6 Best Water Inlet Strainers For RV Water Pumps Nomads Swear By

That chattering, sputtering sound your RV water pump makes just before it gives up the ghost is a sound no nomad wants to hear. Often, the culprit isn’t the pump itself but the tiny bits of grit and sediment it’s been forced to swallow. A simple, inexpensive water inlet strainer is the unsung hero that stands between your pump and a premature demise.

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Why Your RV Water Pump Needs a Quality Strainer

Your RV water pump is a precision device, designed to move clean water, not a slurry of sand and debris. Every time you fill your fresh tank, you risk introducing contaminants. It could be sand from a campground well, sediment from a municipal supply, or even tiny plastic shavings left over from the manufacturing of your RV’s tank.

Without a strainer, this grit gets sucked directly into the pump’s diaphragm and valve assembly. The result? Reduced water pressure, internal scoring, and eventual pump failure. Think of a strainer as the bodyguard for your pump; a small, cheap part that protects a much more expensive and critical component of your water system.

A quality strainer does more than just protect the pump. It keeps that same debris out of the rest of your system. This means fewer clogged faucet aerators, cleaner shower heads, and a healthier plumbing system overall. For a few dollars, it’s the best insurance policy you can buy for your RV’s waterworks.

SHURFLO 255-313 Twist-On Pipe Strainer

When you talk about RV water pumps, you have to talk about SHURFLO. The 255-313 Twist-On Strainer is the industry standard for a reason. It’s simple, effective, and built to integrate seamlessly with their wildly popular line of pumps.

Its most practical feature is the transparent bowl. You can see exactly what’s being caught without having to take anything apart. A quick glance tells you if it’s time for a cleaning. The 50-mesh stainless steel screen is fine enough to catch troublesome particles but not so fine that it constantly clogs or restricts flow.

The twist-on design makes installation and cleaning a breeze. It connects directly to the inlet port of most SHURFLO pumps, creating a secure, leak-free seal. For anyone with a SHURFLO pump, this is the default, no-brainer choice that just works.

Camco Pump Filter: A Widely Available Option

You’ll find Camco products in just about every RV supply store and big-box retailer in the country. Their pump filter is no exception. This makes it an excellent choice if you’re on the road and discover your old strainer has cracked or gone missing.

Functionally, it’s very similar to the SHURFLO model, featuring a clear screw-off bowl and a stainless steel screen. It does the job of filtering out sediment effectively. It’s a reliable, budget-friendly workhorse that provides solid protection for your pump.

The main advantage here is availability. While other brands might be slightly more robust, the ability to walk into a store in a small town and grab a replacement is a huge plus for full-time travelers. It’s a dependable and accessible solution that will keep you up and running without a long wait for shipping.

SEAFLO Pre-Pressurized Accumulator & Strainer

This one is for the RVer looking to upgrade their system’s performance, not just protect it. The SEAFLO combo unit integrates a strainer directly with a small accumulator tank. This is a brilliant piece of engineering for small spaces.

First, let’s talk about the accumulator. This small pressurized tank sits between the pump and your faucets, creating a pressure reservoir. This drastically reduces pump cycling—that constant on-off-on-off when you’re just trickling water—which saves wear on your pump and quiets the whole system. It provides a smoother, more residential-like water flow.

By building the strainer into the accumulator, SEAFLO saves you a fitting and a potential leak point, not to mention valuable space in a tight utility bay. This is an ideal solution for new builds, van conversions, or anyone tired of a noisy, stuttering water pump. It solves two common problems with one compact, elegant device.

Valterra P23511LFVP: Lead-Free Brass Fittings

At first glance, the Valterra strainer looks like many others. The key difference, and the reason seasoned RVers seek it out, is in the fittings. This model features lead-free brass inlet and outlet ports, a significant upgrade from the standard plastic.

Plastic fittings are the number one failure point on many strainers. It’s incredibly easy to overtighten them and create a hairline crack that turns into a frustrating, slow leak. Brass fittings, on the other hand, are far more durable and forgiving. You can achieve a tight seal without worrying about stripping threads or cracking the housing.

This is the strainer for the nomad who has been burned by a cracked plastic fitting before. It’s a premium choice built for longevity and peace of mind. If you’re installing a new pump and want to do it right the first time, spending a little extra on the Valterra with brass fittings is a wise investment.

Lippert Components (LCI) Flow Max Strainer

Lippert is a giant in the RV industry, supplying everything from slide-out mechanisms to chassis components. Their Flow Max water pump line is becoming increasingly common in new RVs, and their strainer is the perfect match for it.

This is a robust, well-built strainer designed as an OEM-quality part. It provides reliable filtration with a standard clear bowl and removable screen, making maintenance straightforward. While it’s designed specifically for the Flow Max pump, its standard 1/2" NPSM threading means it can often be used with other pump brands as well.

Think of the LCI strainer as a solid, trustworthy option, especially if you’re replacing a part on a newer rig. It’s not fancy, but it comes from a manufacturer that understands the rigors of the road. It’s built to withstand the vibration and temperature swings that are a constant in RV life.

KUS 1/2" Barbed Inlet Water Pump Strainer

Not all RV plumbing uses threaded pipe. In many van conversions and DIY builds, flexible braided tubing is the standard. This is where a strainer with barbed fittings becomes essential, and the KUS model is a fantastic example.

Instead of threaded ports, this strainer has barbed ends designed to have a flexible hose pushed over them and secured with a hose clamp. This creates a secure, vibration-resistant connection that’s perfect for non-traditional plumbing setups. Trying to adapt a standard threaded strainer for a flexible hose is a recipe for leaks.

If you’re building out a camper van, skoolie, or any system where you’re running flexible water lines directly to the pump, this is the type of strainer you need. It acknowledges that not every rig is built like a factory-made travel trailer and provides a simple, effective solution for custom plumbing.

RV Strainer Installation and Maintenance Tips

Installing and maintaining your pump strainer is one of the easiest and most important jobs you can do. Get it right, and your water system will thank you for it.

For installation, the strainer always goes on the inlet (suction) side of the pump. This protects the pump itself. When tightening plastic fittings, the rule is hand-tight plus a quarter turn with a wrench. Any more and you risk cracking the housing. Use a few wraps of Teflon tape on the male threads to ensure a good seal.

Maintenance is simple. Turn off your water pump and release pressure in the line by opening a faucet. Place a rag underneath the strainer to catch drips, then unscrew the clear bowl.

• Pull out the stainless steel screen and rinse it under clean water.
• Wipe out any sediment from the inside of the bowl.
• Inspect the rubber O-ring for cracks or stretching before reassembling.

Check your strainer every few months as part of your regular maintenance, and always check it after filling your tank from a source you’re unsure about, like a remote well. Before winterizing, make sure to unscrew the bowl and drain it completely to prevent ice from cracking the plastic.

A water pump strainer is a tiny, simple component, but its impact on the health and longevity of your RV’s water system is massive. It’s not a glamorous upgrade, but it’s a foundational one. Choosing the right one and keeping it clean is a five-minute task that can save you from a costly pump replacement and a weekend without running water.