Should I Use an RV Water Softener?
If you’re a full time RVer you are going to be using everything in your RV way more than intended, so things are going to break a lot more than you might be used to.
The water pipes and RV appliances that use water are included in this.
Pretty much every water source you use, whether it’s from an RV park, campground, or a hydrant from a home, is going to fill your RV with hard water.
That means there’s going to be calcium carbonate and other minerals collecting and building up wherever water is present in your camper.
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It’s always recommended to use a water filter when filling up your RV fresh water tank or when connected via the city water connection but adding an RV water softener can be very useful as well.
If you’re a weekend camper an RV water softener isn’t a must have but for RV park residents and full-time RVers, it’s a great way to get all the benefits of soft water and keep the plumbing and water appliances in your camper clean and working longer.
It’s also better for your skin, removes unwanted tastes, filters out heavy metals, is better for washing clothes, and it stops hard water stains on dishes, stainless steel, and glass shower doors.
So to answer the question, yes, you should use an RV water softener if you are a full time RVer or you live in a camper in an RV or mobile home park.
So how do you get a water softener for your RV? Aren’t they pretty large and complicated?
The good news is a water softener doesn’t have to be a great big appliance that uses electricity and takes up space.
There are a lot of fantastic portable options out there that are made specifically for RVs.
They come with garden hose fittings already installed and in most cases, they hook up just as easily as an RV water filter.
Below I’ll review some of the best options on the market today and even include some larger choices that are great for destination trailers that are parked permanently in RV or mobile home parks.
Any of these RV water softeners will also work great with tiny homes, houseboats, and even small mobile homes.
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Best Overall
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best RV Water Softener Reviews
On The Go Portable RV Water Softener
On The Go makes some of the best RV water softeners on the market today. The double standard version is the most popular because of its high flow capabilities and ability to work with low water pressure.
The unit is only 22 inches tall and 9 1/2 inches in diameter. It’s small enough to easily fit in the outer storage of an RV.
It weighs 32 lbs and there’s a handle built into the cap on top to make it easier to move. There are also plugs included to make it ready for storage or travel.
The On The Go RV water softener uses a 16,000 grain tank that can provide enough soft water for any size of camper.
It can output up to 1,600 gallons of water before needing a recharge, that’s around 40 days of use.
To recharge, also called regenerate, all you need is 2 boxes of table salt which can be dumped into the RV water softener via the opening on the top of the unit. It’s easy to do and only takes about 30 minutes to complete.
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The cap on top uses standard garden hose connections, so it’s ready to be hooked up between your RV and RV water filter right out of the box.
The flow rate is 5 GPM.
There’s no difficult installation or electricity required for this portable water softener.
Included with the On The Go RV water softener is a 4 foot freshwater hose you can use for the connection between the filter and the water softener.
There’s also a travel cap and plug, a backflush adapter, hardness testing strips so you know if the water softener is working, and a cradle base to secure the unit when it’s sitting on the ground.
It’s made to sit out in the elements next to the hydrant but you could also cover it with a 5 gallon bucket to keep it protected from the sun.
In freezing conditions, you will need to insulate it like you would the filter and hose.
The On The Go Portable RV Water Softener is made with RVers in mind.
It’s ready to go right out of the box, can supply large quantities of soft water, works with low pressure water systems, and it’s simple to regenerate.
PROS
- Ready to Connect Out of Box
- Garden Hose Connections
- Short Hose Included
- Only 2 Boxes of Table Salt to Regenerate
- Lasts 40 Days
- Comes with Travel Cap & Plug
- Weather Resistant
- No Electricity Required
- Water Hardness Testing Strips Included
CONS
- Must Be Insulated for Winter Conditions
- Plastic Connections
Pro+Aqua Portable RV Water Softener
The Pro+Aqua RV water softener is similar to the one reviewed above but there are a few differences in the construction that make it my best overall pick.
First off the unit stands 20 inches tall with a diameter of 10 inches. The included stand will increase the diameter to 10 3/8 inches for increased stability when placed on the ground.
The capacity is 16,000 grain which is enough for any size of RV and even small household mobile homes. It will be able to output 2,000 gallons of soft water in most cases before needing a recharge. That’s around 40 days of use.
To recharge all you need is two boxes of table salt.
One thing that’s nice about the Pro+Aqua is there’s an optional regeneration kit (click to view on Amazon) for easier regeneration.
This is good news for winter campers who don’t want to stand out in the cold every 40 days to recharge the water softener.
This RV water softener will reduce the levels of calcium, magnesium, iron, lead, radium, and other heavy metals in both city and well water.
It’s going to make the appliances in your RV last much longer and it’s a lot better for your skin and health.
The flow rate is 5 GPM.
The inside is filled with premium resin with a durable polyethylene inner shell and a hard woven fiberglass outer shell. There’s also a neoprene cover included to help protect the tank from the elements.
You will still need to insulate this RV water softener for winter conditions or install it inside your RV.
The connections on the top are the standard garden hose that all RVers use to connect to water.
One of the best things about the Pro+Aqua brand is they use metal connections instead of plastic.
This increases the portability and durability of the RV water softener because the metal connectors won’t wear out over time.
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Included with the RV water softener is a short freshwater hose for the connection between the softener and the RV water filter.
There are also multiple hose adapters and a backwash adapter included to help with the regeneration process.
There is no difficult installation or electricity required.
The Pro+Aqua Portable RV Water Softener has a great high capacity output for any size of a camper with a small portable size for travel or mounting inside your RV.
It has higher quality metal garden hose connectors, a neoprene sleeve for added protection, and it offers minimal pressure drop.
The only thing it’s missing is a handle to help you carry it.
There are no water hardness testing kits included with this RV water softener so you will need to get some separately (click to view on Amazon) to make sure everything’s working properly.
PROS
- Optional Regeneration Kit For Easier Recharging
- Metal Garden Hose Connections
- Short Hose Included
- Only 2 Boxes of Table Salt to Regenerate
- Lasts 40 Days
- Weather Resistant
- No Electricity Required
- Neoprene Cover Included
CONS
- No Carry Handle
- Must Be Insulated for Winter Conditions
Camco TastePure RV Water Softener
Camco deals in everything RV, so of course, they make an RV water softener.
The Camco Tastepure is a simple option for full-time RVers who don’t live full time in RV parks.
I say that because it’s a bit smaller than some of the others and the flow rate isn’t as high at 4 GPM.
It’s still an excellent RV water softener, but it’s going to be best for use when occasionally connected to water hookups and not full time.
The height of the unit is 20 1/2 inches with an 8 1/2 inch diameter. The weight is only 25 lbs which makes it much better for travel and set up in different campgrounds and RV parks.
On the top of the RV water softener, there’s a large plastic cap with a handle on it. The connections are metal in the standard garden hose size.
The grain capacity is 10,000, that’s large enough to output softwater for most campers but it might not be enough for a mobile home.
Regeneration requires 2 boxes of table salt. It’s a little unclear what the soft water gallon output will be before regenerations is required but it should be around 1,500 to 2,ooo gallons.
The time between recharges does depend on how hard the water being run through it is. If there are more heavy metals and minerals to filter out it will require regeneration a lot sooner than more filtered water.
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Included with the RV water softener are a 4 inch freshwater hose, hard water testing strips, and a male to male hose fitting for regenerating.
There are also caps for the garden hose connections to stop water from spilling out during travel.
The Camco TastePure RV Water Softener is the perfect option for snowbirds who winter in their RVs or for hybrid campers who both boondock and stay in RV parks and campgrounds.
The lighter weight makes this RV water heater much better for travel and it makes the setup process a little easier.
The handle on the cap is a nice touch and the metal garden hose connections show that Camco has made this with durability in mind.
PROS
- Lightweight for Travel
- Travel Caps Included
- Metal Garden Hose Fittings
- Short Hose Included
- Only 2 Boxes of Table Salt to Regenerate
- Weather Resistant
- No Electricity Required
CONS
- Must Be Insulated for Winter Conditions
- Low Water Flow Rating
- Lower Grain Capacity
Mobile-Soft-Water Water Softener
The Mobile-Soft-Water RV water softener is a 16,000 grain capacity unit that stands 21 1/2 inches tall and is 10 inches in diameter. It weighs 33 lbs.
It’s a lot like some of the others in this review but it doesn’t come with as many accessories. There are travel caps included, which is a nice touch for RVers.
This mobile RV water softener is pretty basic, it can output 5 GPM, it’s rechargeable with table salt, and it uses garden hose connections on the cap.
The connections are made with nylon to comply to lead free standards for drinking water.
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It means the connections might not last as long if you’re unhooking it all of the time, but for stationary use in an RV park situation, the nylon connections won’t be as big of an issue.
The tank is made with standard fiberglass and there’s a wider base cap on the bottom to make it more stable when it’s standing on the ground.
If you’re looking for an RV water softener than can output a good volume of water that’s also portable the Mobile-Soft-Water Water Softener is a fantastic option.
It doesn’t have some of the fancy things like an included water hose or handle but it will keep damaging calcium and other minerals out of the RV plumbing.
PROS
- Only 2 Boxes of Table Salt to Regenerate
- Lasts 40 Days
- Weather Resistant
- No Electricity Required
- Lead Free Connections
- Travel Caps Included
CONS
- No Carry Handle
- Weak Nylon Garden Hose Connections
- Must Be Insulated for Winter Conditions
Watts RV Pro-1000 Portable Water Softener
The Watts RV Pro-1000 has been around for a while and it’s a decent option for many kinds of RVers.
It’s a smaller 10,000 grain unit that has a 4 GPM flow rating.
It stands 22 inches tall with a 10 inch diameter.
Since it’s a lower grain than some of the other RV water softeners in this review it’s only 22 lbs and a fantastic choice for snowbirds and hybrid campers who split time between boondocking and being hooked up in RV parks.
Regeneration can be done with table salt and Watts has built in a drain line restrictor to help make the regeneration process more effective.
Being able to recharge these small portable water softeners is important since they really only last around 30 days.
You can also regenerate the RV Pro-1000 without having to disconnect the system.
There’s a heavy duty base to keep the fiberglass tank stable on the ground and it also protects it.
See Also: What Should My RV Water Pressure Regulator Be Set At?
Included with the RV water softener are water hardness testing strips, and the necessary adapters for regeneration and connecting to garden hoses.
The adapters included are plastic but the main connectors are metal which helps with durability when connecting and disconnecting over and over again during travel.
The Watts RV Pro-1000 Portable Water Softener is a small but effective option for keeping the pipes and appliances in your RV free of damaging calcium build up.
It’s going to be perfect for smaller campers and travelers.
If you have a large RV with multiple bathrooms you may want a larger RV water softener but if you’re looking for a lightweight option the Watts is an excellent way to go.
PROS
- Only 2 Boxes of Table Salt to Regenerate
- Lasts 40 Days
- Weather Resistant
- No Electricity Required
- Metal Connectors
- Closeable Hose Connectors For Travel
- Lightweight
CONS
- No Carry Handle
- Must Be Insulated for Winter Conditions
- Lower GPM
- Lower Water Softening Capacity
AO Water Softener Alternative
For the final RV water softener in this review, I wanted to add a larger more stationary option that’s perfect for full time RV park living, mobile homes, tiny hoses, and even small homes.
The AO Smith whole house water softener alternative doesn’t use the standard method for softening water.
Instead, it uses a tank with a series of netting and filters inside to descale water to stop buildup in your pipes and appliances.
It’s an effective system and when paired with the AO whole house water filter (click to view on Amazon) you will have an excellent water filter and descaling system that’s small and easy to install.
There are also no electricity needs which is a bonus for off grid homes and RVs that use alternative power sources.
The tanks are made with fiberglass and each one has a wide base for better stability.
They stand 27 inches tall and are 8 3/4 inches in diameter. The water softener weighs only 12 lbs.
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This is a salt free system that doesn’t require any kind of regeneration. That’s a huge pro but it’s also a bit of a con since this system will only last for up to 6 years or 600,000 gallons of water.
If you are adding this system to an RV or home you spend the winters in it should last twice as long since it won’t be softening water year round.
Since this is a stationary house system it’s not ready to be connected to an RV right out of the box. It’s made to be built into a piped water system but there is a garden hose adapter included with purchase.
The flow rating is 7 GPM and this is made for households of 4 people or less.
This RV water softener alternative does not remove iron, sulfur, or TDS, but it will reduce scale build up.
If you want a larger water filtration and water descaling system for your RV or home the AO Water Softener Alternative is an excellent choice.
It’s small enough to be installed in a small shed near your RV or even inside a mobile home.
It’s large enough to output a good amount of water and it won’t reduce the pressure as much as the smaller portable water softeners in this review.
If you want better water in your mobile home or cabin this system is an excellent choice.
PROS
- Doesn’t Require Regeneration
- No Electricity Required
- Salt & Chemical Free
- Smaller Than Traditional Water Softener
- Highest Flow Rating
- Lightweight
CONS
- More Complicated Install
- Not Travel Friendly
- Not Rechargeable
What to Look for in an RV Water Softener
Grain Capacity
The higher the grain capacity in an RV water softener the more water it will be able to condition at a time. That means a higher grain capacity means a higher water output.
If you have a large RV with multiple bathrooms and sinks you will want a larger water softener to be able to keep up with all of the water needs.
If you just have a small camper a lower grain capacity water softener that’s more lightweight will be a better choice.
Weight
While they are small in size RV water softeners aren’t light. They are full of heavy resin beads that filter out heavy metals and other impurities in hard water.
They are even heavier when full of water.
If you are traveling a lot you might want to find a permanent place to install the tank in one of the outer storage areas or be ready to carry it to the water hookup source every time you set up.
Connection Type
RVs use garden hose connections for the city water and since water hookups in campgrounds and RV parks also use garden hose connections you want an RV water softener that is compatible with this.
Most portable water softeners are made for RV or car wash use, and they normally have the right kind of inlet and outlet connections.
But it’s something to check for if you are thinking about getting a larger water softener like the AO water softener alternative.
Regeneration Process
All but one of the RV water softeners in this review can be regenerated using table salt, but the frequency and process are a little different with each one.
The higher grain versions won’t need to be regenerated as often but they might take longer to fully charge.
The Pro+Aqua Portable RV Water Softener has an optional regeneration kit that makes the process easier and faster.
If you live in a warm climate year round and standing outside to run saltwater through your water softener for 30 minutes doesn’t bother you then this won’t be as much of an issue.
But if you live in a colder climate and have to deal with regeneration in freezing temperatures you might want to go with the RV water softener that has the easiest regeneration process or non at all like the AO water softener alternative.
Best Overall RV Water Softener
Pro+Aqua Portable RV Water Softener
Based on the flow rating, regeneration process, included accessories, and the overall quality of the parts the Pro+Aqua RV water softener is my choice for the best overall option in this review.
It has everything you need to start getting better water into your RV right out of the box, and it does a good job removing heavy metals, minerals, bad tastes, and more.
The compact size makes it easy to transport or install in one of the outside storage areas of an RV or you can have it sitting next to the hydrant in an RV park or campground.
It won’t reduce the water pressure inside your RV as much as some of the smaller options in this review and it’s going to be able to soften water longer before needing a recharge.
Overall it’s a fantastic choice for every kind of RVer and a great way to keep the expensive appliances and pipes clean and working correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions About RV Water Softeners
How do you soften water in an RV?
RV parks and campgrounds don’t supply soft water, you have to do it yourself if you want to reduce scaling and have better water coming out of the taps in your camper.
Luckily, there are some fantastic portable RV water softeners available that require no electricity, are as easy to hook up as an RV water filter, and are small enough to fit in the outside storage of most RVs.
How long do RV water softeners last?
Around 30-40 days.
Most RV water softeners that are 10,000 to 16,000 grain are rated to condition 1,500 to 2,000 gallons of water before requiring regeneration with salt.
It also depends on how many people live in your RV, how many water appliances you have (dishwasher, washing machine, tankless water heater), and how hard the water is.
Using more soft water will mean less time between recharging.
It’s always a good idea to test your RV water weekly with water hardness testing strips (click to view on Amazon) so you know when the RV water softener is due for a recharge.
How do I recharge my RV water softener?
Most RV water softeners that use the traditional resin bead method are recharged (regenerated) using common table salt (normally two boxes).
For most models to recharge you disconnect the RV water softener from both hoses and flip it upside down to drain it. Once drained place it right side up again and connect the inlet hose only.
Then remove the cap that’s on top of the tank and pour in the required amount of iodized or non-iodized table salt. The amount will vary depending on the size of your RV water softener.
Once the salt has been added you turn on a small amount of water so there is a thin stream coming out of the tank outlet. The stream should be no larger than the size of a pencil.
Let the water rinse for the amount of time specified in your RV water softeners manual. It’s usually 20 minutes for 10,000 grain, 40 minutes for 16,000 grain, and 50 minutes for 20,000 grain.
Once the saltwater has rinsed the right amount of time you can turn the water up and let it fully rinse out for a few more minutes.
You can now reconnect your RV and you’re good to go.
If the water has a salty taste you may need to rinse the RV water softener out for a few more minutes.
How do I remove calcium from my RV water heater?
Getting an RV water softener is a great way to stop calcium buildup inside your RV water heater, plumbing, and other appliances.
But what if the water heater has already had hard water running through it and there’s calcium built up?
One thing you can do is try and flush out the heater by removing the drain cap and letting water from the city connection flush through it. This will help to remove any loose calcium and mineral buildup.
If you want to be extra thorough you can use white vinegar to break down what’s stuck on the sides and bottom of the RV water heater.
To do this replace the drain plug and remove the pressure release valve that’s higher up on the tank.
Make sure you also shut off both of the valves coming out of the heater inside the camper so the vinegar doesn’t drain out.
Fill the tank with as much white vinegar as possible via the pressure release valve opening.
Let it sit for at least 24 hours.
To flush out the vinegar remove the drain cap and let it drain out.
You can spray water into the tank from the pressure release valve opening as well. Make sure the water heater is completely rinsed out and any large calcium pieces have been removed.
Replace the pressure release valve and drain cap.
Your RV water heater should be working better. To stop future mineral build up use an RV water softener when connected to water.
Is it safe to drink water from an RV water softener?
Yes, it’s safe to drink water from any kind of water softener.
Water from an RV water softener is going to be healthier since it removes minerals and it will also taste better.
That’s why adding a water softener to your RV gear is one of the best things you can do. Especially if you live in your RV full time.
Where do I connect the RV water softener?
An RV water softener should be connected after the RV water filter and before the city water connection inlet on the RV.
If you want to build it into the system make sure it’s connected before the RV water heater.
Can I fill my RV water tank with soft water?
Yes, you can fill your RV freshwater tank with soft water.
It’s actually going to be better for the tank and the overall health of the plumbing and appliances in your RV to use soft water in your water tank and when connected to a water hookup.
Have any more questions about RV water softeners? Leave a comment below.
