Berkey water filters provide safe drinking water from polluted creek or stagnant pond environments – an ideal solution for both hostile environments as well as everyday use.
As time passes, Black Berkey purification elements may become clogged with sediment and pollutants that impede filtered water flow rate. Therefore, regularly cleaning your Berkey water filters is essential in prolonging their lifespan and keeping them performing at optimal performance levels.
1. Clean the Elements
Black Berkey filters can filter 6000+ gallons, but must be maintained. Regular use of non-scratch 3M pads to scrub, and thorough rinsing afterward are key in keeping them in good condition.
Start by emptying both chambers of your Berkey water filter system, followed by taking steps to dismantle and set aside your filters by unscrewing their wing nuts and placing them on a clean surface.
Gather a bucket or container filled with clean, purified water (add 16 drops of bleach for extra precaution) and using a new non-scratch 3M pad or something similar, scrub each filter’s surfaces before rinsing in batches of clean water and returning them back into your bucket of clean water. Reprime each filter before installing them back into your Berkey Water Filter system.
2. Clean the Chambers
Always strive to clean the black elements after each use in order to prevent mineral deposits left by hard or mineralized water from clogging them up and leaving behind residue.
Cleaning will also prevent elements from clogging, which could slow flow rates. While not necessary, it would be advisable to clean both chambers and lid regularly as well.
To properly clean chambers, begin by emptying out filters and removing them using plastic wing nuts to secure them to their holders. Next, prepare a bucket of purified water. With a new Scotch Brite scrub pad in hand, give each element of the chamber an in-depth scrubdown before rinsing it as necessary.
3. Clean the Lid
When your Black Berkey elements aren’t cleaned and dried thoroughly, moisture can get trapped inside them and cause mold or mildew growth. To properly clean and dry them, simply take off their filters from their spigots and set them in a bucket with clean, pure water containing 16 drops of bleach for disinfecting purposes.
Begin by cleaning each filter using a 3M non-scratch scrub sponge, followed by thorough rinsing in purified water before leaving them to sit and air dry on a clean surface. This will not only clean and disinfect spigots and sight glass spigots but will also eliminate any dirt and grime build-up over time that has accumulated over time. Regular maintenance of spigots, sight glasses and blocking plugs will improve water flow while reducing clogging issues.
4. Clean the Spigot
If your Berkey system features a spigot, it should be regularly cleaned. Begin by disassembling it and soaking all components in a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts water for several hours; use a clean brush to scrub away any build-up on its spigot before rinsing well and drying thoroughly before reassembling your Berkey system.
Cleaning your Berkey water filter regularly will keep it running efficiently for years to come. To do so, it is recommended that the black elements be thoroughly cleansed once every six months and fluoride filters twice annually – although you can choose a more frequent schedule if desired. Once each element has been cleansed it must be re-primed after cleaning to ensure effective functioning.
5. Clean the Washers
Berkey water filter systems are portable systems designed for road trips and camping expeditions. To ensure optimal water flow through them, it’s crucial that its washers remain free from debris so as to allow the most water possible through.
To properly clean washers, take several steps: 1) detach them from their filters and immerse them in a container with water; then soak for several hours so as to eliminate any mineral deposits which have built up; and 2) soak again so as to fully flush away all mineral accumulations that have formed on their surfaces. This should help get rid of any mineral build-up.
Once the washers have been thoroughly cleansed, rinse them under cool running water to restore them for use again. In particular, make sure that any black filters have been primed again prior to their reintroduction into service.
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