How to Choose the Right Water Filter for Your Caravan

Water can taste perfectly fine at one campsite and completely different at the next. Before you know it, your drinking water has picked up an unpleasant taste or smell, or you notice sediment collecting in your tank.

A caravan water filter can help, but not every filter suits every setup. Some connect to your drinking water hose, while others are fitted inside the caravan. You’ll also need to think about how the filter is maintained and whether you want filtered water through your existing kitchen tap or a separate drinking water tap.

Here is our practical guide to choosing a caravan water filter that works for the way you travel.

What Does a Caravan Water Filter Remove?

This depends on the filter. Most caravan water filters are designed to reduce some combination of sediment, rust, chlorine, chemicals and the unwanted tastes and smells you can pick up when filling your tanks in different locations.

You will often see a micron rating in the product specifications. This tells you the size of the particles the filter is designed to catch. A 1 micron filter can capture much finer particles than a filter with a higher micron rating, but the number alone does not tell you whether it also reduces chemicals, bacteria or parasites. For that, you still need to check the full product details.

Some models also reduce bacteria or microscopic parasites which can be found in contaminated water and cause stomach illness. It’s worth checking the product details carefully, as the type and level of filtration varies.

Always check the quality of the water source before filling your tanks. A filter can reduce specific contaminants, but it cannot make every water source suitable for drinking.

Portable Filters for Your Drinking Water Hose

If you want something simple that does not require changes to your caravan’s plumbing, a portable inline filter is a good place to start.

These filters connect to your drinking water or tank-filling hose and can be packed away when you’re finished. Depending on the model, you can use them while filling your tanks or while connected directly to mains water.

B.E.S.T. Inline Water Filters

The B.E.S.T. Inline Water Filter uses 1 micron filtration and a full bed of SilverSafe silver-coated crystals. It is designed to reduce chemicals, unwanted tastes and odours, harmful bacteria and certain waterborne cysts.

The sealed design means there are no cartridges to change and no set replacement date. Each filter treats approximately 5,000 litres, depending on use and the quality of the water passing through it.

If the flow starts to slow, simply reverse the filter and flush it to help clear the collected dirt.

For use with your drinking water hose, B.E.S.T. offers two connection options:

• B.E.S.T. 322H: Comes with standard hose connections and attaches to your drinking water hose in less than a minute. It can be used when filling your tanks or when connected directly to mains water.
• B.E.S.T. 322HB: Works in the same way as the 322H but comes with lead-free brass hose connections made in Brisbane.

Puretec CR20 Caravan Inline Filter

The Puretec CR20 is another portable 1 micron option. It connects to standard garden hose fittings, making it easy to add to a caravan, camper trailer or motorhome setup.

The CR20 combines carbon filtration with SilverPlus antibacterial technology. It is designed to reduce sediment, chemicals, bacteria and unwanted tastes and odours in drinking water.

Custom and Internally Installed Filters

Not every caravan water filter needs to connect to the outside hose. Some can be adapted to suit your own fittings or installed permanently in the caravan’s internal plumbing. This keeps the filter out of sight and means there is nothing extra to connect each time you fill up.

Filter placement also affects which water passes through it. A filter on the filling hose treats the water before it enters your tank. An internal filter treats the water after it leaves the tank, either before it reaches a particular tap or further back in the plumbing. It’s worth deciding whether you want to filter water while filling up, at the point of use or both.

B.E.S.T. Options for Custom or Internal Installation

The B.E.S.T. range includes two versions of the same filtration system for custom fittings or internal installation:

• B.E.S.T. 322B: Has bare 3/4-inch BSP threads, allowing you to add your own compatible fittings.
• B.E.S.T. 322T: Comes with 3/4-inch to 1/2-inch reducing bushes and mounting clips for installation in the internal plumbing after the pump. It can be fitted vertically or horizontally.

Prefer a Refillable Filter?

The BioMagic Inline Water Filter Kit offers a refillable alternative. Instead of replacing the complete filter, you keep the housing and add fresh filter material when needed.

It contains silver-stabilised carbon with antibacterial properties and comes with a complete refill in the package. The filter is most commonly fitted in the hose line between the tap and your water tank. It can also be plumbed into the caravan’s water system with a suitable pressure limiting valve.

Separate BioMagic Inline Filter Kit Refills are available, so there is no need to replace the full unit each time.

Existing Kitchen Tap or Separate Drinking Water Tap?

For a permanent filter inside your caravan, one of the main decisions is whether you want filtered water through your existing kitchen tap or from a separate drinking water tap.

Both options keep the filter neatly installed inside the caravan. The difference is whether all cold water from the kitchen tap passes through the filter, or whether filtered water is kept separate for drinking and cooking.

Water Filters Australia Eco Inline Traveller Kit

The WFA Eco Inline Traveller is fitted to the cold water line leading to your existing kitchen tap, so there is no need to add another tap to the benchtop. This makes it a practical choice if you want filtered cold water whenever you use the kitchen tap.

Its carbon filtration reduces chlorine, unwanted tastes and odours, dirt, rust and other particles. The cartridge also contains KDF media to help control bacterial growth inside the filter.

The unit can be installed vertically or horizontally, which is useful when cupboard space is limited. Its cartridge should be replaced annually and is designed for a straightforward DIY change.

Water Filters Australia Eco Regular Traveller Kit

If you would rather use filtered water only for drinking and cooking, the WFA Eco Regular Traveller Kit comes with a separate tap. Your main kitchen tap continues to work as normal, while the additional tap supplies filtered water.

Its 1 micron cartridge reduces sediment, rust, chlorine and unwanted tastes and odours. It also contains KDF media to help control bacterial growth inside the cartridge.

This setup requires room for both the filter and the additional tap, so check the available space before installation. The cartridge should be replaced annually.

Sealed, Refillable or Replaceable?

The best option comes down to where you want to install the filter and how you prefer to maintain it.

• A B.E.S.T. filter is sealed. There is no cartridge and no fixed replacement date. When the filter has reached the end of its working life, you replace the complete unit.
• The BioMagic Inline Water Filter Kit can be opened and topped up with fresh filter material.
• The WFA Eco systems use quick-change cartridges that should be replaced annually.

Replacement cartridges are also available for selected Puretec Ultra Z, Shurflo Waterguard and Plenty River PR100 systems, as well as compatible Puretec inline fridge filters. These cartridges are model-specific, so always check the part number of your existing system before ordering a replacement.

A portable filter is easy to move between different setups and store with your hose. A permanently fitted system is ready whenever you turn on the tap. Think about how often you travel, how much space you have and how much maintenance you want to do.

Choosing the Right Drinking Water Hose

Your filter is only one part of the water setup. The hose carrying water to your caravan should also be suitable for drinking water. Unlike a general-purpose garden hose, a proper drinking water hose is designed to carry water without adding an unwanted taste or smell.

Flat Out Drinking Water Hoses are taste-free and have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Their lay-flat design makes them easy to store, which is particularly handy when space in the caravan is limited.

Choose the length that suits the distance between the campsite tap and your caravan. The compact 2.5m hose is handy between an external filter and your caravan or when the tap is close by. The 7.5m hose gives you more flexibility for a typical campsite setup, while the 12.5m hose is useful when the water connection is further away.

The hoses can also be joined using standard hose couplers if you need extra length. Couplers are sold separately.

Don’t Forget the Water Tank

If the water in your caravan already tastes stale or smells unpleasant, fitting a new filter may not solve the whole problem. Dirt, residue and odours can build up inside the tank and water lines over time, so they may need a thorough clean before you start treating or filtering fresh water.

The Water Tank Rescue Kit is designed to clean caravan water tanks and remove unwanted taste, smell and oily film. It includes three separate 125 ml products: NuKlean, WaterPure Tank Sanitiser and BioSuper 500. Follow the supplied instructions carefully, as each product has its own place in the cleaning process.

Once the tank is clean, the WaterPure 1L Kit or TankSafe Water Purification 1L can be used alongside your filter to treat stored water.

WaterPure is based on hydrogen peroxide treated with silver ions and comes with a dosing syringe and test strips. TankSafe is a chlorine-free, tasteless and odourless alternative designed to protect stored water from bacteria and pathogens for up to two months.

Always follow the directions for the correct dose and allow the required treatment time before using the water.

Find the Right Caravan Water Filter at Carac

A good water setup is about more than picking the first filter that fits your hose. Start with where you want the filter to sit, how you want to maintain it and whether your water tank needs a clean too.

At Carac, we stock portable and built-in caravan water filters, replacement cartridges, drinking water hoses and tank care products. If you’re unsure which filter or fittings will suit your caravan, pop into our Dandenong South store. Our team is always happy to help.

Safe travels and enjoy fresh-tasting water on the road!

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