Camco 22491 12V Fresh Water Demand Pump, 3 GPM 55 PSI Self-Priming

The Camco 22491 is a 12-volt fresh water demand pump built for the potable water system on your RV or boat. It self-primes, pushes 3 gallons per minute, and holds 55 PSI, so you get real pressure at the tap instead of a sad trickle. Wire it to your house battery, plumb it into your fresh tank line, and it runs on demand every time you open a faucet.

Here's what a demand pump actually does. It sits between your fresh water tank and your fixtures, and it kicks on the moment you open a valve. Close the tap and the built-in pressure switch shuts it off. No holding tank pressure to babysit, no manual priming ritual. The 22491 pulls water up from the tank on its own, which matters when the pump sits above the tank or you've just drained the system for the season and need to get it going again.

3 GPM at 55 PSI is enough to run a galley faucet and a shower head without the flow collapsing when someone flushes. On a smaller rig or a weekend boat, that's plenty. The variable-flow design eases output up and down with demand, so the pump isn't slamming on and off every time you crack a tap a quarter turn. That smooths out the pulsing you get from cheaper on and off pumps.

Mounting is straightforward, but do it right. Bolt the pump to a solid surface, not a thin panel that'll amplify vibration and buzz through the whole cabin. A lot of folks add a short length of flexible hose on the inlet and outlet to isolate the pump from the plumbing, which keeps the noise down. Keep it accessible too. You'll want to reach the strainer to clean it. And mount it so the pump can draw prime cleanly on restart rather than fighting an air pocket.

It comes with a mesh strainer-filter that threads onto the inlet and catches debris before it reaches the pump. Clean it out now and then, especially after a fill from a questionable source. You also get two 1/2-inch barbed hose adapters. Those are straight fittings, so if your install has a tight bend right at the pump, plan on picking up a couple of 90-degree elbows to make the run clean without kinking the hose.

On the electrical side, run it on a properly fused 12-volt circuit with wire sized for the length of the run. A pump that's starved by undersized wire loses pressure and works harder than it should. Longer runs from the battery need heavier gauge, so don't skimp there. Use adequate wire, keep the connections clean and sealed against moisture, and it'll pull strong pressure for years.

This is a fresh water pump for a potable system. It's not a bilge pump, not a washdown pump for raw water, and it isn't meant to run dry for long stretches. It's built to cycle on demand as you use water, not to run wide open continuously for an hour. Treat it like the demand pump it is and it'll outlast a couple of camping seasons easy. For winter, run the system dry or push RV antifreeze through it like the rest of your plumbing so nothing freezes and splits.

For the price, the 22491 is a solid, honest fresh water pump. It's compact at 8 by 5 by 4-3/8 inches, so it tucks into a tight bay or under a bench seat, and it's self-priming so you're not fighting it every time you refill the tank. Whether you're replacing a tired old pump that's lost its pressure or plumbing a fresh build from scratch, this one gets the water moving and keeps it moving. Simple to install, easy to service, and backed by the Camco name.