Caravan RV and Portable Water Filters

A Point Of Entry (POE) Caravan water filter system is installed between the source of your incoming water and the caravan.

It will filter 100% of your incoming water supply before it reaches your caravan’s water tank or taps.

Our most popular point of entry system is the Hi Flow Twin Caravan & RV Water Filter System with Sediment & Carbon Filters.

It can handle high flow rates (up to 10 LPM) , making it ideal for caravans which contain showers.

This unit features brass click on hose fittings so you can quickly detach and attach the system using standard drinking water hose and standard garden hose fittings.

The High Flow POE system listed above is designed to handle high flow rates so is less fine than other filtration options.

There are also some ultra-fine ceramic POE filter systems which are designed to filter out bacterial contaminants at slow rates — great for when you are free camping and forced to use untreated water.

However, it’s important note these ultra-fine ceramic filters cannot handle the flow rates needed for onboard showers. They are best operated at flow rates lower than 3 litres per minute.

A Point Of Use (POU) Caravan water filter system is located where you use your water, typically somewhere inside the caravan, after the water tanks. In some cases, they might be installed on a water tap that is installed on the exterior of the caravan or RV.

Most POU systems are installed under the kitchen sink and attached to a dedicated drinking water tap.

They are typically finer filters which are designed to filter water at a slower flow rate. The additional fineness makes them better at reducing extremely small sediment particles, complex chemicals like chloramines, and heavy metals.

If the carbon filter is rated at 1 micron or lower, it will also be able to reduce CYST parasites including Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Cyclospora. Useful when travelling and forced to use water that is untreated or improperly treated.

An example of a popular Point Of Use Water Filter System is the Genuine 3M™ Under Sink Caravan and RV Water Filter System.

An inline water filter system is installed directly onto a water line outside or inside of your caravan or RV. They can be either point of entry or point of use.

Most inline filters are fully enclosed with fittings on both ends suitable for the type of hose, tubing, or braided lines you are using.

For under sink installations, internal inline filters will be usually be configured with 1/4″ or 12mm tubing which allow them to be inserted into a caravan or RVs existing tubing.

However, under sink inline filters can also be configured with 1/2″ male fittings for connecting to stainless steel braided lines.

External in-line filters (POE) usually have click on hose fittings which allow them to be connected to a standard 12mm drinking water hose (garden hose). This lets you easily connect to hose fittings in caravan parks and filter all of the water coming into your caravan or RV. They are very popular due to their convenience and small form factor.

Our most popular inline water filters for caravans and RVs are the AIC-K with Click On Hose Fittings, BESTWF, BESTHC and the American-made Omnipure K5567.

Under sink caravan and RV water filters are compact units designed to filter drinking water. Because they are only treating drinking water, they usually have a slower flow rate and a finer level of filtration.

Most under sink filters will offer filtration below 1 micron which makes them ‘cyst-rated’. This means they are capable of filtering out parasitic cysts including cryptosporidium, giardia, and cyclospora.

Having a Cyst rated filter is particularly important if you are occasionally using untreated water from tanks or bores, where these types of contaminants are much more common.

High flow water filter systems are designed to achieve flow rates up to 10 litres per minute, making it possible to filter going to showers and other water consuming appliances with high flow requirements.

Our most popular high flow unit is the Hi Flow Twin Caravan & RV Water Filter System with Sediment & Carbon Filters. It is a cannister style system with standard 10″ x 2.5″ filters. Ideal as a point of entry unit which filters 100% of the water going into your tanks or through the caravan/RV from a mains line.

One of the most popular filter configurations with this unit is a 5 micron sediment filter followed by the AP1025KDF/GAC. The sediment filter reduces sand, silt, dirt, algae, and other particulate contaminants. The KDF/GAC filter does a wonderful job at removing chemicals and improving the3 taste/odour of your water at high flow rates.

If your caravan has a standard kitchen spout (21mm thread size), you can use a benchtop system. Benchtop systems screw onto your kitchen spout and are operated using a small lever tap.

Benchtop systems can be unscrewed and placed in storage when you are on the move. Ideal for caravans and RVs without sufficient room under the sink for a standard filter system.

A standard caravan benchtop water filter with a 1 micron silver impregnated filter is perfect for traveling. It is a 1 micron cyst-rated filter with bacteriostatic silver impregnated carbon.

Our QMP benchtop caravan water filters use standard 10″ x 2.5″ water filters, so finding replacement filters while you are traveling is simple. We also send out filters Australia wide, so we can get one to you while you are on the move!

Portable systems can be plugged into an incoming water supply, then taken off and stored in a safe location. Our twin high flow system is an example of a portable unit. It features click on hose fittings, allowing it to be quickly connected to a standard tap outlet and your caravan or RV water inlet.

An inline caravan water filter adsorbs most of the the molecules responsible for giving water a bad flavour or odour. All you left with is water that has no noticeable smell or taste. If you are using a filter that has coconut carbon, it will even give the water a slightly sweeter taste, making it more enjoyable to drink.

Carbon and other media like KDF do a wonderful job of removing chemicals from your water.

This can include chlorine, chloramines, disinfection by-products like Trihalomethanes, pesticides, herbicides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), petrochemicals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and much more.

Silver is used because it is bacteriostatic, which means it will reduce the risk of bacterial growth within the carbon itself.

This is a fantastic feature for caravan filters which may be used intermittently (so water may be left sitting in the filter) and which often encounter low quality water, which may be poorly treated.

It’s important to note that silver carbon won’t stop bacteria flowing through the filter, it will just reduce the risk of bacterial growth within the carbon. If you are using low quality water which is improperly treated, then a UV Steriliser or Ceramic Water Filter is recommended.

If ingested, protozoan cysts can cause a variety of nasty health problems including diarrhea, stomach pain, bloating, and stomach cramps. Not a great way to spend your holiday!

Protozoan cysts can be found in untreated or poorly treated water. They are of particular concern if you ever drink untreated or poorly treated rainwater, river water, dam water or bore water.

Cyst rated filters are typically carbon blocks with a rating of 1 micron or lower. This level of fineness reduces their maximum flow rate, so they are normally used in Point of Use systems at your drinking water tap.

Many travellers like having this level of protection, because you can never be sure if water has been properly treated in certain parts of Australia.

1 micron is 1 millionth of a metre. Imagine chopping a metre long piece of timber into a million pieces and you get a sense of how small these particles are.

The advantage of having a 1 micron filter on your drinking water is that most protozoa and cyst parasites are larger than 1 micron. That means the filter will capture cryptosporidium, giardia, cyclospora and other common cyst parasites found in untreated water — the little bugs that can ruin your trip.

The downside of having a 1 micron filter in your filter chain is that they can only handle a slower flow rate, typically 2-4 lites per minute. That’s why 1 micron filters are normally used on drinking water taps, where having a slower flow rate doesn’t matter.

The “point of entry” filters that go between the incoming water supply and your van’s water inlets are usually rated at 5 micron. This makes it easier for them to support the faster flow rate required for showers and fast-flowing mixer taps.

If you are travelling a few times each year but mostly stick to caravan parks, an inline caravan water filter with brass push on hose fittings is a great choice. Some options include the BESTWF, BESTHC, and AIC-K with POH fittings.

They will all achieve decent flow rates, are compact, and will dramatically improve the quality of your water. There are also 10″ housings which contain filter cartridges. They are slightly larger but you get the benefit of using a standard 10″ cartridge which is simple to replace.

If you are in the van full-time or travelling to parts of Australia where the water may contain higher levels of sediment, then a Twin inline caravan system could be a better choice. They usually have a dedicated sediment filter in  the first stage, so can handle dirtier water. The sediment filters are also cheap to purchase, so you can protect your more expensive carbon filter from dirty water you encounter.

Finally, if you expect to see some hard water, you can opt for a triple inline caravan filter with either polyphosphate or ion exchange resin to reduce scale build-up. They can only handle a slower flow rate, but are a great way to purify the water going into your tanks.

If you expect to encounter water that may contain pathogens, some UV sterilisation or a ceramic final stage filter is recommend.

If you are still uncertain about which unit to buy, give us a call or shoot through an email. We can suggest a filter based on your average usage, water source, and planned destinations.

The  longevity of your filters will vary based on:

• The type of filter (inline point of entry, 10″ cartridges, 5″ cartridges, under sink point of use)
• The size of the filter and its micron rating
• Where you are travelling and how often you travel
• Which types of contaminants you are filtering
• How much water you are using and the quality of that water

In general terms:

• Inline caravan filters with push on hose fittings will last anywhere between 6 to 12 months 
• Inline water filter housings with 10″ filters can last 6-18 months
• Under sink filters with ultra-fine filtration can last 6-12 months

It all depends on how you use the filter.

If you only travel 3-4 times a year for a couple of weeks at a time, an inline caravan filter will easily last 12 months. You might even get 18 or 24 months from it, if you drain the water after each trip and store it carefully.

If you are travelling full time in outback Australia and dealing with harsh water packed full of sediment, the same filter may only last 3 months. Water quality will play a huge role.

One thing we always recommend — don’t use your filter for longer than 2 years. That’s because the risk of bacterial contamination increases over time, even if you have a filter with bacteriostatic media like silver carbon or KDF.

Also, in the vast majority of cases your filter media would have reached full capacity well before then, so you are probably consuming low quality water.

• Flow rate begins to slow down
  When sediment or carbon block filters become coated with sediment, it is harder for water to push through. This can cause your water flow rate to slow down.
• Your water begins to smell or taste bad again
  If you can detect the taste/odour of chlorine or other contaminants, it usually means your carbon is saturated and needs to be replaced. However, it’s worth noting that there are some smells which can push through many carbon filters. One example would be hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell), which can push through standard activated carbon. You would need either catalytic carbon or KDF to deal with hydrogen sulfide smells.
• Your water begins to look bad
  Visible sediment particles are a red flag. They indicate that your sediment filter or carbon filter’s sediment pads have become fully saturated and sediment is pushing through. By. this point, your carbon is most likely coated with sediment and ineffective.
• Scale build-up starts to occur
  If you have a scale reducing filter and it stops working, chances are it has reach full capacity.

There are a variety of Water Softening and Scale Reduction Filters For Caravans.

Many parts of Australia has water with a high concentration of dissolved minerals and salts. This type of water is commonly called ‘hard water’.

The minerals in hard water can precipitate from the water, forming a hard-to-remove limescale crust. This can ruin the appearance of your caravan’s taps, sinks, and shower cubicle. Eventually severe scale build-up can cause damage to plumbing fixtures, metals pipes and glass surfaces.

To reduce scale build-up using filters, you can:

Soften the water
Ion Exchange Resin can be used to swap out dissolved minerals for harmless molecules. The only downside of these types of systems as they can only support a slow flow rate.

Water softeners physically remove dissolved minerals using ion exchange resin. Example: Portable Triple Stage Water Softener & Purifier Water Filter System.

This type of unit is a great solution you you want to reduce the hardness of water going into your tanks. However, it’s not ideal if you need high flow rates to feed a shower. The resin will gradually lose it’s ability to capture calcium over time, but can be regenerated using a brine solution.

Condition the water
Water conditioners will change the form of the dissolved minerals in the water, so they are less likely to form scale. Example: Scale Reduction Portable Triple Stage Water Filter System which uses polyphosphate to sequester (lock-up) calcium.  While this unit can handle faster flow rates, it’s not as effective on hard water as ion exchange resin.

There are also inline water conditioners for caravans, which use a special alloy to reduce scale build-up. The advantage of this type of unit is that it can be plumbed into your water line or attached to a point of entry filter system.

They have no moving parts, no replenishable components, and a very long lifespan. One example is the popular SofterWater™ Inline Caravan Hard Water Softener.

If you leave your tanks full, the main risk is that the free chlorine in the water will dissipate. This may give bacteria or algae a chance to develop.

Active chlorine only disinfects water for a short period and once that has oxidised the risk of contamination increases. Have you ever seen a swimming pool that has been left idle for several months? All kinds of nasties can develop over time.

The other option is to drain your tanks. However, if your tank doesn’t dry completely, you may be left with small pockets of water.

These small puddles are sometimes even more prone to bacteria development as they usually contain organic matter that has precipitated from the water. You may also be left with a scaley tank full of crusty lime deposits and dirt,  which is harder to clean.

It’s a tricky question. The best solution will be based on your water quality, the cleanliness of your tanks and the type of water you are using.

Frequent travellers usually find that filling their tank to the brim is the better option. Bacteria will have less time to develop if you are travelling every 3-4 weeks and the tank is full of clean water.

This option benefits from having black tanks and a van left in a cooler environment (where bacteria is less likely to thrive). If you go down this path, full your tanks to the very top before you cap them off.

If your next trip is more than 5 days after filling the tank, it is recommend that you empty and refill the tanks.

It may even be a good idea to do a refill the tank with chlorinated water or dose it with Clean Oxide to kill any bacteria that has started to develop in the lines. Your filters will also need a flush to remove any old water.

If you won’t be in the caravan or RV for many weeks, emptying the tanks may be the better option.

There will be less risk of a larger volume of water becoming stagnant and developing pathogens. Even if you go for this option, cleaning and dosing your first batch of water may be a good idea.

Whichever option you go for, remember that cleaning of your tanks every 6 months is strongly recommended. This will deal with organic matter that helps bacteria and algae take off within your tank.

Those options include the AIC-K, BESTWF, BESTHC, and Cartridge style systems with Push On Hose Fittings.

They are one of the easiest ways to filter your water while travelling as they are compact, self contained filters. They plug directly onto the hose feedinng yoru caravan’s water supply.

Basic inline filters like the BESTHC and AIC-K connect to your water supply using standard garden hose fittings. When you first install them, you just need to run some water through to flush the carbon, then you are good to go. It can’t be much simpler.

The 10″ cartridge filter housings with POH fitting are also quite simple.. However, you do need to occasionally replace the o-rings in the sumps and get the filter order right (if using a twin or triple filter system).

Under sink point of use systems start to get a little more complex. For most of these units, you’ll need to cut into your 12mm caravan water line and insert a couple of fittings.

Even that is a simple task because the fittings are John Guest style push fittings. You just push the tubing in until it hits bottom then give it a pull to make sure it is firmly connected.

The hardest part of those units might be installing a dedicated tap. That’s only necessary if you don’t already have a dedicated drinking tap and decide you want one.

This process just involves finding a suitable location on your counter top, then drilling a 12mm hole. You’ll place a couple of washers, screw up the base of the tap and connect the water line.  Even that process is pretty easy for most people.

Yamba attracts thousands of visitors each year because of our many incredible beaches, restaurants, and nature walks. There are dozens of picturesque spots and the locals are incredibly friendly.

I mean, check this out: https://www.google.com/search?q=yamba+photos. It’s a great spot.

If you decide to visit, you can even drop by and say hi to us. We’d love to see you.

Our shop is located just past the Yamba industrial estate, in the Yamba Business Park. Just drive out towards Angourie and you will see our sign on Deering Street.

We are open from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.