In this article we're going to walk you through 4 easy steps to understand and choose the perfect Berkey Filter System to fit your needs.
Step 1: Understanding the Berkey Gravity Filtration System
Berkey water filter systems have an upper and a lower chamber and work via gravity. The source water (tap, well, pond, river, etc) is poured into the upper chamber where it's forced through the filters via gravity making its way into the lower, "purified water" chamber. The systems takes advantage of the extended time each water droplet is in contact with the filters and thus are able to achieve high performance filtration results that many other systems simply cannot match. These are counter top systems only, starting from the smallest Travel Berkey at 1.5 gallons (17" height) to the largest Crown Berkey at 6 gallons (30" height). The internal filtration elements, the Black Berkeys and the PF-2 fluoride filters (links list the contaminants removed), work in any of the system housing models we sell. This allows you to achieve the same high quality filtration results for each size system.
There are 6 system sizes in total (below), and all systems come standard with 2 of our newest generation black berkey filters in the upper chamber. The go berkey and sport berkey are also pictured on the right. Larger systems have the capacity to accommodate more upper and lower chamber filters thus increasing the speed of filtration. (See Flow Rate @ Full Expansion)
| System | Holding Capacity | Fully Expanded | Flow Rate @ Full Expansion |
| Travel Berkey | ~ 1.5 Gallons | 2 Elements(Filters) | ~ 2.75 Gallons / Hr |
| Berkey Light | ~ 2.75 Gallons | 4 Elements(Filters) | ~ 7.5 Gallons / Hr |
| Big Berkey | ~ 2.25 Gallons | 4 Elements(Filters) | ~ 7.0 Gallons / Hr |
| Royal Berkey | ~ 3.25 Gallons | 4 Elements(Filters) | ~ 8.0 Gallons / Hr |
| Imperial Berkey | ~ 4.5 Gallons | 6 Elements(Filters) | ~ 16.5 Gallons / Hr |
| Crown Berkey | ~ 6.0 Gallons | 8 Elements(Filters) | ~ 26.0 Gallons / Hr |
Step 2: Choosing a Berkey Water Filter Size
The golden rule for choosing a size is that bigger is usually better if you have the room in your home (counter, table, plant stand) or storage space. Put simply, the larger the system, the less often you need to refill it, which ultimately translates into convenience. In addition, the higher water volume in the upper chamber increases the pressure that is placed on the filters helping to push it through the filters faster while still maintaining the same high quality filtration results. The differences in cost between the various housing sizes is nominal when you consider that you will be using the same housing for 10-20+ years. Assuming a person drinks 8, eight ounce glasses of water/day, they will consume approximately 64 ounces/day (1/2 gallon). If you plan to use the system for cooking, you would also want to take this into account when sizing.
Here are some sizing guidelines:
Travel Berkey (1.5g) ~ 1-3 ppl
Big Berkey (2.25g) ~ 1-4 ppl
Berkey Light (2.75g) ~ 2-5 ppl
Royal Berkey (3.25g) ~ 2-6 ppl
Imperial Berkey (4.5g) ~ 4-8+ ppl
Crown Berkey (6g) ~ 6-12+ ppl
Step 3: Choosing Your Berkey Filters
Upper Chamber Filters
As mentioned above, all Berkey Water Filter systems require 2 upper chamber filters to operate and these come standard with each system purchase (2 Black Berkey filters). Increasing the amount of filters utilized in the upper chamber will not improve filtration quality, but will increase filtration speed and the volume of water that can be filtered. For example, increasing from 2 Black Berkey elements to 4 Black Berkey elements will approximately double your filtration speed and double the amount of volume that can be filtered; 6000 total gallons to 12000 total gallons.
While the Black Berkeys are sold standard with all our systems, you can still choose the Super Sterasyl Ceramic Filters for your upper chamber filters if desired. In fact, you may have seen the Berkey systems advertised with the Ceramic filters in stores or on the internet. These 2 types of filters are comparable in terms of cleaning and price, however, the Black Berkeys, being a newer design, are able to filter everything the ceramics do in addition to removing Lead, MTBE's and viruses. In addition, the Black Berkeys filter chlorine and bacteria (giardia, e-coli, etc) to higher degrees. The Black Berkey's also meet high ANSI/NSF log 7 standards as water purifiers and show off their prowess by being able to remove red food coloring from water. If interested, read this article for more information on the differences between the black berkey elements and ceramic filters.
* Black Berkey last approx 6000 gallons for a set of 2
* Super Sterasyl Ceramics last approx 1200 gallons per set of 2
Lower Chamber Filters (Fluoride and Arsenic Removal)
The lower chamber filters are referred to as PF filters. PF = Post Filtration. There are 2 types of PF filters. The PF-2's are specifically designed to work with the Black Berkeys, and the PF-4's are designed specifically to work with the Ceramic Filters. The PF filters are easily installed by screwing them onto the stem of the upper chamber elements so that they hang down into the lower chamber of any multi-filter Berkey Water Filter system.
PF filters are optional. If your municipality adds fluoride to your water, or you are concerned about arsenic seepage into your well, then adding the PF-2 Filters onto your black berkeys would be the choice to make. PF-4 Filters also remove fluoride and arsenic in addition to other chemicals that the upper chamber ceramics filters do not remove.
* PF-2 Filters (black berkeys) last 1000 Gallons or 2 Years, whichever comes first
* PF-4 Filters (white ceramic filters) last 6 months
Step 4: Understanding the Berkey Assembly
Watch this video of the Big Berkey
Begin Choosing Your Berkey Filter System HERE
Hi,
My wife and I get Elgin Il water that has Floride.
I also own a pond, which I'd hate to think about it, but what might be the best for us as an option in a crisis....
So any ideas what us.....
John
Oh, and thanks for supporting truth.
Hi John - You best setup would be to choose any of the available systems with the black berkey elements. You also should choose the PF-2 filters as the free item to remove the fluoride from your water. You can use this system on a daily basis to meet your water requirements, and if you ever had to use your pond water in the event of a crisis, this system will purify that water also with no adjustments required.
Dan
Hi there.
Great website, more organized than other Berkey dealers.
I have already made up my mind about purchasing a Big Berkey from this site with 4 black filters and 4 PF2 filters. I only have two questions though, the site says black filters need to be replaced after 3000 gallons per filter, whereas some sites say at least once a year under light use.
For a family of 2 consuming 2 gallons a day, the black filters would only need to be replaced every 16 years (12,000 gallons @ 2 gpd), given the set up above....is that right?
Also, with the ceramic filters it's easy to see when to clean them b/c of the light color. However, the black color makes it almost impossible to see when to clean them. It's also hard to tell when the flow is reduced b/c it's an enclosed system...how can we tell when to clean the black filters?
I'd really appreciate any feedback. Thank you.
Hi Nelson -
Yes, the black berkeys last 3000 each, so your math is accurate. There can be occasions when the black berkey filters last for a shorter duration and this in entirely proportional to the levels of chemicals and contaminants in the water. 3000 / berkey filter is based upon a typical municipal/well water source, but if the source water contains very high levels of heavy metals, pesticides, or the like, this can decrease the life of the filter since the berkey media is like a sponge and can become saturated more quickly.
As for cleaning, with both the ceramic filters and the black berkeys, the goal is to reopen the pores on the outside of the filter. Once the water enters the berkey filter the filtration begins to occur, so by cleaning, you are allowing the process to continue efficiently. Over time, you will become familiar with how quickly your berkey water filter processes the water for you. You will know it's time for a cleaning because the slow down should be evident enough to you to recognize that something's not right. Some customers need to clean their filters once every 2 months, and then there's some customers who never have to clean their filter even once over it's entire lifetime. Again, it will depend on your source water and what it contains.
Hope this helped.
Thanks - Dan
We live in an apartment but planning on relocating within the next year and a half. we have 2 children living in our home at the time. which berkey system would be right for us? and can i take it with me when i move?
Hi Nelli -
A good fit for you and your family would be the big berkey water filter (2.25 Gallons). If you fill the upper chamber once per day, this would make available at least 1/2 gallon per day for each family member. The big berkey, like all the berkey water filters, can sit on your countertop and can be used in any future home you desire to live in. As an alternative, customers short on counter space buy three/four legged plant stands for their berkey and sit the system in a corner or another part of the kitchen.
Thanks - Dan
I would like to say that I love my Berkey water filtration system. I have compared it to every water filter but this is best ever,
Can a water filter be over-filled or will the water stay in the upper chamber until space in the lower chamber is available?
Hi Anna -
If the water in the lower chamber of the berkey is at capacity, you will not want to fill the upper chamber. The system is not airtight as air needs to be able to flow in and out of the system for the gravity filtration to take place. Thus, if the lower chamber is full, water will keep filtering from the upper chamber and eventually overflow out the side seam where the lower and upper chambers meet.
Thanks
Dan
Hi,
The information you have is very thorough, but after sifting through the internet for two hours trying to make a decision, it is all very overwhelming. We live in an area where fracting is common. Our water, though city water, OFTEN REEKS of chemicals--smells like lawn fertilizer. We have been buying bottled water for almost 2 years and we are tired of it.
In addition to the chemicals that are surely in our water, I am also interested in something that will be portable in the event we have to quickly evacuate. In addition, something that kills viruses and e-coli. Can you please email me back and help. I am ready to purchase, but can't make a decision. BTW, thanks for the AJ discount ;)
Kaydee
Hi Kaydee -
The berkey water filter using the black berkey filters will remove e-coli and other bacteria from the water at 99.99999%. This is considered water purification by NSF standards. Test results can be viewed on the <a href="http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/berkey-filter-replacements-c-67/black-berkey-filters-2-p-187" rel="nofollow">black berkey water filter</a> page.
The filters have also just been tested for the MS2 and Fr Coliphage viruses this summer. Click here for <a href="http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/berkey_water_filter_virus_removal" rel="nofollow">berkey virus removal</a> test results.
Thanks
Dan
We live in an area with chemical manufacturers and there are reports that our ground water is or will be contaminated with multiple chemicals from petroleum, and other chemical plants. How much and which chemicals will the Berkey filter out? Thanks.
We are a family of two and have a rainwater collection system that is pumped back into the house for our water use. What is the best Berkey water filter to use to reduce/eliminate aluminum in our water supply (the rainwater is collected from a metal Galvalume roof)?
Hi Pat -
Any of the berkey water filter systems using the black berkey filters will be effective at removing aluminum up to 95% as well as purifying out bacteria that may have collected on the roof and washed into the system. You just need to decide what size of a system you would like in your house. For only 2 people, you could choose a Travel Berkey, Berkey Light, Big Berkey, or even a Royal Berkey if you'd like some extra capacity storage.
Thanks
Dan
Hi Angela -
For a listing of what chemicals and petroleum products the Black Berkey filters will remove, please refer to the <a href="http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/berkey-filter-replacements-c-67/black-berkey-filters-2-p-187" rel="nofollow">black berkey</a> page. The <a href="http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/berkey-filter-replacements-c-67/pf-2-arsenic-and-fluoride-water-filters-2-p-188" rel="nofollow">PF-2 filters</a> only remove fluoride and arsenic.
Thanks
Dan
We are looking into getting a Berkey for our family. I understand what it draws out of the water - but does it also remove the essential minerals?
Thanks.
Hi Camille -
The black berkey filters will leave in the essential minerals such as calcium, pottasium, magnesium, etc.
Thanks
Dan
We have a brackish pond by our house. Will the Berkey remove salt content?
Hi Ed -
No, the Berkey filters do not remove salt, so they would not help in this regard.
Thanks
Dan
HI
My mother is 76 and still living alone, She has a shallow well which tested safe by district standards but it leaves a terrible brown stain on everything from the dogs dishes to the toilet bowl. Also it has a terrible odor, like rotten eggs sort of. Will the Berkey filters help with this issue? I would like to buy her one for her birthday.
Hi Heidi -
This is most likely sulfur and possibly some high iron levels. The berkey water filters will reduce both sulfur and iron to a significant extent, but will not eliminate it completely.
Thanks
Dan
Hello, I'm an Alex Jones listener in the middle of a SERIOUS budget crunch right now, and need the most affordable option to remove fluoride from the tap water at my apartment.
Thanks,
Jason
Hi Jason -
The travel berkey that comes with the black berkeys is our least expensive system. You would need this berkey filter system and then the PF-2 fluoride filters that go in the lower chamber. Use the code "alex jones" during checkout.
Thanks
Dan
Dan:
If the filters in the top chamber are vertical, does a small amount of water left at the bottom of the top chamber (when most of the water has flowed down into the bottom chamber) get less filtration than water flowing down when the top chamber is full?
Thanks,
John
Hi John -
No, the water tests are based upon all the water that is filtered from the upper chamber. It does not decipher between water filtered from the top and/or bottom.
Thanks
Dan
I love your site! Its very informative and well thought out. Thank you!
I am a little confused though, Is the difference between the Berkey and the Imperial is the size? The filters and reduction of everything is the same?
Thanks!
Hi Wendi -
The imperial berkey is a 4.5 gallon version of the berkey model. There are a total of 7. All the berkey systems use the black berkey filters standard, and thus quality is the same regardless of system chosen.
Thanks
Dan
Hi there- I would like a very effective filter that I don't need to replace, but can maintain by cleaning (ceramic) and a system that does not use plastic (stainless steel or ceramic). Do you carry anything like this. Thanks.
Hi Mandy -
All filters need to replaced at some point as the media will reach a level of saturation. We have both black and ceramic berkey filters that you can get in a stainless chamber. A set of black berkeys last 6000 gallons and a set of 9" ceramic filters last 1200 gallons. Both can be maintained by cleaning the outside of the filter until full saturation is reached.
Thanks
Dan
Are there things that the combination of (Black+PF4) eliminates that the combination of (Black+PF2) would not?
Thanks,
Sam
Hi Sam -
The PF-4 filters only work with the berkey ceramics as they are designed specifically for those filters. The PF-2's only work with the black berkeys. The PF-2/Black Berkeys are the best filtration combination.
Thanks
Dan
Hello,
I want to purchase the Big Berkey with 2 black filters and 2 PF-2 filters. Will that work? Plus, how long would it last before I change the filters? Thanks!
Hi Alex -
The black berkeys would last 600 gallons of water and the PF-2 filters would last 1000 gallons or 2 years, whichever came first.
Thanks
Dan
We are a family of 4 looking for a water filtration system to use in case of emergency. We are at the base of a mountain and have a stream that runs off the mountain, the length of the property. There are just one or two houses above ours. What system would make the stream water safe to consume in the event of an emergency and interuption to our water supply. 2 adults and 2 children. We are currently at the end of the city water line and would be interested in filtering our city water supply as well.
Hi Tonia -
Any of the systems with the black berkeys will fit your needs for both the stream water and the city water. Given the size of your family I would recommend the big berkey, royal berkey, or the berkey light. Any of these systems equipped with 2 or 4 black berkey filters will perform as desired.
Thanks
Dan
I plan to buy a Berkey filter unit but I have a question. In one of your posts you recommended specific units and also recommended "equiped with 2 or 4 black berkey filters".
My question is: Say I buy the Big Berkey, how many black berkey filters do I need?
Hi Charles -
2 black berkey filters will work just fine. You can purchase 4 if you would like faster filtration and the longer life that comes with 4 black berkeys.
Thanks
Dan
Hi Dan,
Would the black berkey filters work in a whole house pressurized system? If not, do you have any recommendations for a whole house filtration system? I have well water and want to set up something to filter the water before it hits the tap. I plan on purchasing a berkey system for the times when the power goes out. No water equals third world status very quickly. Also, if I have to use pond, lake or river water through the system is there any special cleaning or sterilization needed of the system once we return to a cleaner source of water? Would it be recommended that we replace the filters once we have used the system with obviously contaminated water or do we just go back to every day use without any concern?
Thanks,
Richard
Hi Richard -
No, the filters are only designed to work in a gravity filter system. As for water becoming third world status, in the events of hurricanes, flooding, water would be become third world status very quickly as the clean water distribution systems and other potable water supplies become contaminated. The filters are designed to be used in this regard, so, there is no need for cleaning the filters or replacing them post a filtration of contaminated water. If you feel tentative in doing this, you can perform a red food coloring test on the black berkey filters to confirm they are operating as designed.
Thanks
Dan
Hi,
I am interested in the Berkey filter system. One question I have is, do the systems filter out sulphur content? The water in our area has a multitude of gas wells which, from my understanding, have allowed sulphur to seep into the water system.
Regards,
Benjamin
Hi Benjamin -
Yes, the filters will reduce sulphur conten however because it is a competing comtaminant, it cannot be guaranteed to remove it completely.
Thanks
Dan
I'm sensitive to both coconut and corn, and am wondering if the black filter uses charcoal with coconut as the source for it. Will the ceramic filters be corn and coconut free as well?
Hi Joyce -
The filters do use coconut shell charcoal as one of the ingredients, so we would not recommend using these filters given your allergies.
Thanks
Dan
Are you saying the Berkley Black filters will make harvested rainwater drinkable? I'm in the process of starting a harvesting system for my home in SW Florida and one knows not what the future holds and water is precious.
Hi Wayne -
Many customers use the berkey system for rainwater harvesting, but we cannot make a blanket statement that this will work for all setups. This is because if it it being collected from a roof, the roofing shingles can contain chemicals that the filters have not been tested for. We can only speak to what the filters have been tested for and in many rainwater collection systems, the water is only coming in contact with plastic, aluminum, etc; and in these cases we know the system is sufficient.
Thanks
Dan
Hi I am looking for a system which will clean the water for the whole house including for showers. Is the Berkey system a whole house system. Mainly I want to use it to remove the chlorine and fluoride in our water.
Thanks Christy
Hi Christy -
No, the berkey systems are not whole house systems, but rather standalone gravity systems used for drinking and cooking water. We also have <a href="http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/berkey-filter-accessories-c-68/shower-head-filter-p-189" rel="nofollow">home shower filters</a> available.
Thanks
Dan
Hi there. We have five people in our family and use a lot of water for drinking and cooking. I'm thinking of getting your biggest model and, if I understand correctly, getting four of the black filters will give me the fastest filtration. Also, how will I know when the filters need to be replaced? Is there some visible sign? Also, I would like to use this filtered water (I would be buying a separate one) for our animals on our family farm. Is there a way to hook up a hose instead of using the spigot? Thanks so much!
Hi Erin -
No, there is no way to attach as hose to the system. The biggest model is the crown and that can hold up to 8 filters in the upper chamber, thus that would provide the fastest filtration. The filters need to be replaced approx every 6000 gallons per set of 2, so you can keep a rough idea of your usage by how many times you fill the 6 gallons system per week and then extrapolate that usage estimate out over time. Also, you can perform a red food coloring test at any time on your filters to make sure they are still filtering as designed. http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/wordpress/water-filters/the-black-berkey-red-food-coloring-test/
Thanks
Dan
Hi,
I just got the imperial berkey, and i love how my water tastes. The only problem is that it leaks from the seam (where the upper and lower chamber meet). Is there a way to tell how much water is in the lower chamber without adding too much to the upper? I don't have the glass spigot. Perhaps there is a way to seal the seam and still allow for air to be released?
Please help, as this is quite an annoying (and really messy) problem. The water is always leaking on my table.
Thanks,
Andy
Hi Andy -
The lower chamber is not designed to be filled past the seam, so you always want to be careful not to add water to the upper chamber if the lower chamber is filled. The sight glass spigot should help you keep an eye on this. Like you mention, that seam between the 2 chambers allows the air flow to come in and out, and is the only means of transfer, thus you do not want to block that.
Thanks
Dan
I was told that all carbon and charcoal filters are recommended by The World Health Organization to be changed every year regardless of how much water they they filter. My sister was told by your rep that 4 black Big Berkey filters would last up to 16 years! What is the truth here?
Also I was told that the stainless steel Berkey does not come with a base and yet i see in your video that it does? Thank you for answering my questions., Valerie Kanatas
Hi Valerie -
We are not familiar with this WHO recommendation and if you could email us at customerservice@bigberkeywaterfilters.com and point us to it, we'd appreciate it. A couple things to keep in mind though is that the black berkey filters are made up of more than 6 different media, and not solely based on charcoal and/or carbon. This is important as there is a self-sterilizing feature to the black berkey elements that possibly is not accounted for in this WHO recommendation. I would also note that a charcoal/carbon media of 16 ounces would last much longer than a media that was only 2 ounces, so there is also some distinguishing points in that all filters are not created equal. With that being said, the ratings of the black berkeys are based on usage of tap/well water. The more contaminated the water (pond, lakes, puddles, etc) the less gallons they will be able to filter, because like a sponge they will reach a saturation point quicker due to the higher concentrations of contaminants.
Thanks
Dan
I was buying filtered water as we traveled on our camping trip. It was hassle always looking for a place to buy water and fill our 6 gallon stainless steel dispenser. Looks like your system will do everything for us and more.
Does your system filter calcium carbonate or would an additional softener be needed?
Hi -
The filters do not remove beneficial minerals, so this would remain in the filtered water.
Thanks
Dan
I live in China. All of our water must be filtered or we must buy bottled water. We have high levels of chlorine and metals in our water....among many other things, I'm sure. In your opinion, would the Berkey system work for us? Do you have locations in China that you sell your filtration system? Thanks for any information?
Hi Anna -
Yes, any of the systems with the black berkey filters would fit your needs. There are no distributors in China, however we do ship there.
Thanks
Dan
We would like to order one of the Berkey Lights to keep in our barn (just for human drinking water), but I wasn't sure what the acceptable temperature range for the plastic would be. Is it possible the temp could get so cold in the winter that the plastic would easily crack? We are in the Colorado mountains so the temps can get very cold. Thanks for your help!
Hi Andrea -
You do not want to expose the filters to freezing temperatures, nor high temps over 120 degrees.Since the black berkeys are the most sensitive to temperature, you would want to make your system decisions based on this. The plastic will be fine throughout this range.
Thanks
Dan
I live on the bayous of Louisiana....I was wondering if in an extreme emergency that I could filter that water and drink it.
Hi Sue -
Yes, this system would be effective for filtering that water.
Thanks
Dan
How long should I expect the first filtration to take? It's been one hour and fifteen min. Water not yet up yo site glass
Hi Teresa -
Once you've primed the black berkey filters fully, for a system like the big berkey - if you fill the upper chamber to the top - in the first hour you would get approx 3/4-1 gallon.
Thanks
Dan
We are planning to live year round in the wilderness for the next 3-4 years. What berkey system would be best for 2 people? I am concerned about freezing temperatures in the winter. We would have a stove in the tent during the worst part of the winter.
Hi Gloria -
Any of the systems with the black berkey filters would suffice. Please be aware that if the filters freeze when they are wet, it will most likly damage them, so you would want to prevent this.
Thanks
Dan
I moved into the city last year (from a country home with spring well) and I can smell the chlorine in the water (unfortunately we have fluoride too). Synchroncity was at work when I checked your site out a while back, then looked at the very expensive Enagic Kangen machines and then circled around back to your Berkeys! I will definintely purchase your Royal model with the PF-2 filters after the winter holiday calms down and I find a location for it in my small kitchen. BTW, do you ever run sales on the black and PF-2 filters? Thanks for supplying a much needed product, Dan.
Patri in Port Chester, NY
Hi Patri -
We are not permitted by the manufacturer to run sales on the items lower than what we currently offer. We only can provide bulk discount pricing and 5% off with the "alex jones" code on ceramic filters.
Thanks
Dan
Copper is our challenge in our house. So much so that our kitchen sink has a blue stain where the water drips. It is also in the showers and toilets! Drinking water is my main concern first. If we purchased the Berky Light, which filters would you use for copper removal? Thanks Stephanie
I live in a suburb of chicago w/ chicago water. I have been investigating RO systems, as my understanding was that this was the only way to eliminate flouride. I've just come across your site and I am now totally confused. I have an undersink filter system, but it does not filter out the flouride (which I understand in prevalent in our chicago water).
can you clarify, if possible, about your system. Do I want RO?
also, does your system sit on the countertop? is there a stand?
hi Robin -
Yes, it sits on a countertop and can filter fluoride from the water with the add-on PF-2 filters. There is a stand(the plastic one used for the berkey light), or alternatively you can use a wooden plant stand or leave the spigot over the corner of your sink or hanging off the counter side as some other options.
Thanks
Dan
Hi Stephanie -
Yes, the black berkeys that come with the berkey light will remove copper over 95%.
Thanks
Dan
I live on the coast without a reliable source of fresh water in an emergency. Do you have any desalinator products? Thank you.
Hi Jody -
No, the berkey filter systems will not remove salt.
Thanks
Dan
Hi, I'm wondering if the filters can be stored for a long time frame. If I bought extra when I bought the system would I be able to store them and they would be ok in a year or two. Thanks!
Hi Jess -
Yes, the berkey filters can be stored indefinitely as long as they are not exposed to freezing temperatures or heat over 120 degrees.
Thanks
Dan
I am 74 yrs old and have been recently diagnosed with a lead and thallium toxic levels in my body.
We have a well water. The original well was put in in 1937. Replaced with a new well in 2007. Water testing done in 2007 showed no problems. (local water testing site).
also home was termite treated extensively in 2006.
does you filtration system take care of heavy metals--ie lead and thallium?
thanks
kathy
Hi Kathy -
Yes, the black berkey filters we recently shown in testing to reduce lead by over 97.5% and Thallium over 99.75. Let us know if you need anything else.
Thanks
Dan
We have to put salt in our well water holding tank. Will the berkey remove this?
Does this system filter out chlorine? And what is the limitations? What does it NOT filter out besides salt?
Hi Karen -
Yes, it removes chlorine to undetectable levels. The filters will not remove beneficial minerals also.
Thanks
Dan
Hi Goji -
No, it will not.
Thanks
Dan
How do you clean the black filters?
Hi Mike -
Details on cleaning the black berkey filter and other maintenance tips can be found here:
http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/blog/berkey-water-filter/anns-helpful-hints-for-berkey-water-filter-systems
Thanks
Dan
I am looking at purchasing a berkey. I live in an duplex in Maine.
I am looking to filter both my drinking water as well as my shower.
I was looking at the berkey crown. Is it able to filter the water that I shower with? If so, is the insallation permanent (as in, could I install it in my duplex without damaging anything, so when we leave there is no damage)
Thanks!
Rhiannon
Hi Rhiannon -
No, the Crown berkey would only be used for drinking water. The berkey filter systems are countertop systems and do not get installed into your plumbing. With that being said, we do have a shower filter that you can install (and remove if moving), that goes in between the pipe coming out of your wall, and your existing shower head. So, you could purchase a countertop berkey system for you drinking water, and then a shower filter for your shower.
http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/shower-head-filter.html
and a shower filter that comes with a massage head attached:
http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/shower-head-filter-w-massage.html
Also, the crown is the largest system and will most likely take up too much space in your kitchen. You should most likely be looking at the travel berkey to royal berkey size range. Let us know if you need anything else.
Thanks
Dan
I have a salt water type pool that has a chlorine generator. In an emergency, would the filters make the water drinkable?
Hi Steve -
Yes, the filters will remove chlorine from the pool water, but if the levels are very high, it may take more than 1 run through the berkey system. Also, be aware that if there are other chemicals in this pool water, the filters may or may not remove them, so you would need to take a look at this.
Thanks
Dan
Hi there,
I've read all the comments above but would like to ask directly -- for a family of 2 adults 2 children that do a lot of cooking and drinking what size system would you reccomend?
Thank you
Hi Sheila -
I would recommend the Big Berkey, Berkey Light, or the Royal Berkey. The Royal Berkey is on sale currently, so probably your best option.
Thanks
Dan
We ordered the Crown Berkey a couple of weeks ago and couldn't be happier. The service was great, the system arrived in excellent condition, the set-up was quick and easy. In a couple of hours we were drinking the sweetest, best tasting water I have had since drinking my granny's sweet spring water as a little girl. I do have one caution, however. I have three daughters, and find it hard to get near the filter for the crowd around it admiring their reflections in the "mirrored" steel finish. :) Great product, will recommend it to everyone I know!