Are Berkey filters worth the hype? Yes. According to feedback from the Reddit community, these filters are one of the reputable gravity filter brands on the market today. They offer excellent filtering capability and low-cost maintenance.
Berkey gravity filters can effectively remove 200 common drinking water contaminants. They do not require electricity to operate, which is ideal in emergencies.
So how long do Berkey filters last? A Berkey filter lifespan could change dramatically. Generally, it can last for about 2-5 years. In this article, we aim to guide you on the components of these filters and their maintenance.
Table of Contents
What Is a Gravity-Fed Water Filter and Who Is It for?
Gravity filters are filters that utilize gravity to remove various contaminants. The gravitational force will direct the raw water from the upper chamber through the filter and generate purified water into the lower chamber.
Gravity filters are free-standing water purification systems that can work without electricity and battery, making them one of the most sought-after technologies in town.
Since these filters are economical and straightforward, they are chiefly used by consumers living in rural areas without access to running water or electricity. They are relatively cheap but powerful enough to filter turbidity.
Some gravity filtration systems work slowly, while some work quickly. But for the most part, they deliver low filtered water outputs at a slower rate. Why is that?
Gravity filters don’t rely on pressure from pipelines to filter water. Through gravity, they utilize filters with micrometer-sized pores to separate the suspended solids from water.
Suppose you have a ceramic filter candle. Since the filter encompasses millions of tiny pores, it will take plenty of time for water to seep through.
What Is a Berkey Water Filter and What Does It Remove?
Berkey has spearheaded ingenuity through its proficient water purification devices and reliable and user-friendly design. Because of the quality craftsmanship of Berkey gravity filters, they have been a mainstay countertop water filter in most households.
Not to mention that a Berkey filter won’t usually take more than 15 minutes to set up (normally, installation takes 2-5 hours depending on the complexity of the system).
Berkey gravity water filters are engineered from high-quality stainless steel, making them more robust and long-lasting.
Most Berkey gravity systems use black Berkey filters made from coconut shell carbon material integrated with a proprietary blend of five different filtration media.
These filter elements serve as the first line of defense against chlorine, VOCs, bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and other harmful contaminants in the water.
Types of Berkey Water Filters and Their Lifespan
Berkey offers 7 models of filtration systems, each with different sizes and capabilities: Go, Light, Crown, Imperial, Royal, Big, and Travel Berkey. All of these systems will require a Berkey filter that suits your needs :
1. Black Berkey Filters
Black Berkey Filters are predominantly the backbone of Berkey water filtration systems. They take water purification to a new whole level with their superior filtration speed that outshines most of the mainstream brands.
Each Black Berkey filter has self-sterilizing micropores that block contaminants from seeping through its surface, making it impossible for pathogenic bacteria and viruses to enter your drinking water.
Black Berkey filters are also versatile enough to reduce the turbidity of your home water efficiently. Because of their cleanable elements, they become more cost-effective while serving you the gold standard for filtration.
Additionally, each black purification element is rated to filter up to 3000 gallons or approximately 1 year.
Some Berkey systems are sold in sets, so you can get two black Berkey elements (6000 gallons) at once. A Berkey black filter life is up to 5 years depending on your water usage.
2. White Berkey Filters
Although you might often see the Black Berkey filter as the default filter for most buyers, Berkey also offers white ceramic filter elements to provide you with a better option for your home water problems.
Unlike the black filters, the white filters use a ceramic composite as the filtration media. They’re also called “Super Sterasyl Ceramic Filters.” Their complex pore structure makes their filtration properties unrivaled.
White filters can adeptly reduce unhealthy chemicals without stripping off the essential minerals that our body needs.
When it comes to lifespan, Black carbon filters have the upper hand. White Berkey ceramic filters’ advertised lifespan is 1000 gallons or approximately 1 year.
3. Berkey Fluoride Filters
Can Berkey filters remove fluoride from tap water? Yes. Berkey has formulated specialized post-filters to pair with your existing black or white filters.
There are two types of fluoride filters: The Berkey P-F2 filter for black Berkey purifiers and the Berkey P-F4 filter for white Berkey purifiers. Both have incredible reduction elements against the two major groundwater pollutants: fluoride and arsenic.
Fluoridated water has been a community policy for decades now to prevent cavities in children and adults. However, there are local water sources with excess amounts of fluoride, which causes fluorosis.
Therefore, these filters are a must-have for consumers conscious of having fluoridated water from public water supplies. They are marketed as gravity-fed post-filters and additional protection to safeguard your drinking water if the primary filter has run its course.
They are installed in the lower chamber of your Berkey purification system. Berkey P-F2 filters have a life expectancy of 1 year (1000 gallons) while Berkey P-F4 filters will last for 6 months (500 gallons).
When to Replace Berkey Filter?
There is no definite time frame for all Berkey water filters, but Berkey recommends replacing them every 2 to 5 years. As discussed, all filters mentioned have different average lifespans.
Replacement periods will entirely depend on the size/model of the gravity system, feed water quality, family size, and water usage. I would suggest making records of your replacement schedules ahead of time.
It is generally a good idea to take notes of your water consumption (gallons) weekly based on your system capacity. Grab your electronic/phone calculator, add the total number of gallons, and divide it by the commercial life of the filters.
Suppose you have a 2-PF4 filter Big Berkey system, and your family uses 5 gallons of water a day, then you get (500/5) = 100 days. So it means you should change the filters after roughly 3 months.
How to Prolong the Lifespan of My Berkey Filter?
There are simple yet brilliant ways to preserve the lifespan of your Berkey filters :
- Use clean water (as clean as possible) to prevent clogging and premature fouling of your Berkey filters. I recommend using tap water, but if you use your system to purify creek or pond water, use a cloth as a pre-filter.
- A Berkey filtration system requires regular cleaning to function appropriately. It is advisable to clean the stainless steel chambers every month and then 6 months for the filters.
- Use a scouring pad with dish soap and scrub the external surface of the Berkey filters under cold running water. Don’t use rough scrub sponges because they can damage the outer layers of the media.
- Always reprime the filters after washing to prevent clogs.
- Use a dry microfiber cloth to wring out the excess water, spots, and smudges from the water filters.
- Never leave filtered water unused inside the lower chamber for more than 3 days.
Conclusion
Berkey’s sustainable and innovative technology makes water filtration treatment and maintenance less intimidating. Berkey filters are designed to make our modern-day lifestyle easier.
How long do Berkey filters last? Berkey filters can survive for 5 years under normal conditions. Berkey offers different models and sizes we can choose from, but let’s keep in mind that Berkey filter replacement will mainly depend on our drinking water quality.
I hope you learned something helpful today to extend the life of your water filtration system! For any questions/suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below.
I am Natalie Bridges. You can call me Nat. I am the content creator of Saveourh2o. My main job is researching common concerns you need help with, and about your home’s water system. I aspire to incorporate Ronald’s experiences, and customers’ feedback on different products, as well as expert’s advice to offer you the most informative content.