Water filter upstream of the pump?

Most RV water pumps are diaphragm pumps and can run dry with no damage. So I suppose you could put the filter on the inlet side of the pump without damaging the pump. Also since they are a diaphragm pump they can tolerate some fine particles without damage unlike a spinning impeller or plunger type of pump.

But as said above, it is much harder for the pump to suck water through the inlet than it is to blow the water through the outlet. the good thing is you're dealing with plastic pipe which is easy to cut and repair. So try it on the inlet side and see how it works. If you are unhappy with the water flow move it to the outlet side.

I use the cannister type filters at the tank fill point so that the water is highly filtered before reaching the tank. The kitchen faucet filters can be tricky if you forget about them when you winterize.

It's basic hydro...

In order to push water thru the filter, the upstream side pressure has to be higher than the downstream side. If the filter clogs, it needs a bigger pressure if you want any significant amount of water to pass thru.
- Upstream of the pump is gravity fed. Let's say you have a really deep fresh water tank (2ft deep) and it's full to the brim and the filter is flush with the bottom...2ft of head will generate about 0.9psi. So the theoretical max pressure differential across the filter is 0.9psi..though in reality it will be less as you won't be able to drop it to 0.0psi if there is water flowing and most tanks are not always full nor are they 2ft deep.
- On the downstream side of the pump, the pumps generally put out pressure somewhere on the order of 30-50psi...that's a lot more pressure available to push water thru the filter while still retaining enough pressure to send the water to the various outlets.

It's much easier to pump water than it is to pull it. Ie: You can only life water about 24 feet (before the column separates) but you can pump it as high as you want depending on the construction of your pump (think deepwell pumps). RV pumps aren't designed to pull water very far - they are usually installed below the level of water in the fresh water tank. Mount your fine filter in the discharge of the pump but don't expect to pump the kind of a stream you'll want at your faucets - it will more than likely dribble out of the faucets.

I run all the water I put into my RV through a cheap charcoal filter - it removes all the bad tastes. I also have a 0.5 micron filter for a drinking water spigot at the kitchen sink but mostly we buy RO water at local stores for drinking and cooking.

Ask the camp. You may not need any, especially if on city water.

It's common to have a strainer at the inlet of a pump but other than that you never restrict the inlet. Craig

I use a whole house filter between the tap and the RV. If filling the fresh water tank, I use the whole house filter before the water goes into the tank.

In 2009 we went to Fort Wilderness at Disneyworld. I hooked to their shore water without a filter. I sold that RV in 2017 and it still had sand in there. That is why every drop of water that goes into my RV plumbing goes through that whole house filter.

beemerphile1 wrote:
... a .5 carbon block filter in the kitchen which only feeds a separate faucet at the kitchen sink.

This would complicate the layout but I like the idea.

Tried it, pump continually cycled at an extremely rapid rate. I believed it would destroy something if allowed to continue.

I now use a sediment filter when filling the tank and a .5 carbon block filter in the kitchen which only feeds a separate faucet at the kitchen sink.

Does the pump manufacturer have a position on filters and/or where to install?