4 Best Heated RV Water Hose [Buying Guide]

RVing in freezing temperatures is not for the faint of heart, if there is one thing that will make it easier it’s a heated RV water hose.

A heated hose will help to stop your pipes and water tanks from freezing and keep the water running in your RV.

We’ve researched all the heated RV hoses that are on the market and picked the 4 best options out there for you.

Heated RV Water Hose Top Picks

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5 Best RV Heated Water Hose Reviews

Finding the best RV heated water hose will help you sleep better on those cold nights knowing that your RV water system is safe from freezing.

We’ve done all the research so you don’t have to, here are the best heated water hoses on the market.

Camco Heated Drinking Water Hose – Best Overall

This is the best heated hose on the market, it can keep the water flowing to temperatures down to -40° F. 

This is the hose that we would choose for a freezing winter RVing, there’s a reason why Camco is one of the best rated RV brands – quality products. In fact we have another Camco product in at number 2 in this review.

The hose connects to a 120 volt AC electrical outlet and is self regulated so it won’t overheat. A 6-foot power cord is also included, so it should be relatively painless to find a power supply. 

The fittings are heavy duty machined and plated for maximum corrosion resistance and the durable exterior jacket protects water hose and electrical components from damage or exposure.

The inner hose has been NSF-61 certified, and is BPA, phthalate and lead free so it’s safe to drink from. 

It comes in various lengths, you can pick from 12, 25 or 50 foot, to keep things comparable we are comparing the 25 foot hose.

And to top it all off it also has female-to-male fittings at both ends so you can connect to the water supply with either end of the hose to more easily reach a 120-volt AC electrical outlet. 

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Drinking safe
  • Various lengths available
  • Works to -40°F
  • ⅝ inch diameter

Cons

  • Not solid brass fittings – but durable plated metal fittings. 

Camco Freeze Ban Heated Drinking Water Hose – Best for Drinking Water

If you’re after a good heated drinking hose then look no further. The Camco Freeze Ban Heated Drinking Water Hose will provide you with fresh drinking water in your RV without any fears over freezing.

The hose connects to a 120 volt AC electrical outlet and is self regulated so it won’t overheat. A 6 foot power cord is also included, so it should be relatively painless to find a power supply. 

The hose has been NSF-61 certified, and is BPA, phthalate and lead free so it’s safe to drink from. 

It comes in various lengths, you can pick from 12, 25 or 50 foot, to keep things comparable we are comparing the 25 foot hose.

Connect your RV fresh water system to a park faucet with no fear of freeze-up in cold weather.

It also has female-to-male fittings at both ends so you can connect to the water supply with either end of the hose to more easily reach a 120-volt AC electrical outlet. 

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Drinking safe
  • Various lengths available
  • Works to -20°F
  • ⅝ inch diameter

Cons

  • Not solid brass fittings – but durable plated metal fittings.

Valterra Fresh Water Hose – Best for Ease of Use

The Valterra hose gives you easier access to the hose fittings and is a more flexible and easier to handle hose. It comes in 15, 25 or 50 foot lengths, we’d recommend the 25 foot one.

This hose has insulated velcro sleeves that will protect the fittings. The fittings are the most likely part to freeze when using a heated hose so this is a useful addition.

It requires a 120 volt AC power supply to power the heating element. 

The hose is self-regulating so you don’t need to monitor the temperature, as it will turn itself off when the weather warms up.

It will provide clean safe drinking water too.

Although it doesn’t have a temperature on the specification, customers have said that is still works at -20 F.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Drinking safe
  • Various lengths available
  • Works to -20°F
  • ½ inch diameter
  • Velcro fittings sleeve to prevent freezing

Cons

  • One male and one female end.

Pirit Heated Hose – Best for Long Length

If length is what you’re after, then look no further than the Pirit heated hose. This hose is 50 feet long and includes a 10 foot power lead, so you can connect to the city water from quite a distance.

This hose is durable and can keep water running through at temperatures as low as -42°F, so you can rest assured that your water systems will be safe.

The plug goes straight into a 120 volt AC and the hose has an inbuilt thermostat so it won’t switch on until the temperature reaches 40°F.

It does have one male end and one female end so you will have to do a bit of planning before you set up.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Works to -42°F
  • ⅝  inch diameter

Cons

  • One male and one female end.

What is a Heated Water Hose?

As you can probably tell by the name, a heated water hose is a hose that has either insulation or a heating element in or around it to prevent the water from freezing.

The heated element will take a small amount of power to keep the hose above freezing. Don’t expect warm or hot water to come out of the end, it’s only purpose is to not freeze over so you can have water in your RV.

Should I Get A Heated Water Hose For My RV?

You’ll only need a heated hose for your RV if you go RVing in freezing temperatures. If this is the case then you will definitely need a heated water hose.

A heated water hose will not only ensure that you get water to your RV but it will also help to stop your tanks and pipes from freezing. Frozen tanks and pipes are likely to crack and leak which will end up costing a fortune.

What I’m trying to say is that prevention is cheaper than the cure, and to prevent your pipes and tanks from breaking you’ll need a heated water hose. Some campsites make them a requirement when the temperatures are freezing or below.

Best Heated RV Water Hose

How to Choose the Best RV Heated Water Hose – Buying Guide

There are lots of different types of heated hoses out there, and it can seem complicated to understand which one is right for you.

We’ve done the research for you and identified the key features that you’re going to want to know about the hose before you buy.

Safety

It’s well known that electricity and water should never mix. So when you have a heated element inside or an electric blanket wrapped around a water hose you’re going to want to know that it’s safe to use.

The brands featured in our review offer the safest heated water hoses on the market. They are made with genuine parts and have passed safety inspections.

There are two ways in which an electric water hose can work. The first is where an electrical heater is inside the hose, or the hose is wrapped in an electrical blanket. Don’t consider buying any other types.

Always use authentic parts if you are repairing or altering the hose to keep its integrity.

You will also want to know if the water coming out of the hose is safe to drink. Luckily for you we have done the research here as well and all the hoses in the review are clearly labeled if they are drinking water.

Size

The main aspects when it comes to the size of the hose is the length and the hose diameter, both are important and you will want to know what sizes you want.

Hose Length

The heating elements should run the length of the hose so, the length shouldn’t affect the heating performance of the hose. 

How long you want your hose to be will depend on how far you usually park from the city water connections. It’s usually better to get a longer hose to be on the safe side, you don’t want to be caught out with a hose that’s too short.

Although a hose that’s too long is cumbersome, we recommend a 25 foot hose. This should be plenty of lengths and is fairly easy to use.

Hose Diameter

The hose’s diameter will affect how much water can move through it and the speed in which it flows. 

A larger diameter will allow more water to flow and a smaller diameter less. 

This means that a larger diameter will have more water inside and therefore more water to freeze, this is a good thing though because it will take longer to freeze than a thinner hose with less water in.

A good diameter to go for is ½ to ⅝ of an inch, this will reduce the chances of it freezing and still be easy enough to manage.

Compatibility

Before you purchase a heated RV water hose you want to make sure that it will be compatible with your RV. All the hoses in our review are compatible with most standard RVs, but always make sure it will be right for yours before purchasing.

Materials

The materials used for the hose will affect its durability and cleanliness, which in a drinking hose is really important.

Water hoses can be made from rubber, PVC or polyurethane. PVC hoses are usually the cheapest, but have the shortest lifespan and don’t hold up well to extreme temperatures.

Therefore most of the hoses in the review are made from rubber, if it’s a drinking hose make sure that the material is also free from lead and BPA so they don’t contaminate the water. Rubber is also flexible and tough, the only downside is that they can be heavy and hard to handle.

Polyurethane on the other hand has the best of both rubber and PVC, they are strong, flexible, lightweight and free from contaminants.

Connections

Because the hose connections are the components that are used the most, they are going to be the weakest link and the most susceptible to breaking over time. Therefore you’re going to want the strongest connection possible.

There are two materials that are used for the connections, brass or plastic. As you can probably guess the brass connectors are going to be the most durable. However plastic ones are cheaper and are easier to use.

Brass connectors are what you should be looking for in a heated RV water hose, as they are stronger and less prone to leaks.

You will also want to consider which fitting type your hose is. This will either be female on both ends of a male and female fitting on either end of the hose. 

Opt for a heated hose with female fittings on both ends, this will give you the freedom to use the hose whichever way round best suits your circumstance. You could plug it into your RV or if you get a site with an AC outlet near the water you can plug it in there.

Burst Pressure

The burst pressure of a hose is the pressure that it can handle before rupturing or bursting. [1

The pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI).

This is important to know about your hose because in the US there is no water pressure standard, so different outlets will have different pressures. You’ll need a hose that can handle high pressures.

Luckily the lowest PSI most hoses burst at is 200 PSI, higher quality hoses can take upto 500 PSI. For context most home faucets are usually 40 to 60 PSI.

If you are concerned about the burst pressure you can attach an RV water pressure regulator to either end of your hose, to monitor it.

RV Heated Water Hose

Budget 

Your budget should always be a consideration, you need to set a limit on how much you’ll be willing to part with for a heated hose.

Heated RV water hoses are quite expensive, but the cost of replacing a broken tank or pipe because it’s frozen will be more.

All the hoses in this review range from $110 to $160.

Lowest Temperature

You’ll want to know the lowest temperature that the hose can handle, the best heated hoses can tolerate temperatures as low as -40°F.

The temperature will depend on where you are camping and at what time of year but these hoses are designed for the coldest temperatures.

Storage

You’ll also want to consider where you’ll be storing your hose when not in use, it will need to be stored out of direct sunlight and out of freezing temperatures. If you opt for the heated RV drinking hose you’ll want to store it in it’s own container for cleanliness.

As long as you store it in a box indoors you will be keeping it in as good of a condition as possible.

Flexibility

You want the hose to be flexible, which all the ones in the review are. However due to the heated element of these hoses don’t expect them to be as flexible as your standard garden hose.

But, more importantly, they want to be kink resistant.

Other ways to Stop Your RV Fresh Water Hose from Freezing

There are alternative methods for preventing your hose from freezing if you don’t want to buy a heated hose.

You can wrap heat tape around your hose, and wrap it with insulation. However, this can end up being more expensive than buying a heated hose, it’s also less effective.

You can also leave the water dripping in the RV, the idea is that if the water is moving then it’s harder to freeze. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case and the hoses can still freeze when water is left dripping.

Unfortunately both these alternatives are lacking and you could still end up with damaged pipes, so in the end we’d recommend buying a heated water hose to save you more money in the long term.

Heated RV Water Hose

Tips for Maintaining Your RV Heated Hose

After you spend your hard earned cash on a heated hose you want to make sure that you’re looking after it properly, they can’t just be left outside. 

Make sure that the hose is stored in a box ideally inside when not in use. 

Heated hoses are more intricate and fragile than a regular hose so make sure that you don’t drive on it, ride over it, or step on it as you could damage the heating element.

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you’ve picked the right hose for you, they are pretty easy to use. However RVing in the winter and freezing temperatures does present more questions, here are some of the most common.

How do I prevent my RV pipes and water tank from freezing?

The last thing you want is for your pipes and tanks to freeze. When water freezes it expands and this can cause your pipes and tanks to crack. Obviously, if that happens it’s an expensive problem to fix.

More modern RVs have taken this problem into consideration and have pipes that can expand a little if this happens. If you have an older RV then you will want to prevent your pipes from freezing.

To prevent your pipes from freezing you can:
– Install A Tank Heating Pad
– Run A Propane Heater Under The RV
– Installing an RV Skirt
– Keeping The Internal Temperature Of The RV Warm
– Running The Water Through The Night
– Insulating Your RV’s Water Pipes
– Use RV antifreeze in your tanks

If you put a couple or more of the options above into use then this will go a long way to protecting your RVs water system during the colder months.

Will one freezing night cause damage?

Yes, it only takes one freeze to burst a pipe or tank.

Can the Heated Hose Stay Connected all Year Round?

You can keep it connected all year, and just unplug the heating element when the weather warms up. However keeping it exposed all year can increase the likelihood of it getting damaged.

What’s the Difference Between a Drinking Water Hose and a Garden Hose?

A drinking hose will be made from materials that are lead and BPA free and safe for people to drink from. A garden hose is not FDA approved and not guaranteed to be safe to drink from.

Heated RV Water Hose Recap

Camco Heated Drinking Water Hose – Best Overall

Camco Freeze Ban Heated Drinking Water Hose – Bet for Drinking Water

Valterra Fresh Water Hose – Best for Ease of Use

Pirit Heated Hose – Best for Long Length

Final Thoughts

If you’re brave enough to go RVing in freezing temperatures then you definitely don’t want to be worrying about your water supply being frozen.

That’s why our pick is the Camco 25ft Cold Weather Heated Drinking Water Hose, with this heated RV water hose you won’t have to worry about your pipes or tanks freezing.

It’s a vital bit of kit for cold weather RVing so don’t neglect a heated hose or you might just be in for more expenses than you bargained for.

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