Berkey Water Filter Instructions

[henryzimmer]

Yeees! Thanks for a good video! You dont know how many guys have been trying to make a cover of this one hahaha! =D Keep up the good work and quality! Cheers from Sweden

[MessengerNaomi]

Thanks Bob, yes the rate of filtering sped up a lot after a few days; maybe three or so days. AND so happy to report to readers and prospective buyers of the Berkey, the water is now as clean and sparkling tasting as my distiller produced~~so relieved!!! Very happy with my Berkey to date.

[MessengerNaomi]

Hey Bob, just got my Black Berkey up and running two days ago. Two things--it took 36-48 hrs to filter two gallons of water--it just drips and as I recall I think the black berkey is suppose to process several gallons in an hr or two. Do I need to reprime the two filters?

Also will the chemical taste dissipate after a few gallons have been run through the filters? If so, about how many gallons will it require to get a clean tasting water?

[SelfRelianceGuy]

@MessengerNaomi

With the new Black Berkey filters, we have noticed two things. First, it takes long for them to become saturated. This means that they do filter slower when first installed. Keep in mind that the gallons per hour that Berkey publishes are lab results where they keep the top chamber full at all times to create maximum water pressure. With regard to taste, we have found that the taste of the filtered water does mellow slower than the older filters.

[SelfRelianceGuy]

@MessengerNaomi

With respect to taste, we have found from our experience and that of other customers, that the taste takes about 30 to 70 gallons of filtered water to mellow. It continues to mellow from there, but there is a slightly different taste than with the old style filters.

[orrlong]

We have been using the berkey water filter for around 6 months, but would like to take a break from it. Is it possible to store used filters? If so, how would I do that?

[SelfRelianceGuy]

@orrlong

Sure. Remove your filters, place them in a sunny window to dry out for a few days, and then store them in a zip lock bag until you are ready to use them again.

[seahorsecowboys]

hey bob how long can i keep the unused new filters on the shelf for my long term storage ? ...can i vac bag them too ?....cuz if shtf i don't think i willl be able to order new ones .....thank you 4 your help.

[SelfRelianceGuy]

@seahorsecowboys The Black Berkey filter elements are activated with moisture. If you keep them in a dry sealed package they should store on your shelf for years. There is no exact shelf life given by Berkey.

[Macedon51]

Does Berkey filer out industrial toxins like sodium fluoride?

[SelfRelianceGuy]

@Macedon51

You can find a list of published contaminants that the Black Berkey filter removes by looking on the DisasterStuff website. Look at the Black Berkey page toward the bottom.

[UnionMetalhead]

between 4 n 6000 for 2 black filters? notice how the number has dropped! it states on the site 6000 not 4-6000.

[7777theguy]

i shop for berkey online i like the big berkey. i like your berkeys, they are great. i com to your video when i shop for berkey. thanks.

[swombomb]

Thanks for the informative video! Very useful as I'm buying one of these for my mum for Christmas :)

[FreedomIsPopularLLC]

Bob, the ceramic filters come with one washer. Do I put the washer on the top inside of the bucket just under the filter itself or below the bucket along with the nut?

[SelfRelianceGuy]

@FreedomIsPopularLLC , sorry for the slow reply. I am sure you have figured it out already, but you put the washer against the filter and then put the filter through the hole in the top chamber and then put the nut on and tighten it.

[SelfRelianceGuy]

@FreedomIsPopularLLC Washers always go between the filter and the bottom of the unfiltered water chamber. The only thing that should be on the outside of the chamber is the nut. So the filter element and washer go on first, then the filter stem is passed through the hole in the unfiltered water chamber and then the nut is hand tightened.

[SelfRelianceGuy]

@FreedomIsPopularLLC

The black washer always goes on the filter base beforeyou put it through the upper chamber holes.

[HistoryTours]

We Need This!

[TexasCannoneer]

Great video - you explain everything very clearly and articulately. I do have one question. How do you know when one of your filters is ready to be replaced? Is there a way to look at the filter and know, "it's time to change it out" or should we just keep a record log on how much water we process through it? Warm Regards, and again, thanks for the informative video.

[SelfRelianceGuy]

@TexasCannoneer There really is no way to know when a filter should be installed. Berkey recommends that you change your filters every 3000 gallons. We recommend that you measure how many gallons of water you use for one week. Take that number and divide it into 3000 gallons (6000 if you are using two filters). that will give you how many weeks you have. Divide that into 52 weeks in a year and you have how many years you can go before they need to be changed.

[TexasCannoneer]

Great video - you explain everything very clearly and articulately. I do have one question. How do you know when one of your filters is ready to be replaced? Is there a way to look at the filter and know, "it's time to change it out" or should we just keep a record log on how much water we process through it? Warm Regards, and again, thanks for the informative video.

[123backinyerface]

I bought the Royal Berkey with PF2 filters and the thing is amazing, there is only ONE! downside to using the Berkey, you have to remember to fill it BEFORE you go to bed as it does take a few hours to give you perfectly CLEAN water, which is hardly a draw back. Wwe are spoiled with constantly running tap water. The downside of tap water is you have no idea whats in it, or what it is doing to your health and your lifespan.

Water is the most important thing in life, demand the best from it.

[AethericAscension]

sorry for double post, also does the berkey filter out flouride?

[AethericAscension]

does the pf filter remove calcium?

[electricstep]

Your guys are the bomb!!! I have never received such excellent service. What I liked the most was the rep who answered all my questions about the a Royal Berkey. To top it off, I was offered a free Berkey sport bottle. These guys are absolutely the best. I recommend this to everyone. Thanks

[digitalX198]

Great video - THANKS!!

[gasdorf]

i have the white dust as well from the floride filter too?? maybe it was damaged from treading it to tight or from the priming ?? hummm

[NBaimf]

The pf2 filters left a silty film in my bottom unit. i thought that the medium in the pf2 was working up through the threads where they connect to the stems from the black elements. So I wrapped teflon tape around the threads and put the pf2's back on. No difference. I also did not like the fact that they hang submerged in the lower unit. In the end I have stopped using the pf2 elements.

[DontTread0nMe1776]

Did you clean the unit occasionally? If you are not going to use the PF filters you should think about dumping rainwater in the top instead of tap water so you don't drink the fluoride.

[maqsad1]

Are these charcoal filters, how do they work?

[SelfRelianceGuy]

Regarding PF2 Sediment:

From Berkey:

"Yes, this is completely normal. What you are seeing is Calcium. Berkey purification elements make calcium (which is normally invisible) visible. You are doing exactly the right thing by cleaning it with vinegar. We do not recommend using vinegar in a Berkey Light, but a stainless steel Berkey and your kettle is fine.

If you have a Berkey Light we recommend that you only use a mild dish detergent to clean the bottom canister."

[rrtrrtrrtrrtr]

Thanks for posting this info.

I'm still concerned that the white sediment I'm seeeing is the "process dust" mentioned in the PF2 filter's paper work. It has a strange odor, and as far as I know calcium doesn't smell.

I plan on re-priming mine, in case I didn't do it well enough the first time.

[shmahlahin]

Thanks for the reply. Stupid question: is this calcium from the water. I assume as you say this is normal and SAFE to consume. Also I can smell no odour from the purified water. Many thanks for your comments.

[freedombiteback]

I'd worry that it actually makes alumnium fluoride.. which is worse than the fluoride coming out of the taps...Your Thoughts please?.....

I emailed Berkey and they wont respond !!!.......

[rrtrrtrrtrrtr]

I received my big berkey, and I am having the same issue as shmahlahin - white sediment in the lower chamber. I believe it is some of the media from my PF2 filter. What can I do about this?

[shmahlahin]

Hi, I have a berkey just like one in video, has black filters and PF2's. Once water is filtered and used, there seems to be a little white sediment that settles at bottom of my kettle which means I have to clean the kettle once in while with vinegar. The inside of the berkey also has a little of the sediment stuck in the lower tank. Is this normal? Thanks

[SelfRelianceGuy]

Yes. Each Black Berkey element will do 3000 gallons. Each PF2 does approximately 1000. So you need a ratio of of a minimum of 3 to 1.

[SilverLakeDaze]

This was great! Thanks. I have one question.

Is it true that the PF-2 have a shorter life span than the Black Berkey? If so, how do I know when to change the PF-2s and how many to order when I get the unit?