Best RV Water Filters (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023

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When camping, it’s important to have access to fresh water. When you’re miles away from civilization, all those water bottles you stocked up on may run out sooner than you’d like. That’s where having the best water filters for RVs come in handy. They keep your water supply fresh and free from harmful bacteria or chemicals that may cut your trip short. Check out our picks for the best RV water filters to bring on your next trip.

Benefits of RV Water Filter

Keep the water clean. Having a water filter inside or outside your RV means you have access to clean filtered water. The drinking water from hookups at campsites or picnic areas may be full of organic compounds, such as sediment or chemicals, so RV water filters help flush out anything unwanted that may be in the line of the water filtration system.
Prevent clogs. A good, high-quality water filter will help prevent backups in water lines that lower the amount of water pressure you get. The filtration system works to block sediment and impurities from pouring into your drinking water. Without an RV water filter, the liquid may end up blocking the line and even damaging it.
Saves money. In the long run, having a recreational vehicle water filter kit may, in fact, save you money. As mentioned above, clogs could damage pipes and valves, but having a filter helps alleviate any unwanted things passing through the water line. That means they won’t get damaged, and you won’t have to spend cash to fix any repairs. You also don’t have to stock up on water bottles with a good water filter.

Types of RV Water Filter

Inline Filter

This fits directly to the motorhome’s water entry point to filter all the water supply entering the vehicle into a freshwater tank. An inline filter works to clean out sediment, chemicals, or harmful bacteria, making the water supply you drink taste better. It also gets rid of any unwanted odor that may come from water supply lines and hook-ups.

Compact Canister

A canister RV water filter fits onto the RV water hose outside or directly inside the RV’s water system. Another bonus is that they can be custom-fit to attach to faucets as well. Canisters vary in sizes and even come as a bundle of two or three for specifically designed filtration.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis is the process by which water filtration units help to purify the water flowing to the RV. However, this does remove the minerals in the water; while it is not harmful to you, minerals are essential to our body’s metabolism.

Top Brands

Culligan

Culligan was founded in 1936 in Northbrook, Ill., by Emmett Culligan. Now headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., it handles more than 1,000 dealerships and business offices in 85 countries. It makes the Culligan RV-800 Water Filter.

Clearsource

The company focuses on creating water filters to make sure customers get clean, safe-tasting water wherever they are. Clearsource is based out of Southern California and specifically designs filtration systems for RVs. One of its best products is the Clearcourse Premium RV Water Filter System.

RV Water Filter Pricing

$20-$35: RV water filters in this range will be smaller, giving you less filtration power, meaning it will take longer to filter out unwanted sediment and chemicals. These will more often be a compact canister design.
$35 and up: These are larger and more powerful filtration systems. They are more heavy-duty and come with more canisters to filter through the water supply.

Key Features

Filter Size

The size and weight of the container and filter cartridge will make a difference in the amount of water it’s able to filter from one hose to the other. While larger RV water filters may be better suited to filtrate the water supply, they are bulky and take up space. Making sure you have a place to stow it while traveling is a must. Also, keep in mind the number of canisters the filtration system has. The more canisters, the quicker the water is filtered to your RV.

Supply Source

Keep in mind how you’re getting your water supply. If you have to hook it up through an outside source at a campground, then having an inline water filter is best. However, if you just want to filter out the faucets and water supply inside the RV, using compact canisters is the way to go. They are lighter and much more compact, as the name suggests.

Other Considerations

Frequency of Use: If you’re planning a long trip or live out of an RV, making sure to stock up on filters or cleaning them often is something to keep in mind. The more people you have in the vehicle, the more it will be used. Having multiple filters or a backup replacement filter can help make sure you don’t run out of clean drinking water when you need it most.

Best RV Water Filter Reviews & Recommendations 2021

Best Overall

Clearsource Premium RV Water Filter System

Best Value

Camco TastePure RV/Marine Water Filter

Easiest To Use

Culligan RV-800 Water Filter

Best for Standard Hoses

AQUA CREST RV Inline Water Filter

Honorable Mention

Waterdrop RV Inline Water Filter

Honorable Mention

Camco EVO Premium RV u0026amp; Marine Water Filter

Honorable Mention

Culligan RVF-10 Recreational Vehicle External Water Filter

Honorable Mention

Boogie Brew Garden Hose Water Filter for RV

Honorable Mention

Hydro Life 52133 HL-180 Disposable Inline Hose Filter

Honorable Mention

FilterLogic RV Inline Water Filter

Tips

Don’t get a water filter confused with a water purification system. While a filter will help make sure the water you drink is clean, a purification system works to make unsafe water safe to drink.
Be sure to clean the filter when advised. Running water through it after it’s recommended to change it can damage the hose or container.
If you have more people joining you during your camping trip, consider bringing more canisters or filters.
To get the best water possible, run the filtration system a few minutes before using it as drinking water. Dump out the dirty water until it looks clear.

FAQs

Q: How often should I change my RV water filter?

A: Many models have an indicator, whether a light or noise, that alerts you to change the filter. However, if the taste or odor of the water changes, it may be time to swap out the filter.

Q: Can I use a water filter for hot water?

A: No, it is highly recommended that you do not run hot water through the filter. They are designed to handle cold water, and hotter water can reverse the process of chemical absorption.

Q: How long does a filter last?

A: This is a difficult question to answer. It all depends on how often you use the water filter and how large the container is. Generally, an RV water filter will last three months, however, many can last up to six months.