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Intro to Berkey Water Filters - 101
Sometimes you just need a 5 minute overview to quickly get you up to speed on a particular subject. Below, please find what I consider to be the top 10 basics of berkey water filter systems.
- There are 7 berkey water filter housing models all using the same internal filters. Starting from lowest in price and working our way up; Berkey Light, Travel Berkey, Big Berkey, Berkey Light w/ LED, Royal Berkey, Imperial Berkey, Crown Berkey. The Berkey Light and Travel Berkey are classified as outdoor filter systems, while the remaining are classified as indoor systems.
- There are 2 types of upper chamber filters; Black Berkey’s and Super Sterasyl Ceramics (7″ and 9″). More filters in the upper chamber results in faster filtration.
- Ceramics are a tried and true filter with over 100 years of history behind them. The Black Berkey’s are a newer composite of over 6 types of media meant to take filtration to the next level and are rated as a water purifier. Black Berkey’s remove everything Ceramic Filters do, yet go one step further by filtering out MTBE’s, Lead and other heavy metals.
- There are 2 types of lower chamber filters (PF=Post Filtration); PF-2 and PF-4. Fluoride is a primary target for these filters. PF-2’s function with Black Berkey’s, and PF-4’s function with Ceramics.
- Total system weight ranges between 6 and 13 pounds. Total system volume ranges between 1.5 and 6 gallons.
- Black Berkey and Ceramic Filters last 6000 gallons for a set of 2. PF-2’s last 1000 gallons for a set of 2. PF-4’s are to be replaced every 6 months.
- The average cost per gallon of Berkey Water is 1.7 cents.
- Systems assemble in approximately 5-10 minutes. Housing cleaning is easy with regular soap and water. Scotchbrite pads clean both the Black Berkeys and the Ceramics.
- Berkey Customer service is supported by both BigBerkeyWaterFilters.com and the manufacturer, New Millenium Concepts LTD.
- Berkey Systems are covered by a 6 months manufacturers warranty and Black Berkey’s are covered by a 2 year prorated manufacturers warranty.
Hey Dan,
Nice overview.
Thanks for blogging and thanks for the product shipment last month.
I got you a small plug in a blog I wrote last week: http://abela.me/blog/what-i-had-for-lunch/ — nothing big yet, still writing up my own review of the products.
Thanks again!
John B. Abela
Eureka, California
What I find amazing with ceramic filters that its not like humans have actually invented this wonderful product - its left over life of stream and glacier beds.
Not only does diatomaceous earth protect our water via ceramic filters it also kills most known crawling bugs both microscopic and visible.
We live in wonderful world and we have been provided with wonderful tools - it’s about time we stopped screwing it up and taking better care of it.
Bigberkey produces wonderful products
This is a great overview of the Berkeys. I have been studying these on-line for the past hour or so and this is a great summary.
I am torn on whether to buy the Big Berkey or to buy the ceramic cartridges myself and build my own water storage assemblies with plastic buckets. I am thinking that the stainless steel units will last a lot longer.
Great info…
Seize the Day,
Rob
Emergency Preparedness For the 21st Century Family
[...] It’s important to note that if you already own the Ceramics and are looking to address some of these missed contaminants like Lead and MTBE’s, the PF-4’s will remove this in addition to growing public concerns like Fluoride and Arsenic. Along those same lines, if you own or are considering purchasing the Black Berkeys and would like to remove Fluoride and Arsenic, choosing the PF-2’s as an add-on will accomplish this goal. To learn more about other configuration aspects of Berkey filters, please read my article, Intro to Berkey Water Filters 101. [...]