Ok, here are what I consider to be the best RV water pumps, either as a direct replacement, or as an upgrade for your existing pump.
My top choice would be the tried and tested Shurflo 4008 water pump.
I’ve also put together a few short guides on some of the issues you may encounter with your pump.
Contents
Top 3 RV Water Pumps
Here is a bit more of an indepth look at my top 3 choices for a replacement RV water pump.
If you’re not familiar with some of the tech terms used, here are three of the most important ones.
- PSI – Pounds per square inch (water pressure).
- GPM – Gallons per minute (flow rate).
- Amps – How many amps the pump draws when in use.
Shurflo 4008
⭐️Best Overall
Shurflo is probably the best known brand name when it comes to RV water pumps.
They have been making quality water pumps and related water filtration products since the early seventies.
The Shurflo 4008 is a factory installed unit in many RVs, and trusted by many RV manufacturers.
Shurflo were the first to introduce the quad chamber design in their pump, which is now an industry standard. As a result of this design the pump delivers 3 GPM and water pressure of around 55 PSI.
The unit has a built-in check valve which stops backflows through the pump when connected to city water.
The pump also features a bypass adjustment screw. This little adjustment screw can reduce, and sometimes eliminate that horrible “water hammering” pump cycling noise you can sometimes get when you turn a faucet on a small amount.
The Shurflo has a removable water filter and can also run dry without damaging the unit.
In my opinion, one of the best things about the Shurflo is how easy it is to source and replace parts. Parts are easily obtainable, and the unit is really simple to disassemble. This makes for really cost effective repairs.
Support from the company is very good, and they offer a 2 year warranty.
Pros
Well Known
Reliable
Good Support
Cons
Plastic Housing
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
Seaflo 42
⭐️Choice #2
The Seaflo 42 series is another popular unit, and is second on my list of best RV water pumps.
The Seaflo is marginally larger in size compared to the Shurflo, and is also a 4 chamber diaphragm pump.
The pump is well made and when running will draw an average of 4.5 amps. When turned on full, the pump will push 3 GPM, with a top water pressure of 55 PSI. The Seaflo 42 is well known for being a very quiet pump.
The unit has a replaceable water strainer, and you will find a bypass adjustment screw at the front of the housing. When needed, the screw will stop the pump from cycling (rapid on and off) .
The pump used to suffer from problems with pressure switch failure, but the manufacturers have recently addressed this and fitted a much heavier duty switch.
This pump is self priming, and will also run dry with no damage to components.
The unit is offered with a two year warranty.
Pros
Very Quiet
Pressure Switch Upgrade
Good Reviews
Cons
Inadequate Support
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
Flojet R3526144D
⭐️Choice #3
The Flojet R3526144D is my third choice RV water pump.
The unit is well made, and is a direct replacement for many popular RVs.
It is a triple chamber pump, and has a brushed aluminum body housing pump motor with anti vibration rubber feet for mounting.
The motor itself is a fully sealed unit, which prevents water damage. The motor also has thermal protection to avoid the pump overheating.
The pump performs just as well as its main competitors, and will push 3 GPM (11 liters) of water at a maximum of 50 PSI. When running the pump will pull a peak of 7.5 amps and an average of 4.4 amps.
The unit has a sealed water pressure switch, as well as a backflow prevention valve when connected to city water.
There is a bypass adjustment valve to prevent the usual low flow pump cycling issue, and you will also not cause any damage if you accidently run it dry.
The pump is fitted with a water strainer and also has quick connect ports for easy installation.
The pump comes with a limited 2 year warranty.
Pros
Quiet
Sealed Motor
Quick Connect
Cons
Slightly More Expensive
Overall Rating
Performance / Efficiency
Build Quality
Features / Functions
Reviews
Value For Money
Where Is My Water Pump Located?
Finding your water pump should be a pretty straightforward process. Different RV makers have their standard places to mount a water pump. Here are some of the usual suspects.
- Under a bed.
- In a kitchen cabinet.
- Under seating (often bench seats).
- Wet bays (near city water connections).
If not in any of these locations, the best way to find your pump is to trace the outlet line back from your fresh water tank. The pump will always be found within a few feet of the tank.
How To Replace An RV Water Pump
Here is an excellent video tutorial by two top RV technicians.
If you’ve never replaced an RV water pump before, don’t be put off. You only need a few basic tools.
Replacing an RV water pump should be a fairly easy DIY project for any competent RVer.
How To Fix An RV Water Pump
You may find that instead of replacing the entire pump, a replacement part is all that’s needed.
Troubleshooting Guide
The following is my basic troubleshooting guide based on a Shurflo pump (as they are the most common) but can be applied to all RV water pumps.
Pump Won’t Turn On.
Check fuses on the main board.
Check inline fuse by the pump.
Check electrical connections at pump.
Pump Turns On – But No Water.
Check water level in water tank.
Check water strainer – clean or replace.
Remove top of pump – check diaphragms and pressure regulator valve.
The diaphragms should look in good condition with no splits.
The pressure regulator is located in the removed section of the pump, and is about the size and shape of a dime.
You should be able to press it in with your finger, if not, replace it.
Noisy Vibrating Pump
Turn the faucet on slightly, then turn the water pressure down via the water pressure screw (anti-clockwise), until the pump settles down. If the pump settles down, turn the pressure up by increments to find a good pressure / noise balance.
Parts for Shurflo pumps and most other pumps are readily available online. If you need the parts in a hurry, good RV and camping outlets will stock them. A marina or chandlery is one of my favorite places to source all manner of RV electrical and plumbing parts.
Here’s a good video showing how to disassemble a Shurflo 4008 water pump.
For in depth troubleshooting and installation details see the Shurflo 4008 Manual.
Tip: Don’t allow the water supply system in your RV to dry out.
The seals and rubber components in your water pump and water system are not designed for long periods of inactivity.
Running the system periodically will prevent future issues.
How To Quiet An RV Water Pump
If you own an RV, you probably know (only too well) the sound of a noisy water pump.
Fortunately, there are some pretty easy fixes.
More often than not, it’s not actually your pump making the noise, but the pipework surrounding it. When the pump is running, the water flowing through the pipework close to the pump will vibrate against walls, floors and anything else in the near vicinity.
The first fix to try is to insulate all the pipework coming from the pump with ½ inch foam pipe insulation (available from any hardware store).
Tip: Use zip ties to hold the insulation in place.
To reduce vibration from the pump itself, mounting the pump on a foam kneeling pad (the cheap ones from Harbor Freight) work well.
You can reduce the noise still further by installing a water pump silencer kit. The kit is simply a couple of lengths of flexible pipe that attach in a loop and reduce the “water hammering”, or pump cycling effect from the pump.
One more thing you can do to quiet a noisy RV water pump, is to fit a water pump accumulator tank.
This is a pressurized tank about the same size as your pump.
An accumulator tank will stop your water pump pulsing when the faucet is turned on halfway or less.
The accumulator will even out the water pressure to stop the pump pulsating, quieten it down and also extend its life.
Hopefully I’ve made choosing and replacing your RV water pump a little easier.
My first choice would be the Shurflo 4008, it’s a good pump with an excellent track record. Parts are readily available, and it’s relatively easy to repair.
If you’re looking for more performance from your water pump, the Shurflo 4048 is a good upgrade.
Please check out my other equipment reviews.
See how we rate products in our reviews here.
FAQ’s
Can An RV Water Pump Be Mounted Vertically?
Unless specifically stated in the instructions, almost all RV water pumps can be mounted in any position. If you are mounting the pump vertically, make sure the head of the pump is facing down to prevent water entering the motor if you have a leak.
