavy metals, and other contaminants.

Due to the use of the KDF technology, the filter also inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungus. So, you don’t need to worry about contaminants leaching into your drinking water from the filter itself.

Depending on your needs, you can choose between a one, two, or four pack option. When buying, keep in mind that you’ll need to replace this filter after every camping season. However, if you don’t use it often, it might last you a year.

Unfortunately, there are also downsides to this RV water filter. First, it does include a flexible hose protector, which means that you’ll need to purchase it separately, or otherwise, you’ll end up dealing with a hose that keeps on kinking and crimping. Secondly, the product comes with a short 1 year warranty. It would have been better if it came with a 5 years warranty as many other products in this category do.

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Camco EVO 40631

Camco EVO 40631 is another favorite among many RV owners. It’s a premium water filter that easily attaches to your RV’s water supply line and provides a reliable source of clean and tasty drinking water.

You can connect it to any garden hose. The unit also comes with a 12 inches extension hose, which can you use either on the inlet or the outlet side. It also features an inlined design, which provides a streamlined water flow.

This filter consists of a housing, an extension cord, and a replaceable cartridge made of polypropylene material. Its lifespan is about 3 months, which means that you would probably need to replace it after every camping season. And when you do the replacement, you don’t need to purchase the entire filter. You’ll only need to replace the cartridge.

Replacing the cartridge is also a very easy process. With the filter, you also get a wrench that you can use to remove the housing part. Then, remove the old and add the new cartridge and finish by screwing the housing back on.

The effectiveness of this RV water filter is provided by the use of several technologies. First, it uses a 5 microns porous shell to filter out sediment, chlorine, and other small particles. However, the filtration doesn’t end there.

The water is then further filtered by passing through a bed of KDF and granulated active carbon. These two technologies remove chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria, and other water contaminants. Moreover, the KDF part also prevents bacteria and fungus growth when you’re not using the filter. The result is clean water with no odor and great taste.

This filter also removes minerals, which can be useful for those who have hard water issues in their RV. It will help prevent scale buildup, water spots, and other negative effects of hard water.

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How to Choose Your RV Water Filter?

There are certain factors that contribute to the quality of an RV water filter. Knowing what those factors are will help you choose a reliable product that would also be able to meet your specific needs. So, here are a few tips to help you choose the best RV water filter.

Types of RV Water Filters

RV water filters use different technologies for the removal of water impurities. Knowing the types of RV water filters available and the contaminants that they can remove will help you choose the right one for your needs.

1. Sediment Filter

All water filters come with a sediment filtration layer. This is the most basic type of filtration that is designed to catch the bigger particles. It works as a strainer, removing any sand, dirt, and other contaminants that leave the water dirty and untasty.

It’s important that a filter includes this sediment removal layer. Otherwise, sediment can wreak havoc on your RV’s plumbing and appliances. Sediment can also reduce the effectiveness of other filtration parts, such as the granular activated carbon. It will quickly exhaust, making it ineffective. Due to this, it’s essential for any water filtration system to have a sediment filter.

2. Activated Carbon

Another important part of RV water filtration systems is a granular activated carbon layer. It does more than sediment filtration, removing smaller particles from the water.

One of the major benefits of carbon filters is their ability to remove chlorine and chloramines. This also expels foul odors and improves the water’s taste. Just sediment filtration can’t achieve this. That’s why these two filtration technologies are most often combined together.

Certain carbon filters are also capable of removing other water contaminants. They can include heavy metals, lead, asbestos, mercury, and volatile organic compounds. However, the contaminants a carbon filter can actually remove and its efficiency depend on its type.

There are three typical carbon filter types. The most common one is the granular activated carbon type. It’s not the most efficient one but it is commonly used due to its cheaper price. It features grains of charcoal.

As the water passes through, it catches the contaminants. Depending on the filter, it can catch contaminants down to 20 or 5 microns in size. However, the minimal surface area of the activated carbon makes this type of filtration system less effective compared to certain other types.

Carbon filters can also have solid block carbon. It’s made using pulverized carbon, which is shaped into a block under pressure. This type features a broader surface area, which ensures that all of the water passes through the activated carbon, reducing more of the contaminants.

As for the third type, it features a modified carbon block. This type works in a similar way to the solid carbon block filter, but it offers a higher flow rate and better durability.

3. Ceramic

Some water filters additionally offer ceramic filtration. This type features a screen with tiny holes, which removes bacteria, protozoa and sediments. However, it’s not as effective at removing chemicals in the water. And some ceramic filters don’t filter any chemicals from water at all.

4. KDF Technology

This technology uses a unique copper zinc formulation, which creates an electro-chemical reaction. This process is known as redox. During redox, electrons are transferred between molecules, changing them into different elements.

Some of the contaminants are converted into harmless components. For example, chlorine is changed into water-soluble chloride, making it harmless. Other contaminants are electronically bound to the KDF media, effectively removing them from the water’s supply. These contaminants can include heavy metals, hydrogen sulfide, iron, and more.

Another benefit of KDF media is that it controls the growth of bacteria, fungi, and scale. Since KDF is usually used in conjunction with carbon filtration, this technology also helps to extend the life and lower the maintenance of the carbon system.

Micron Rating

Water filters usually feature a micron rating, which refers to the maximum size of the particles in the water that the system will let pass. This means that the lower the micron rating, the more effective will be the filtration, with more contaminants caught by the system. A filter with a 5 micron media is better than one with a 20 micron media.

Capacity

Think of how much water you need to filter for your RV use and choose a filter with appropriate capacity. Some filters offer a capacity of only 500 gallons, while others can filter as much as 2,000 gallons.

If you use water in your RV sparingly, then 500 gallons might be enough for you to last an entire camping season. On the other hand, if you have a big family and you use a lot of water, then you might consider choosing a 2,000 gallons water filter.

When considering the capacity, also think of how long a filter would last. Depending on the water quality and your water usage, some filters list about 3 months, while others can last 6 months and more.

Water Flow

Water flow is also an important factor. You don’t want it to be so slow that it would take forever to get the filtered water into your fresh water tank.

Installation

It will be best if you can install your new RV water filter with minimal hassle. Remember that you’ll need to regularly replace the filter since they usually have a lifespan of 3 to 6 months. Due to this, you want to choose a system that would be very easy to install. If you choose an overly complicated filter, you’ll just end up with a lot of frustration. And this frustration can be avoided.

If you buy an in-line water filter, most of them feature very simple installation. The process is similar for all of them. You install one end to a hose that supplies the water and the other end to a hose that supplies the filtered water into your RV’s fresh water tank.

For ease of installation, it’s also important that the RV water filter comes with an instruction manual. This would provide you with detailed step-by-step recommendations on how to set up the system.

To understand whether a filter would be a breeze or a hassle to install, you can check user reviews and RV water filter ratings. In them, you can usually find information on whether the users had any problems with the installation process.

Size

Consider also the size and weight of the water filter. A larger filter body usually means that it can allow more water to pass through it at a time, resulting in a higher flow rate. However, with a filter that is too bulky, it can be difficult to find for it proper storage. So, consider the size of the filter and make sure that you have enough space in your RV’s storage to stow it away when it’s not in use.

Price

As when buying anything else, the price of the water filter also matters. Setting yourself a certain budget is a good way to ensure that you don’t overspend. It’s also a good way to save yourself time since it will allow you to narrow down your options to only those that are within your budget. This would also make the process of choosing the right RV water filter an easier process.

However, it’s also not a good idea to just settle for the cheapest water filter. It should also be of good quality and value. That’s why look for an RV water filter that would offer the best combination of price and value.

Brand

Lastly, consider the brand. Buying from a reputable and trusted brand, you have a higher chance of getting a high quality RV water filter that would provide long lasting performance.

Brands that have built a reliable reputation are usually committed to delivering high quality and durable products. They also often show that commitment by providing good warranties. This can give you peace of mind that if you get a defective water filter, the manufacturer would be able to offer you a replacement.

RV Water Filter Frequently Asked Questions

What is an RV water filter?

An RV water filter is an essential piece of equipment for any caravan, trailer, camper or any other recreation vehicle that has a water hookup. Whether you’re getting your water supply from a campground’s source or any other place, the filter will ensure that the water you get is safe for drinking. It will also ensure that you have a supply of safe drinking water whenever you need it.

The function of these water filters is to remove suspended contaminants that make the water undrinkable. The contaminants they remove can include sediment, chlorine, heavy metals, volatile compounds, and other impurities.

They can use different technologies for filtration. It can include granular activated carbon, KDF, and other technologies that are designed to remove specific contaminants.

Most of the RV water filters feature an in-line design, meaning that they are installed in between the water source and your RV’s fresh water tank. This provides a streamlined water flow to all fixtures in your RV.

How does a water filter work?

There are two main techniques used by RV water filtration systems.

1. The first one involves physical filtration. During this process, the water passes through a barrier that acts as a strainer. This membrane features tiny holes that allow the water to pass through while catching bigger suspended particles. As a result, the membrane removes from the water larger impurities, such as sediment, sand, and dirt.
2. The second technique features chemical filtration. As the water passes through an active material, such as activated carbon, it creates a chemical reaction. The result of this reaction is that some of the contaminants become harmless, while others get bound to the membrane, removing them from the water.

In most cases, water filtration systems combine both of these techniques. This allows them to remove both larger and smaller particles from the water, resulting in cleaner and safer water.

What are the benefits of RV water filters?

Having clean drinking water is important to everyone. It’s also important to RV owners who never know what the quality of water is that different campgrounds offer. That’s why there are a lot of advantages to installing an RV water filter. Here are some of them.

1. Removes sediment. Sediment is what causes cloudy and dirty water. It makes the water undrinkable. It can also be damaging to your RV’s equipment and plumbing system, resulting in higher costs for repairs and replacements. An RV water filter helps to prevent all these issues by removing the sediment and other similar particles from the water.
2. Removes chlorine. Most campgrounds and other water sources have chlorinated water. It’s usually used to treat the water for removing contaminants and pollution. However, highly chlorinated water doesn’t taste good and it has an unpleasant odor. A good water filtration system would remove chlorine from your drinking water supply, as well as its foul odor and taste.
3. Reduces bacteria, heavy metals, and VOCs. In addition to sediment and chlorine, water filters remove other contaminants. They can remove harmful organisms, organic compounds, and chemicals. They help to flush out anything unwanted, giving you access to clean filtered water.
4. Gives You a Peace of Mind. While on the road, you might not always have access to clean drinking water. You can’t also always depend on the quality of the water coming from a campground’s water supply. Due to this, having a water filter will set your mind at ease since it will guarantee access to safe drinking water no matter where you are camping. This would allow you to enjoy your adventures without worrying about where you’ll be getting fresh filtered drinking water.
5. Protects your RV’s plumbing system. As we’ve mentioned, sediment can be terrible for your RV’s plumbing. It can clog up the pipes, which would then require expensive repairs. It can also contaminate your fresh water tank. As a result, you’ll have poorer water quality.
6. Is an environmentally friendly option. With an RV water filter, you won’t have to rely on bottled water anymore. This would allow you to cut on all that plastic going to waste, which would be better for the environment. On top of that, you’ll no longer have to carry all those heavy packs of bottled water.
7. Allows you to save money. First of all, you’ll be saving money on all the costly repairs that you otherwise have with all the sediment wreaking havoc on the plumbing system. Secondly, you’ll also be saving money because you’ll no longer need the expensive bottled water.

How long do RV water filters last?

It depends on the water filter you’re buying. They can last anywhere from 3 to 12 months. And how long it will actually last depends on several factors.

First, it depends on the quality and capacity of the water filter. They are designed to filter a certain amount of water before becoming ineffective.

Secondly, it also depends on your water usage. The more water you use, the shorter will be the lifespan of the water filter since you’ll be using up its capacity at a faster rate.

And thirdly, the quality of your water supply also plays an important role. Highly contaminated water will put more strain on the filter, shortening its lifespan.

Generally, it’s recommended to replace an RV water filter every 3 months. However, depending on your situation, it might be longer or shorter. A good indication that it’s time for a replacement is when the water flow slows down or when you notice a change in the water’s taste and odor.

What are good RV water filter brands?

There are plenty of RV water filter brands competing for the attention of buyers. However, not all of them deliver high quality products. There are a few popular brands that have built a solid reputation by offering highly effective water filters. These brands include Camco, Culligan, and Clearsource.

How to install an RV water filter?

The installation of most RV water filters is usually an uncomplicated and easy process. However, since the process can still differ from one product to another, it’s highly recommended that you can check the user manual that came with your specific water filter. There, you’ll find the instructions that you should follow to ensure the proper operation of the system.

In-line RV water filters fit onto the external water hose leading into your vehicle’s fresh water tank. As a result, the water through one end of the filter and after filtration comes at the other end, delivering a clean supply of clean water.

Can I use the RV water filter for hot water?

Water filters are not designed for filtering hot water. Hot water can reverse the process of chemical absorption, making the filtration ineffective. That’s why you should never use an RV water filter for hot water.

Is it practical to filter all the water in my RV?

Filtering all the water for your RV adds a lot of convenience. As a result, you’ll have clean water not only for drinking, but also for cooking, showering, and washing. Another advantage of this is that you’ll have clean water that is free of sediment flowing through your RV’s plumbing system. For this application, you should purchase a water filter system that would filter all water coming directly into your camper.

On the other hand, if you want to filter only drinking water, you might need just a system for your kitchen sink. This can be a good option if you think that the quality of your water supply is not that bad.

In the end, the answer to this question is down to your preference and needs. However, in our opinion, filtering all water coming into an RV is a better option.

Can I use reverse osmosis for RV?

RV water filters can only filter the water. They don’t offer water purification. That’s why some RV owners consider installing a reverse osmosis system, which does that. It uses a water purification process to deliver pure, good tasting water.

However, while these systems are popular among homeowners, they are not that often used in RVs. There are two main reasons for that.

First of all, these reverse osmosis systems can be really expensive. While an in-line RV water filter can buy at around 15 to 30 dollars, a reverse osmosis purification system will cost you 300 dollars and more. That’s a huge difference that a lot of people are not ready to spend.

Secondly, the system creates a lot of wastewater. The removed salts, pollutants, and minerals make up the brine or wastewater. This wastewater requires draining from the system. And for every gallon that the reverse osmosis system purifies, it creates four gallons of brine.

That is a lot of water that gets wasted. And if you’re RV camping, you’d probably want to use the water sparingly. Due to this, if you want highly purified water, a reverse osmosis system might be a good idea. However, considering the price and the high waste of water, we’d choose an external in-line filter instead.

How to replace an RV water filter?

If you’re using a canister water filter, then the replacement process would involve removing the old and adding the new cartridge. To do this, start by removing the canister that holds the cartridge using a wrench. Discard the old cartridge and wash the canister before inserting the new filtering element. If there are two canisters in the system, make sure that the two cartridges are placed in the right canisters. Then, screw the canister back onto the head of the mount and tighten it in place.

How do you clean an RV water filter?

To get proper instructions, it’s better to consult the manual that came with your product. With so many different types of RV water filters, the process will be different for many of them.

Fortunately, in most situations, cleaning is an easy process. It requires backflushing the filter for flushing away the accumulated gunk. You can use a hose or a syringe for reversing the flow. If the filter permits it, you can also additionally use a brush to remove some of the buildup. However, do make sure that your filter is suitable for it and if it, use only a soft brush.

Camco 40043 vs Camco 40045: which one to buy?

The two most popular Camco RV water filters are 40043 and 40045. These two units excel in both functionality and quality. They also feature a similar in-line design that delivers a streamlined water flow. On top of that, they use the same method of water filtration that includes a sediment barrier, GAC, and KDF. But what is the difference between them?

The main difference between the two is in the flexible hose connector. The 40043 option includes it, while the 40045 doesn’t. Moreover, the 40043 comes with only one filter, but the 40035 water filter comes as a two-pack.

Camco 40043 vs Camco 40013: which one to buy?

Another popular Camco product is the Camco 40013. But how does it compare to Camco 40013? And what is the difference?

Both filters are actually the same. They use the same filtration method, have the same water flow and capacity, and they both include a flexible hose connector. And the difference is just in the packaging.

Final Thoughts

Any RV owner knows that campground water supply is usually unreliable. You never know what could be in the water. That’s why it’s important to invest in a good RV water filter that would make sure that there are no unwanted components in your drinking water. Just remember to keep in mind the factors that we’ve mentioned in our buying guide, which will help you choose the best RV water filter for your needs. After reading our RV water filter reviews, we hope that your buying experience will be easier and that you’ll find the perfect product for reliable results.