You’ve just purchased a new RV or motor coach. You undoubtedly put an enormous amount of time and effort into the decision of which one to buy.
Now that you’ve got your RV, here’s some unsolicited advice: you need to put almost equal time and effort into your choice of water filtration. Clean water is a requisite ingredient for virtually any successful RV excursion, long or short; acquiring the best device or system to meet your unique water requirements – not only for drinking but for cooking, bathing, washing dishes, even flushing your toilets – is a process that you should approach carefully. And doing so means arming yourself with the knowledge to make a truly informed decision.
Perhaps this wouldn’t be so critical if there were just a few choices. The fact is, when it comes to RV water filtration, there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all. Each water filtration has specific advantages that work better in specific situations. The list below, while not meant to be the “final word” in RV water filtration, will serve as a useful primer in beginning the evaluation process.
This may sound obvious, but before you invest in a major system, see if your coach is already fitted with a filter system. Look in the wet bay (if you have one), or in the rear storage bay, or under the bathroom or kitchen sink (it could be elsewhere, so look everywhere). If you find one, follow which pipes are connected. For example, sometimes the filter set up is only to filter the water from your tanks and not the inlet water port which goes directly into the coach. The ideal scenario is to ensure that both your tank water and inlet water are filtered for the purest, highest-quality water.
There is a long list of filtration products; deciding which one(s) to use can be confusing. So, assuming you have found no filters installed in your RV, let’s outline the various types of filters that can be used for RV water filtration:
WATER FILTER PITCHERS
If you are only interested in filtering your drinking water, you can do this quickly and easily by buying a water filter pitcher to keep in your RV. There are numerous brands; make sure you pick one that focuses on heavy metals and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) to rid the water of the iron and sulfur taste and smell. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters do a poor job, solid-block carbon is by far the better medium. (NOTE: This is true for virtually all filtering products, not just water pitchers.)
Like water pitchers, these represent a simple, cost-effective way to filter campground water. Although they only filter at a single point, they can rid your drinking water of some of the worst tap water contaminants, including lead, chlorine, sediment, heavy metals, mercury organic chemicals, volatile organic compounds, pesticides, herbicides, and pharmaceuticals. What’s more, they will retain the healthy mineral deposits that balance the pH of drinking water, such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. And the water filtered from a countertop system can be used for all kitchen-related tasks, not just producing drinking water, i.e., washing fruits and vegetables, making coffee and tea, etc.
INLINE FILTERS
If you want filtered water for your whole coach (recommended), pick up an inline water filter that attaches to your campsite spigot and drinking water hose and connect it to your RV. We suggest mounting the filter near the spigot, but if you insist on mounting on the coach water inlet, make sure to use a flexible hose or 90° angle hose fitting. This will allow the heavy filter/hose to hang straight down and not exert too much pressure on your water inlet fitting.
You can purchase an inline filter, and any needed hose fittings, at most RV centers and camping websites, as well as on Amazon. Depending on the quality of filter purchased, you can use water for most purposes; if you purchase a high-quality filter, you can safely use it for drinking water. This is by far the easiest solution, and you can be up and running for your next trip in no time.
SINGLE CANISTER FILTERS
Many coaches already have a single canister filter system installed. This type of system can be mounted anywhere, although it is usually nearest to the water inlet, so water is filtered on the way into the coach. All that is needed for this approach is a multipurpose universal fit filter. Most universal filters for this type of filtration are 10”x 2.5”.
If you’re not going to drink the water, you can just use a sediment prefilter. It does nothing to the taste or odor of the water: it just blocks large particles about 10-20 microns in size. A prefilter will help to dramatically reduce any issues caused by sand, silt, or sediments entering your water system and clogging your plumbing.
You can also install a carbon filter that will help to improve the taste and odor of the water, and help to remove any contaminants, such as chlorine, through absorption. Multi-stage filters - a combination of both prefilter and carbon filters - are also available. However, they do neither very well, so you may want to change them often, just to ensure you’re getting the freshest-tasting water.
DOUBLE CANISTER FILTERS
A double canister system allows you to gain all the benefits of a prefilter combined with all the benefits of a carbon filter. You’ll protect your system while improving the quality of your drinking water. We recommended a 10- to 20-micron prefilter in conjunction with a 5-micron (or lower) carbon filter.
These systems are used outside of the coach, attached to both the spigot and the coach’s water inlet. Or it can be mounted inside the wet bay or storage bay nearest your water inlet. To do so, you will need the fittings necessary to hook up to the cold-water side of your internal plumbing. DO NOT hook up your filter to the hot water side, since hot water can cause your filter to release the contaminants it has already trapped.
MULTIPLE FILTERS
You can probably guess that more filtration is better than less, and each level helps to reduce more contaminants. So, you can use an inline filter along with your internal filter or add a second single canister to one already installed. The key is to add the right filters according to your planned use of the water. There is no need to start over, just add to your system to increase your level of filtration.
REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEMS
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems have gained a reputation for producing some of the cleanest water on the planet. However, they also waste a significant amount of water in the process, because RO systems allow only the cleanest elements of water to pass through the system; the system simply dumps the rest, and the wastewater generated through this process will fill your camper’s grey water tank in no time. What’s more, RO systems will set you back more than a few dollars, as it is the costliest method of RV water filtration. Ultimately, it is recommended that you only consider purchasing an RO system if you plan to install it solely for drinking water at the kitchen sink.
FILTER CHANGE
Change your filter if you experience a 20% drop in water pressure, which means the filter is reaching its capacity. (NOTE: Add a prefilter to your system if you experience ongoing clogging; it is probably sediment in your water being trapped by the filter that is causing the issue.) Another good rule of thumb is to change your filter every six months regardless of use. This will ensure that your system is always providing optimal filtration.
A FINAL WORD
As you’re evaluating the best solution for your RV water needs, there are several factors to consider. But these three number among the most important:
- Micron Size: Micron (µ) size is the unit of measure for filtration. One fact about filters that is universal: the smaller the micron size the more impurities the filter takes out, so lower is better.
- Flow Rate: While low micron size is a positive attribute, it needs to be considered vis a vis flow rate, as the lower the micron size, the slower the flow rate. Filters that take out more impurities will also reduce your water pressure. Balance is the key: a small sacrifice in flow rate and water pressure is generally a worthwhile tradeoff for cleaner water; larger decreases in those areas are decisions that must be made by individual consumers.
- Filter Life: In virtually every filtration system, there is a filter than will need to be changed. Ironically, the more effective the filter, the more often it will have to be changed, as it is effectively doing its job removing as many particles as possible from your water source. Whether it’s the filters or, in the case of RO systems, for example, factor in all the maintenance and service information available This and other service information should be included.
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