Garden hose water filters are a compact and affordable way to provide filtered water for plants in the garden.
The best inline garden hose water filter is the AquaOx DF 7 water filter which removes contaminants like chlorine, algae, sediments, viruses and bacteria in water.
Best Garden Hose Water Filters
- AquaOx DF 7 Garden Hose Water Filter – Most Effective Filter
- Waterdrop WD-GDS Garden Hose Water Filter – Best Bulk Buy
- AQUA CREST RV Water Filter – Best High PSI Option
- Camco TastePURE RV/Marine Water Filter – Most Cost-Effective Filter
- LOVHO Garden Hose Sediment Filter – Best for High Flow Rate
1. AquaOx DF 7 Garden Hose Water Filter
- Filter Type – Positively charged catalytic active surfaces
- Contaminants Removed – Chlorine, sediment algae, viruses, and many types of bacteria
- 100,000 gallon lifetime
- 10-year warranty
- Removes 99.9% of bacteria from water
- Much more expensive than other filters
The AquaOX uses positively charged catalytic active surfaces in the filter to disperse and absorb most micro-organisms such as pseudomonas aeruginosa, escherichia coli, staphylococcus aureus, and many other bacteria that can hurt your plants.
However, even if these particular micro-organisms are not in your water supply, you’ll be happy to know that this filter can also eliminate much more common contaminants like chlorine and sediment and unpleasant odors.
Another benefit of this filter is its portability. If you’re a traveler, chances are you’ll come across water sources that might be contaminated or unsafe for drinking. The AquaOx DF 7 makes a great addition to your RV gear. If you attach this filter to your hose, you’ll have safe water for drinking, washing dishes, filling your puppy’s water bowl, or preparing food.
The AquaOx DF 7 can provide water flow rate of up to 7 GPM (gallons per minute), which is pretty decent for a water hose. Additionally, you’ll get 100,000 gallons of use out of the filter before it needs replacing. Considering that an average person uses less than 100 gallons of water daily, and the garden hose probably amounts to less than a quarter of that average, 100,000 gallons equals more than three years, even if you’re wasteful with your water usage.
The biggest downside of this filter is that it costs more than $300, which is 10 times more expensive than the other garden hose water filters on our list.
On the bright side, that price tag also comes with a 10-year warranty and a 12-month money-back guarantee.
2. Waterdrop WD-GDS Garden Hose Filter
- Filter Type – Ion exchange resin, KDF, and GAC material
- Contaminants Removed – Hard minerals, organic chemicals, chlorine, algae, and various bacteria
- Three-phase filtration
- Prices get reduced when bought in bulk
- 30-day return policy
- Can’t buy individual filters
This particular filter contains three separate components – an ion exchange resin, KDF material, and GAC material.
The ion exchange resin takes in minerals and softens the water to a certain degree. It’s not as effective as a water softener, nor does it have nearly the same capacity, but it’s still effective at softening moderately hard water.
The KDF (kinetic degradation fluxion) consists of beads that are essentially made from high-purity copper and zinc granules to absorb chlorine, algae, and various bacteria.
The GAC resin, or granular activated carbon, is a filtration medium made primarily from organic materials like coal, peat, and coconut shells. This resin effectively absorbs organic chemicals and removes them from your water.
The 3 filtration media combines to provide adequate protection against most common water contaminants and helps ensure that the water coming from your hose is much safer for your pets and plants.
The Waterdrop WD-GDS filters about 1,300 gallons of water before the filter needs replacing. Waterdrop says that you can get around 6 months before the lifetime of these filters runs out, but the truth is that the exact time will vary depending on your water usage. We estimate that even the most wasteful garden hose users can get at least 4 or 5 months out of the filter before its efficiency drops.
An interesting thing about these filters is that you can only purchase several at a time, and you can’t get a single filter off the official product page. This means that you can get more filters for a reduced price.
- Buying 2 means that each one will cost $15.99
- Buying 4 means that each one will cost $13.99
- Buying 6 means that each one will cost $12.16
3. AQUA CREST RV Water Filter
- Filter Type – KDF, GAC materials, and a Non-Woven Fabric
- Contaminants Removed – Organic chemicals, chlorine, algae, sediment, soil and various bacteria
- Comes with a durable and flexible anti-kink hose protector
- NSF-certified
- Can handle up to 400 PSI of pressure
- The gallon limit for the filter is unspecified
The Aqua Crest RV Filter uses KDF materials, GAC materials, and a Non-Woven Fabric. As we’ve already mentioned, KDF material absorbs chlorine, algae, and bacteria, while GAC material absorbs organic chemicals.
The non-woven fabric in the Aqua crest garden hose filter is mostly a rigid screen with tiny holes throughout. The concept is similar to reverse osmosis filters, but the holes in the non-woven fabric screen are larger. This means that while the fabric isn’t as thorough as a proper reverse osmosis system, it can still remove sediment and soil particles.
You might also appreciate that the Aqua Crest is certified by NSF against NSF/ANSI 42 and 372 standards. This means that it has been tested to significantly reduce chlorine levels in the water, as well as bad tastes and odors.
The filter also has an anti-kink hose protector made of BPA-free materials and a silicone gasket that’s both flexible and leak-proof. The head of the protector is also made out of copper that’s rust-proof. These qualities make this particular garden hose filter durable and protected against oxidation and damage from rust buildup or leaky connections.
Since it’s capable of enduring up to 400 PSI of pressure, this filter is ideal for any type of hose, regardless of the water flow, and it can even be used in tandem with a pressure washer in case you need to spray down and clean your driveway or deck.
While there’s no specification on the gallon amount that the filter can get through, the manufacturer states that you should get at least 3 months of regular usage before it needs to be replaced. The issue is that “regular usage” isn’t well defined, so you might need conduct frequent water tests after the 3-months mark to ensure it’s still being filtered.
4. Camco TastePURE RV/Marine Water Filter
- Filter Type – KDF, GAC, and a 20-micron membrane
- Contaminants Removed – Organic chemicals, chlorine, algae, sediment, soil, and various bacteria
- Three-phase filtration
- Average lifetime of 3 months
- Comes with a durable and flexible anti-kink hose protector
- The gallon limit for the filter is unspecified
The Camco inline garden hose filter has almost identical filtration materials inside the casing as the Aqua crest we just discussed. The KDF and the GAC materials eliminate most chlorine, algae, and organic chemicals, while the 20-micron membrane works as a screen that removes sediment and soil fragments.
The membranes are divided into several categories:
- The 5-micron membranes removes contaminants from the water except oxygen and hydrogen molecules.
- In contrast, the 10-micron membranes removes contaminants asides from small chemical molecules and bacteria.
- The 20-micron filters this unit uses can only remove large soil and sodium fragments.
While this 3-membrane filtration is not effective as a whole-house reverse osmosis system, it’s as good as any other garden filter on the market except the AquaOx. It can get rid of the most common contaminants in small amounts, and if it can’t completely purify the water, then it means that the water is too polluted for a garden hose filter, and you’ll need to get a more powerful filtration device.
Another similarity this model shares with the Aqua Crest is that it comes with a flexible anti-kink hose protector. This facilitates the attachment of the filter to nearly any hose without the risk of damage from the hose’s rigidity.
While there is no specified gallon limit, the manufacturer estimates that you can get around 3 months of use out of this filter before it needs to be replaced. As always, this will depend largely on the amount of water that you use regularly, but even wasteful users should be able to get at least 2 months out of this filter.
5. LOVHO Garden Hose Sediment Filter
- Filter Type – 40 mesh screen
- Contaminants Removed – Sediment and soil
- Can handle any GPM
- Can be cleaned and reused
- Doesn’t limit water flow
- The filter is only effective for removing large soil and sediment particles
The LOVHO isn’t like the other filters we reviewed simply because of its design. While the other hose filters we looked at are cylinders with filtration materials inside, this model has more of a T-shape.
Two valve connections at the top of this filter serve as the input and output points for the water. The water hose is attached to a connector, which is then attached to the input valve of the filter. The output valve is attached to another connector, which leads to a hose or a nozzle spraying water that’s purified.
The filter itself is located in the cup-shaped casing that can be found right underneath the input and output valves, hence the T-shape of the filter. The shape of this garden hose filter means that it’s easier to replace it than the others since you only need to remove the bottom without actually detaching it from the hose.
The filter uses a mesh to eliminate large sediment and soil fragments from your water and prevent them from contaminating your garden. Unfortunately, aside from that, the filter is not very effective against small contaminants.
On the plus side, the 40 mesh filter won’t reduce the water flow, so this is the perfect choice if your only concern is dirt in your water. This is also the only filter we reviewed that can be removed and washed off before it’s re-used again.
The LOVHO can’t handle contaminants in the water, but it makes up for it in reusability and easy maintenance.
How We Reviewed Garden Hose Water Filters
These are the main factors that we considered when making our selection of garden water hose filters for this article, as well as charts showing how all of them stack against each other.
Filter types
Each garden hose filter has a unique filtration medium that determines what the device can and can’t filter. The filters are separated depending on the type of material or resin. The filter type you choose should depend on the specific contaminants found in your water.
| Garden House Water Filter | Filter Types |
|---|---|
| AquaOx DF 7 Garden Hose Water Filter | Positively charged catalytic active surfaces |
| Waterdrop WD-GDS Garden Hose Water Filter | Ion exchange resin, KDF and GAC material |
| AQUA CREST RV Water Filter | KDF, GAC materials, and a Non-Woven Fabric |
| Camco TastePURE RV/Marine Water Filter | KDF, GAC, and a 20-micron membrane |
| LOVHO Garden Hose Sediment Filter | 40 mesh screen |
Contaminants Removed
The only way to find out what sort of contaminants you have in your water is to either get a home water testing kit or send a sample of your water to a testing lab. Once you get the results back, you will need to find a filter suited to removing that specific contaminant.
However, as you can tell from our chart here, most filters have several filtration media that are capable of removing more than one type of contaminant. Because of this, you can easily find something to eliminate the issues you might be having with your water.
| Garden House Water Filter | Contaminants Removed |
|---|---|
| AquaOx DF 7 Garden Hose Water Filter | Chlorine, sediment algae, viruses, and many types of bacteria |
| Waterdrop WD-GDS Garden Hose Water Filter | Hard minerals, organic chemicals, chlorine, algae, and various bacteria |
| AQUA CREST RV Water Filter | Organic chemicals, chlorine, algae, sediment, soil and various bacteria |
| Camco TastePURE RV/Marine Water Filter | Organic chemicals, chlorine, algae, sediment, soil and various bacteria |
| LOVHO Garden Hose Sediment Filter | Sediment and soil |
Price
Most inline hose water filters have roughly the same price tag. They’re usually between $10 and $20 a piece or slightly less if you buy them in a double pack or more. The one exception to this is the AquaOx, which is 10 times more expensive than most other similar filters.
However, the price is well worth it since you get a very effective filter that can purify much more water than a standard garden hose filter.
| Garden House Water Filter | Price |
|---|---|
| AquaOx DF 7 Garden Hose Water Filter | $349.00 |
| Waterdrop WD-GDS Garden Hose Water Filter | $31.99 |
| AQUA CREST RV Water Filter | $29.99 |
| Camco TastePURE RV/Marine Water Filter | $15.46 |
| LOVHO Garden Hose Sediment Filter | $19.57 |
What is a Garden Hose Water Filter?
A garden hose water filter is exactly what it sounds like – a filtration unit that you attach to the end of your hose.
There are several different brands and filters, and they can remove many contaminants from your water.
Regardless of which sort of filter you get, they’re all pretty small. They can be attached to the end of the hose either through the filter connection or an additional joint connection that the filter comes with to make it compatible with different hose sizes.
The water passes through the filter attached to the hose, where contaminants are removed.
How It Works
A garden hose water filter is essentially just a cylinder with filtration materials inside. The cylinder gets attached to the end of the hose, and all the water that passes through the hose also passes through the filter.
The filtration materials inside the cylinder absorb contaminants from the water passing through. The water comes out cleaner and dKind Water Systemsid of the pollutants the filter is designed to remove.
Each filter also has a specific gallon capacity. Once that capacity has been reached, the filter will become so filled with contaminants that it won’t be effective anymore, and you’ll need to replace it.
Types of Garden Hose Water Filters
Garden hose water filters come in a cylinder or T shape. The cylinders simply look like pipes attached to the hose, while the T shape models have an input and output valve at the top and the filter itself is beneath them.
Aside from the general shape, the more important distinction between most garden hose water filters is their filtration medium.
Whether using a carbon filter, ion exchange resin, or KDF material, these filters can do everything from absorbing minerals from the water to getting rid of harmful bacteria.
Bear in mind that there are many more filtration media than the three we just mentioned, and the list of filter types is as long as the list of water contaminants in your water that you want to remove.
Advantages of Garden Hose Water Filters
Garden filters are incredibly portable and can be attached to most standard-width hoses. They also come with adapters that allow you to connect them to non-standard-sized hoses that are otherwise too big or too small for the regular filter input.
They can help you ensure that the water in your garden doesn’t contain any contaminants that might kill your plants or make you or your pet sick if you drink the water.
Not to mention that these devices are an absolute godsend when you’re camping since they can allow you to drink water from any source except the most incredibly polluted ones.
There are many different types of hose filters, so you can find a model specializing in the particular contaminants found in your water. There are also filters like the AquaOx and the Waterdrop that have several filtration materials that can absorb more than one type of contaminant.
If all of that wasn’t enough, you might also like to know that these devices are incredibly cheap and can easily last you for several months, even if you use your garden hose every day.
As we’ve already mentioned, these filters are also very diverse when it comes to the sort of bacteria and materials they can get rid of. This means that you can find a filter specifically geared towards removing the particular contaminants you’ve found in your water.
Disadvantages of Garden Hose Water Filters
Due to their small size, garden hose filters can only take in so many contaminants before they can’t absorb anymore and must be replaced. The exact lifetime of the filter will depend on the amount of water you use and the exact filter you get, but aside from the very expensive variety, a standard $30 filter will only last you a few months.
Garden hose filters are also not capable of handling water that’s too contaminated for too long. Since the contaminants clog the filters, highly polluted water clogs them more quickly. This isn’t an issue on camping trips since most filters can handle a few days of harsh contaminants. Still, if the water in your home is very contaminated, we suggest going for a more powerful whole-house filter than any of these units.
And finally, the biggest issue with garden hose water filters is that you don’t know when to replace them. There’s no light or filter replacement warning system, so you’ll either need to stick to the average lifetime the company specifies or try to measure the gallons of water you use.
The latter option is incredibly difficult to estimate accurately, and there’s no guarantee that the 3 months of life specified by the manufacturer won’t run out sooner due to increased water use.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you only want to buy a single filter, then the Camco TastePURE RV/Marine Water Filter is the cheapest at $15.46.
If you go for a double pack, then the AQUA CREST RV Water Filter is probably the best option since two filters will only cost you $29.99.
However, if you buy the largest pack that the Waterdrop WD-GDS Garden Hose Water Filter comes in, you can get 6 filters for $12.16 a piece.
Whichever filter you go for depends on what you consider a good deal.
With the exception of the AquaOx, most single garden hose water filters will cost you around $10-20.
The filter will either come with or without a connector. If there’s a connector, you just need to attach it to the hose and then place the filter on it. The other end of the filter will need to be attached to another connector and a nozzle from which the water can exit.
If the filter doesn’t come with a connector, you can attach it directly to the hose. Some filters need to be attached to the base of the hose where they connect to the faucet, while others need to be attached to the opposite end where the nozzle is usually located.
The filter you get will naturally come with instructions, so you’ll be told exactly where and how to attach it.
Conclusion
The AquaOx DF 7 Garden Hose Water Filter has the best filter in this article which will last you for far longer than the other filters. However, it also has a steep asking price.
The Waterdrop WD-GDS Garden Hose Water Filter offers the most attractive price if you’re buying several filters at once.
The AQUA CREST RV Water Filter has a decent filter and can handle hoses with a high PSI.
The Camco TastePURE RV/Marine Water Filter has no particular strengths or weaknesses, so it’s a good choice if you want to cover all of your bases regarding contaminants removed and overall price.
The LOVHO Garden Hose Sediment Filter doesn’t have a particularly good filter, but it’s a great choice for anyone that just wants to get rid of dirt from their water without limiting the water flow.
