If you like me you want to spend as much time as possible in your RV. Being able to drink bath and cook and fresh potable water is important that’s why modern our RVs come with water filters.
However, water filters do not last forever and you need to change your periodically.
So how often should you change your RV water filter? On average expect to change your RV water filter every 6 months. During periods of heavy use you may need to change more often, and as much as every 3 months.
Further on in this article will discuss the types of RV filters how often we should replace them and the signs you should look for that mean you should place it. Read on to find out more.
Types of RV Water Filter
As your traveling in your RV, you bound to come across a variety of different types of water. Most of which should be safe to drink but it doesn’t always taste nice. To get around this you can use an RV water filter.
A filter can help remove sediments nasty chemicals and other unwanted contaminants in your water. Let’s take a look at the different types of filters.
Hose filter
A hose filter is one of the simplest types of water filter you can get. Installed in line on your RV water line it will help clean out sediments and other contaminants. It is not great at cleaning out chemicals and other unwanted nasties in the water.
Hose filters need to be changed as often as once every three months.
Canister filter
Canister filters are common in residential homes. They are normally made up of one or more filters including carbon filtration systems. They are excellent at removing contaminants and the chemical taste from water.
The more canisters you have the cleaner the water will be.
For example, a cartridge system will contain multiple filter types to remove phosphates, sediments as well as filters to improve the taste of the water.
Canister filters last longer and may not need to be changed for 12 months or more
These are two types of available for the not commonly found an RVs these could include reverse osmosis, ceramic filters, and sediment filters.
How to tell when your RV water filter needs to be replaced
There are a few telltale signs that you look out for that will tell you to change your water filter.
These include:
- smelly water
- water that is no longer clear
- water that tastes of chemicals
- or the filter looks dirty
Can you clean an RV water filter?
So the time is come to change your RV water filter but rather than buying a new one can you clean the existing one?
While it’s certainly possible it’s not something that we would recommend you do. The risk of damaging your RV filter is high and you may end up more contaminants in your water.
Even light damage greatly impacts the efficiency of the RV water filter. In a worst case scenario, incorrect cleaning off your RV water filter can lead to bacterial growth and mold.
While I understand that RV water filters can be expensive, the cost when it comes to clean drinking water it’s better to be safe than sorry.