Intro to Berkey Water Filters - 101

By Dan DeBaun

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.

 

1. There are 7 berkey water filter housing models all using the same internal water 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.

 

2. 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.

 

3. 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.

 

4. 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.

5. Total system weight ranges between 6 and 13 pounds. Total system volume ranges between 1.5 and 6 gallons.

 

6. Black Berkeys last 6000 gallons and the 9" Ceramic Filters last 1200 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.

 

7. The average cost per gallon of Berkey Water is 1.7 cents.

 

8. 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.

 

9. Berkey Customer service is supported by both BigBerkeyWaterFilters.com and the manufacturer, New Millenium Concepts LTD.

 

10. Berkey Systems are covered by a 6 months manufacturers warranty and Black Berkey's are covered by a 2 year prorated manufacturers warranty.

Dan DeBaun

Dan DeBaun

Dan DeBaun is the owner and operator of Big Berkey Water Filters. Prior to Berkey, Dan was an asset manager for a major telecommunications company. He graduated from Rutgers with an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering, followed by an MBA in finance from Rutgers as well. Dan enjoys biohacking, exercising, meditation, beach life, and spending time with family and friends.

~ The Owner of Big Berkey Water Filters

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  • Avatar of Craig Craig 2014-04-01 16:05:21

    I am preparing for an emergency situation where the only available water source would be stagnant pond water. I am planning on a gravel & sand "rough filter" then chlorine treatment, before my Berkey system with the Black Filters. Will the chlorine have a negative effect on the Berkey filters? Will the Berkey filters remove chlorine taste?

  • Avatar of Dan Dan 2014-04-01 16:09:49

    Hi Craig -

    No, it will not have a negative impact and the chlorine taste will be removed. Please be aware that the black berkeys are specifically designed to filter stagnant pond water, so the per-treatment "rough filter" and chlorination steps would not be needed. The Berkey would still purify the water without these steps.

    Thanks
    Dan

  • Avatar of Sean Sean 2013-06-29 18:53:19

    Is there a way to soften the water after it is filtered through the system. We have extremely hard water and I understand that the Berkey system doesn't handle dissolved solids so I'm wondering if the hard water is going to be an issue even after filtration?

  • Avatar of Dan Dan 2013-07-03 19:56:25

    Hi Sean -

    The filters would not soften the water, so you would need to apply another method for softening the water if that is desired.

    Thanks
    Dan

  • Avatar of kathy kathy 2013-04-08 14:42:08

    can you put a ceramic and black filter together in a Big Berkey - would this help the filtering the water?
    Does it really matter which flouride/arsenic filter you use with ceramic or black filter?

  • Avatar of Dan Dan 2013-04-08 16:37:40

    Hi Kathy -

    No, you would not want to combine ceramic and black berkey filters as they filter to different standards. You would lose the advantage of the higher quality black berkey filter if ceramics were also filtering water at the same time. And, yes it does matter which fluoirde filters you use. They PF-2's will only fit onto the black berkey filters, and the PF-2's only the ceramics, so you cannot mix and match the fluoride filters either.

    Thanks
    Dan

  • Avatar of Letha Letha 2012-09-13 06:24:00

    Hi there - thanks for this summary. We're trying to figure out removing chloramines and fluoride, and, I guess then, aluminum. ?? MTBEs, VOCs, and pharmaceuticals are other candidates for removal that catch my eye in particular. One thought I've had is to treat our tap water with ascorbic acid tablets, then run that water through a Big Berkey. Does this sound crazy? Would [whatever products of whatever reactions occur to remove the chloramines] be filtered out or would they remain in the water (&/or significantly reduce the life of our Berkey's filters)? And about the aluminum: what about getting two units - one with the Black Berkey filters and the PF-2s, then run that water through a second unit with just the Black Berkey filters? Is this just more crazy? #getting-so-confused

  • Avatar of Dan Dan 2012-09-14 22:53:11

    Hi Letha - We do not have experience with adding ascorbic acid tablets to the water pre-filtration. So, we would not know how this would react with the chloramines or affect the life of the filters. It would require testing to know this information. You can get 2 units, but the Pf-2 filters do not add aluminum to the water, but rather they use alumina. The alumina does not get added to the water either, in addition to being inert and not absorb able by the body. Hence we think 2 systems might be an overkill.

  • Avatar of Allen Allen 2012-06-04 19:46:26

    My well water has MTBE in it. I Just remember it was 60 something. Its below the state mandates that would require it to be removed. I have an existing carbon water conditioner system that is supposed to remove it. I still don't drink the water. How much MTBE will the black Berkley filter remove? I would only need about 4 gallons a day average. Currently I go fill jugs at a spring every week. I'm sick of it.

  • Avatar of Dan Dan 2012-06-04 19:53:03

    Hi Allen -

    The black berkey filters that come standard with the systems remove MTBE's to below detectable limits. So, you would be in good shape.

    Thanks
    Dan

  • Avatar of Sue Sue 2011-11-03 03:41:23

    Thanks for the overview. I live in a city and buy bottled water due to the added flouride and chlorine present in the tap water and wondered if the Berkey light would be enough to filter everything out. It sounds too simple to be really effective, but love Mike Adams' reviews and he recommends this product. Would the bb work better than the ceramic in this situation, with the PF-2?
    Thanks

  • Avatar of Dan Dan 2011-11-07 15:40:01

    Hi Sue -

    Yes, the berkey light with the black berkeys and the PF-2's in the lower chamber would be effective for what you are trying to accomplish.

    Thanks
    Dan

  • Avatar of David David 2011-09-28 18:03:36

    Great information. I've been posting preparedness information, with clean water as the top priority.

    And I recommend the Berkey as the perfect product for home use and emergency situations.

    David

  • Avatar of Buck Westfall Buck Westfall 2011-02-20 22:53:55

    I'm interested in filtering well water with specific interest in making sure that heavy metals are removed, especially lead, mercury and aluminium.

    Which configuration would do this best?..the ceramics with the PF-4's or the Black Berkey filters on their own?

    Thanks,

    Buck

  • Avatar of Dan Dan 2011-02-20 23:29:42

    Hi Buck -

    The black berkeys on their own would be your best bet and least expensive.

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  • Avatar of Rob Northrup Rob Northrup 2009-10-05 20:06:19

    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
    <a href="http://www.buggingin.com/blog" rel="nofollow">Emergency Preparedness For the 21st Century Family</a>

  • Avatar of Michael J Michael J 2009-04-01 15:27:46

    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

  • Avatar of John Abela John Abela 2009-03-19 09:40:16

    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

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