Berkey water filters utilize both ionic and mechanical absorption mechanisms for maximum water filtration efficiency, filtering over 6000 gallons before needing replacement elements.
Each kit provides all of the tools necessary for assembly of an effective system, including two stackable silver chambers with lid, rubber ring base and spigot for use as well as 2 filters – there are even options to include fluoride filters as well!
Installation
No matter where you live or just need reliable water purification solutions, Berkey water filter systems offer reliable results. Their gravity-fed design can filter out fluoride, arsenic and other heavy metals along with bacteria such as amoebiasis and giardiasis from your drinking water supply.
Once the lower chamber has been prepared, assemble both chambers together making sure that they fit securely together. Finally, install your Black Berkey purification elements which form the heart of this system.
Once the filters are primed, secure them to the top canister. If your model includes a spigot, thread it through its hole in the bottom canister and secure it securely with screws. Make sure the silicon gasket touches the spigot tube; secure with screws as necessary – now your Berkey is ready! Enjoy healthy drinking water for you and your family.
Prime the Filters
Berkey water filters can filter large volumes of water efficiently, filtering out contaminants such as bacteria, cysts, heavy metals like lead and mercury as well as chemical pollutants like chlorine fluoride and pesticides. To make sure it functions optimally it must first be primed.
This process helps ensure the purification elements in the Black Berkey are saturated with water. Without priming, filters will filter very slowly; so slowly that even leaving them overnight might still yield some meager amount of filtered liquid.
Priming your filters requires using either the brown priming gasket and blue teat that come with your accessory kit or purchasing an individual primer pump from Berkey Store; details for both of these methods are outlined in your downloadable instructions at purchase time. An easier method would be putting your filters under a running faucet with its spigot turned on; simply pull back and spin.
Red Dye Test
The Berkey kit contains everything needed to set up the system. There’s a stainless steel top and bottom bowl, as well as a lid secured by knob and screw, standard plastic tap with washers and nut, optional spigot (if your model allows) and plugs to cover any extraneous holes in the top bowl.
The package comes complete with vials of red food dye to use as a test to make sure that your filters are functioning as designed. Pour a small amount into water and see if it comes out clean–that should indicate proper installation and functioning of filters. Once complete, enjoy tasty and clean drinking water! Setup takes only 5 minutes or so; once everything has been assembled and washed thoroughly before filling up your upper chamber and watching water filter down into lower chamber.
Maintenance
Though the Berkey system is simple to set up and use, regular maintenance is important to ensure its maximum effectiveness. This includes cleaning and priming of its Black Berkey elements (and optionally its PF-2 fluoride filters).
Start by filling a bucket with clean, purified water (you may add 16 drops of bleach if necessary) and submerging the Black Berkey elements for several minutes in this solution. Next, use a non-scratch 3M Scotch Brite pad to scrub each element thoroughly to remove any residual debris, before rinsing and repeating this step once or twice until dry before moving on with your cleaning routine.
Once your elements have been cleaned and primed, insert them into the top chamber with their stems pointing up, tighten the wing nut securely, and begin your system’s setup process. To test that your filters have been correctly primed you can place them in a container of water to see if they sink before proceeding with this system.
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