Best RV Water Filter: Drink From the Tap
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Are you looking for the best RV water filter? We have been struggling to find a solution to our drinking water since we hit the road in our RV two years ago. We drink a lot of water and hate buying bottled water, but we also want our water to be clean and taste good. Finally! We have a solution to our RV water filter problem.
Why Use An RV Water Filter
Every time you change your location, you also change your water source, changing the ratio of minerals, sediment, and bacteria in your water. Although good-tasting drinking water is essential to us, it is not the main reason we filter the water going into our RV.
Protect Your RV
Water with high levels of sediment and minerals can harm your RV. Minerals can coat and clog the pipes and potentially damage systems such as your toilet.
Health
Water labeled as potable does not mean it is guaranteed to be free from harmful chemicals and bacteria. Filtering your water before it enters the RV will reduce these chemicals before it hits your freshwater tank and your glass.
Save Money
A good RV water filter will save you money in the long run. A good RV water filter will reduce the amount of money you will spend on repairs to clogged and damaged pipes. Using the water from our tap instead of buying water bottles is so much cheaper and eliminating plastic water bottles impacts our environment.
Table Top Water Filters
Many people have suggested we use a tabletop water filter for improved drinking water. The most commonly recommended is the Berkey water filter. While this is probably a fantastic option for some RVers, it won't work for us for several reasons.
Counterspace
Not only do we have limited counter space, but a large filter container will not fit between our upper and lower cabinets. We would be forced to place it on our dining table, which is also our office and game room. There is just no space available for it.
RV pipes
Countertop filters may do a great job filtering drinking water, but they do not protect the RV. It is essential to remove sediment and minerals before it enters our RV pipes to prevent problems down the road.
What you need to know about RV Water Filters
Many people purchase water filters based on the specific minerals and bacteria found in their water. Because RVers travel to different locations that won't work for us. Our water filters need to remove a wide variety of contaminants. So let's talk about what you should look for before you purchase your next water filter.
Microns
The particles found in water are measured in microns. Particles smaller than 35 microns are too small to see without the use of a microscope. The smaller the micron of the filter, the more contaminants it will remove from the water.
Water Flow Rate
Before you purchase the lowest micron filter available, it is vital to know the impact it will have on your water flow rate. The smaller the micron, the slower the water will go through the filter.
As the water pushes through a filter, it will experience a restriction of flow. If you are trying to filter sediment up to 20 microns through a 1-micron filter, the resistance will be very high. This will significantly impact how fast water will flow into the RV. So finding a way to balance the removal of contaminants without killing our flow rate is the goal.
The best way to accomplish this is to filter in stages.
Our Old camco Inline RV Water Filter
When we first hit the road, we did not do much research into water filters. We picked up that same old blue water filter that everyone else was using. It was inexpensive and easy to find. But the trouble with this water filter is everything it leaves in the water.
This filter does a great job of helping the water taste better by reducing smells, odor, and chlorine but is only rated at 20 microns. You can see by the chart above how few contaminants it actually removes. Removing illness-causing bacteria and cysts were very important to us. So we started researching better water filter options.
The Camco 20-micron filter uses loose carbon to filter the water. The problem with this method is water will burrow its way through the carbon. As water pushes the carbon to the filter's sides, it creates a path without carbon, which will not filter all of the water going through the filter.
our Best RV Water Filter
We have gone through many different RV filter types and brands. We have finally settled on a compact, 3 stage canister system. The Blu MR3 filters down to 0.2 microns. We love it! It is made of stainless steel so we dont worry about leaching plastics. It has a 5' stainless steel quick connect hose that will last forever!
For more info about our filtration system head to Mobile Must Have (or watch the videos below). They have the answers to all your questions! Be sure to use our discount code to save on your next purchase: SOMEDAY
What is Blu MR3?? Details Below.
How we installed our water filter inside the RV.
What RV water filtration system are you using?? We would love to know what you have found to keep your water clean, safe and delicious.
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Meet Stacy! Stacy and her husband, Phil, are a wanderlust couple who have been roaming the great USA for an epic 5 years! They ditched the daily grind to embark on thrilling adventures and inspire fellow dreamers to chase their travel dreams. Curious about how they do it? Check out their awesome youtube channel, Today is Someday, where they're spilling all the secrets to living a life on the move. Get ready to pack your bags and join them on this incredible journey.