Cleaning Berkey Filters - The Right Way To Fix Flow Rate

[@konetashelton4130]

I received Berkey this past Wednesday. I love it. However, I had a slight leak at the tap where it inserts to the bottom of the container. Long story short, the black rubber ring that sits on the bottom was creating that leak by the weight of the water it was making the black rubber ring to push up against the sealer ring. I took the black bottom ring off and gently cut a slightly half moon shape out. Put the black rubber ring back on, with the half moon cut out sitting right under the spigot. Tah-dah.....it is not leaking!!!! Whewww! That made my day!

[@no_one_211]

Excellent. I had tasked my husband with cleaning the water filters and turns out, we were having excrutiatingly slow drip rate because he wasn't cleaning the filters properly, having only been wiping them briefly with his bare hands.

[@marisa537]

😂😂😂

[@golfdogs119]

Best investment for CLEAN WATER! These units work great, filters chlorine and fluoride in our city water. Best water every, highly recommend these products!!

[@dropleckk4404]

There is also a slight vacuum issue with the Berkey with regards to the cover. I have found that I have to raise the cover slightly with something so that some airflow gets inside the Berkey to allow better circulation.

[@hairea54]

This helped!!!! I put something in between the 2 containers for more air flow

[@kathyd1010]

Worked like a charm when I did this!

[@deasnealy]

@@hairea54 There is a clip that came with mine that fixes the vacuum problem.

[@susieserb6068]

@@deasnealy WHAT? How does this clip look?

[@BullzeyeOnTheGo]

Are we talking about putting sth btw the top and bottom container or opening-up a bit the lid?

[@DAPOOLPARTY]

On the wait list for new filters! When are new filters going to be in? Thank you

[@777SEER]

Hi, I've had my Berkey since July or August 2020, used a potato peeler in 2021, now in June 2022 the red was coming through. I regret doing that! I would stick with the green scrubby method from now on. now because of inflation 2 filters went up 50.00😮

[@Richard-Seekingwulf]

I originally bought my big Berkey in 2006 and just a short time later they were getting the lime deposits and slowing down so I was told to use a vegetable peeler which destroyed them. The next ones I got I decided to start soaking them in vinegar and that seemed to work perfectly I even backflowed them with vinegar and distilled water then just after two flushes you couldn't detect any thing but fresh clean beautiful water. I believe they will probably filter a million gallons and more.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

So happy you're still getting clean water!!!

[@alb0zfinest]

But I literally just got the water filter, and not only did I clean them, I cleaned them correctly because I followed the red dye test and they came out clean. And still I have a problem. In almost 4 hours, it didn’t even fill a full gallon.

[@Richard-Seekingwulf]

@@alb0zfinest it all depends on how many filters you're using. I use two filters and it probably takes about that long that's just the nature of the Beast and I think that's good to know that it's going through a lot of filtering material.

[@juliejules7780]

How long do you soak it

[@Richard-Seekingwulf]

@@juliejules7780 if you watch this video here he explains it all perfectly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJOQm52GapVngsU

[@MrsClippit]

Replacing the filters are based on how many gallons filter thru them not the length of time that you've owned them

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Each Black Berkey® Element is designed to purify approximately 3,000 gallons of water before needing replacement; 2 elements in a Berkey system will purify approximately 6,000 gallons of water before replacement is recommended. However, if you've watched my videos you'd know that my personal experience shows my family needs replacements once per year and that has been the case since 2006. We don't use our Berkey for casual situations. We are Authorized Dealers who use it all the time. Therefore, time is a factor for us and many other Berkey owners.

[@susanmilam2449]

My husband and I have the Big Berkey at the 2+ gallon capacity and we probably go through two fillips per week = 5 gallons per week x 52 wks per year = 260 gallons per year. Based on the recommendations on the websites it will be a long time till I need to replace my black filters as it came with 2. So what exactly is the truth here and it probably has to do with the original state of your water? City water is cleaner than a pond water and so forth.

[@featheramericangoodeagle]

I don't like these black filters one bit. I like the white ceramic filters I got when I bought Big Berkey in 2008.@@susanmilam2449

[@Tombuchaill]

@@susanmilam2449 Thank you for this response!

[@susieserb6068]

The one time I screwed the fluoride filters at 7 rotations instead of 6 I had a flow rate issue. Once the water was drained I went to 6 rotations and voila the flow rate improved exponentially! Go figure?

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Really? Wow! That's good info. I'll try that myself next time.

[@thisisme2681]

😮 the instructions said to screw it 8 times

[@susieserb6068]

@@thisisme2681 This is so weird that you posted this comment??? because I JUST cleaned my filters literally 30 minutes ago and I did 8 rotations (I couldn't remember the #)~~~

[@susieserb6068]

AND S L O W DRIP. I'm turning back to 6 now.

[@TheMiseryMachine]

You replace these once a year? One of the official Berkey videos said the black filters can last up to 11 years with proper care.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Our family and many others since I've been with Berkey® replace theirs once per year. They are tested for 6,000 gallons per pair. If you don't use your Berkey® much and take great care of them they can last many years for sure.

[@texson5378]

I recently replace my 6 year old black filters with new ones. I have primed them 3 times. They flow well for about a week and then are super slow, and I have to keep priming them. I never had this problem with the old filters. What's up with that?

[@jimb3093]

same here, I purchased a Berkey recently and have it in my garage. I put water from my hand dug well in it. Its nice to have water to drink out there in the summer heat. But yes, they have to be primed often to keep the flow going or it just drips extremely slow. So I fill it and let it drip all night. Yep, I have the same issue.

[@texson5378]

Jim B - I’m still having that problem. The new filters flow worse than the old ones did even when they were dirty.

[@SS-zm3vi]

This makes sense. My mother loved her Berkey. Of course she didn't need to filter her water, it came out pure as can be she lives on top of an aquifer with really good water and a deep well. She could bottle it and sell it. But she's used it for years anyway with the same filters, never a problem. She talked me into getting a Berkey within a few months it was almost unusable, doesn't matter how much and how often it's cleaned. If you live in Florida on well water or if there's rust in your water you're going to have to pre-filter or something in order for a Berkey to be an economical solution. I don't think it's worth replacing filters up to twice a year just so my dog and I can have filtered water while cleaning them every week just for them to clog up within days and that's barely dripping after a cleaning. I thought there'd be some great savings over bottled water but not after a few months I'd say 6 months in it couldn't keep up with my dog and I. After just one year not even about 9-10 months I'm back to buying bottled water. In the meantime my mother bought new filters for hers since she had used hers for five-six years and she's already having issues with her new filters on basically clean water. I'll now have to bust her bubble that she was in for Berkey while explaining to her that they've changed the filters in some way and now you only get maybe a year out of them. I've known of other companies also doing shady stuff like that in order to create more revenue. I'm halfway tempted just to take some wet sandpaper to mine see if I can get the (black) filters working again by taking a millimeter or two off.

[@paulpower7018]

Thanks I forgot about doing this. In the past when i have cleaned them they can get slimy until you clean them. They are too expensive not to clean to get the full available life out of.. I have a large Berkey that has 4 carbon on top and 4 metal/ fluoride/ arsonic filters on bottom. And once a year changing them is expensive enough! We use a lot if filtered water though, pets,plants, cooking, and of course drinking and any mixes. Good water ppl. Is very important and no better cheaper way than to make it clean yourself !

[@babewhowalks]

I have read if you go on vacation, etc..and they dry out-they will need to be reprimed..i also had a video sent to me by berkey, they show you how to prime them with a typical clear plastic throw away water bottle..so much easier

[@perutherford]

Where might I find this video?

[@oceanegele3559]

Easiest to buy the primer pump for the Berkey filters. You can KZbin it to see how it works.

[@ryanwiseley14]

It would seem to me that these expensive filters are actually rated more for time than gallons of use. We bought the 6-gallon system to last for years with occasional cleaning of the filters. According to this video, the savings we anticipated are not what they were advertised to be. Correct me if I am wrong, Berkey!

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Each Black Berkey® Element is designed to purify approximately 3,000 gallons of water before needing replacement; 2 elements in a Berkey system will purify approximately 6,000 gallons of water before replacement is recommended. We filter and use constantly. We buy new Black Elements once per year.

[@DebbieBratton]

Same here, Ryan! We have 4 black filters in our Big Berkey and haven't replaced them since we bought them in 2016. We also were under the impression they would last for years without needing to be replaced. They are still passing the red dye test and not having issues with slowing down. We use about 2-3 gallons a day for our family of 6.

[@susieserb6068]

@@DebbieBratton get this mine was filtering fast with 6 month rotation of cleaning, (6 gallon unit). Right there with you.

[@jesusslushies2192]

Some people always try and dog the Berkeys but truth be told, they're the best! I've had my Berkey Light since approx 2008/9 I love it!

[@SS-zm3vi]

My 2 filters on Florida well water with regular cleanings didn't even last a year. it's just myself and my dog.

[@johnlawson6851]

He finally gets to the point at 1:50

[@mandelaeffect1111]

I watched a video claiming that using those abrasive cleaning pads leaves a residue that fills in the pores of the filter making them dangerous to use and slower in the long run.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

I've been an authorized Berkey dealer since 2007 and have a great relationship with the manufacturer. They absolutely recommend cleaning the black elements as I describe in the video. Was I scrubbing too hard in the video? Maybe, but I've never had a clog or health issue after doing so. This is straight from the manufacturer, "Use a cleaning pad similar to a Scotch Brite Pad or a stiff toothbrush and gently scrub the outside of the Black Berkey® Purification Elements under cool running water."

[@mandelaeffect1111]

Okay. Good to know. Thanks for responding

[@lockergr]

I saw the same thing. A stiff brush is less apt to shed.

[@pattis25]

I am a bit dissapointed about my Berkey. We bought it 3 jears ago and the asian lady told us it would last up to 10 year. Now, they are not working anymore .We had to buy the cheaper ones from Oakland. They last just one year. Hope my english is correct. Greetings from Germany.

[@joeycottontail943]

I have my cat piss in my big Berkey once a week and never had an issue with flow rate for 7 years. Give it a try it really works.

[@lananeedham]

Ours stopped filtering after only 1 week. We use tap water to fill it. Is that normal? The water stayed in the top overnight and didn't filter through to the bottom. When we looked the filters were slimy.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Clean and prime the filters again and try. They shouldn't be slimy. Make sure your Berkey isn't in sunlight right by the window.

[@jesusslushies2192]

I've been priming my filters every month when i clean my chambers. Is this too much? Also sometimes i see something like a white puff of powder come out when i prime the black filters. I always fill the upper chamber all the way so I don't know what causes the white puff cloud.

[@jesusslushies2192]

PS we have hard water here where i live in the Phoenix area.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

No. I prime ours more than once a month. I've never seen white powder come out when priming the black elements. Very strange.

[@jesusslushies2192]

IKR? Strange indeed! It isn't so much powderish though. I used the wrong descriptive. It's more like a faint 'fog' or 'mist' that wafts out of the element. It isn't a lot mind you. It happens during the first few seconds that I begin priming. I never saw that with the filters that I was purchasing years ago. This is a fairly new phenom that I began seeing with my filters about 6 yrs ago. I take very good care and am very clean. I wonder if there is zeolite in the filter. If so, maybe that's what it is (?) I just bought another set of filters (still waiting for the fluorode filters to come in stock grrrr) PS i only use Berkey filters. I have never used the generic ones on Amazon

[@jesusslushies2192]

@@BerkeyCleanWater HA! I think I figured it out!! When I first began using Berkey filter back in 2008 I remember them saying not to prime them with warm water, so naturally i didn't use warm water to scrub the outside of the filter. I only have only ever used a 2 sided sponge with cool faucet water to clean the outside. I think warm water loosens the outside mineral buildup? Thats probably why Im getting that white 'fog' effect when i prime them..

[@hairea54]

When you keep the top pot Full of water!!! It make the top chamber heavy and there needs to be a slight bit of air flow

[@jerryblack4275]

Great Presentation!!

[@heavenscenthomestead4242]

I use the black filters. They usually dry out between uses. Do I have to keep water in it all the time to make it work better? It seems to slow down a lot and then I have to reprime it.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

In my experience it's good to keep it flowing or you may experience some dryness. We usually don't have that issue too bad though since we're constantly using Berkey water. Even if you once or twice per day pour water over them they shouldn't dry out too bad.

[@mellen5598]

BerkeyCleanWater someone at Berkey suggested that I use a potato peeler and prime again when it slows down. It lasts a day or so filling faster but lately it’s been slowing down way too fast. I scrubbed like you suggested so hopefully it will work this time. Otherwise I guess I’ll have to change black filters ;)

[@DERHOF2007]

Did he say once a week, lol? I clean mine once or twice a year and they run fine!

[@christinedreams8099]

Can you please help with installing black filters? I am changing filters out, primed best I could...never works like the vids, but I do use the tan prime button and as little water flow, meaning small diameter to fit into filter, as I can...I learned to reduce water flow from watching a current KZbin video, when I first started new last yr I used a heavy flow and much water ran over outside of filter so i never could tell if air droplets came out, I just blasted for minutes through each filter)) and though there is external water flow over filter I can see some water droplets on filter that indicate air coming out of filter, so, per newer how to vid., I kept priming for another minute after seeing water droplets on outside filter..., and then I attached. So after taking me forever to do this whole thing I don’t know if I’m too tight with turning filter screws or under primed, but I’ve got a too slow drip with these new filters. It took me awhile to clean unit, prime all four filters (pf-2 as well), and attached and then now testing. I remember doing this last year and though out of my element then, and using harder pressure/flow to prime last year, I don’t know why it isn’t working. According to newer vid, the small stream of water through the black filters should work. What am I doing wrong?

[@icare_cher]

Christine Hier it would be nice if they could fix the problem of priming the filters. I am having a hard time trying to get mine primed as my kitchen spigot is a sprayer head. Water is spraying out everywhere and I can't tell what's happening because the whole filter is just soaked. I have the faucet going as slow as it will let me without shutting off complely. They sell a primer pump it says in the instructions. I guess that's what I'll have to buy.

[@caddothegreat]

@@icare_cher I use my outdoor water faucet for priming.

[@SofiNme365]

Thank you for sharing! Very helpful 👍

[@dogsfordays]

I cleaned mine today just because the water wasn't tasting so good. Lots of orange junk on there. Put it back together and NOW it's barely dripping. Could I have tightened things too much. It does have the two black filters and the two flouride ones.

[@IMOO1896]

I would love it if the filters were designed to be flipped bottom to top, because my small Berkey filters NEVER get wet on the upper halfs, all the filtration is in the bottom halves of the filters.🙁

[@jesusslushies2192]

That makes no sense. You are supposed to fill the upper chamber until the filters are completely submerged.

[@IMOO1896]

Jesus Slushies no way that can be done on mine, the filters are at the upper rim.

[@jesusslushies2192]

@@IMOO1896 I've never heard of that. Just curious, what kind of Berkey do you have?

[@IMOO1896]

@@jesusslushies2192 I have a Berkey, how many different sizes do you have?

[@jesusslushies2192]

@@IMOO1896 I have a Berkey Light why?

[@opp17485]

My Travel Berkey is 14 months old, approx 560 gallons water. Have never cleaned the filters. Just tested the water quality with a Hone Forest TDS tester and as suspected, not good. The TDS is 410 ppm. Los Angeles tap water is 421 ppm. Question is: will quality of filtered water improve after the green scrubber method? Thanks for your help!

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

From the manufacturer: "As you know, NMCL does not recognize a TDS meter as a way to test your Berkey® System as a TDS meter can not tell the difference between harmful contaminants and healthy beneficial minerals. The Black Berkey® Elements are designed to allow the healthy beneficial minerals that our bodies need to pass through to the lower chamber. I have provided further information on why TDS meters are not recognized by NMCL below: " berkeywaterkb.com/what-is-the-tds-reading-of-the-purified-water/

[@opp17485]

@@BerkeyCleanWater Oh, ok, thanks for reply. I'll look around for another tester.

[@jennygilmore121]

The official Berkey site says to prime the filters after ea h cleaning. We have always done this. Why do you say priming isn’t necessary?

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

You are correct. I either need to update this video or take it down and do a new one. I prime ours every time I clean the system or anytime the flow rate is slow.

[@pinkorganichorse]

I had no idea you were suppose to scrub those. How often should they be replaced?

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

We replace our black elements once per year and the pf2 fluoride filters once every 6 months.

[@pinkorganichorse]

Hmmm. I bought the berkey that holds 2-3 gallons i think. We refill it once everyday so it's emptied twice a day. I thought based on the use, the filters last like 8 years. Did i calculate something wrong?

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

@@pinkorganichorse They do last for up to 6,000 gallons and have a 2 year warranty. I personally prefer to change mine once per year.

[@pinkorganichorse]

@@BerkeyCleanWater thanks

[@colenehenley9454]

@@BerkeyCleanWater if they last up to six thousand gallons then why would you replace yours every year this makes no sense at all or is it false advertisement?

[@brendaforbes8213]

I just received my new big Berkley with two black filters. I did the priming process but it appears nothing is flowing through? What shall I do?

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Did you prime it with the priming button at the faucet and you couldn't get the water to bead from the black elements?

[@brendaforbes8213]

@@BerkeyCleanWater i got the new filters to work by roughing up the outside. Did not get the primer button, but carefully ran water through the hole in the top until bubbling occurred.

[@kathyrich3141]

I have well water so I have a saltless Water Conditioner on my well can I still use the Berkeley because my water is still very hard. Thank you

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Checking on this for you right now.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

I received an answer. The Berkey® System will reduce the sedimentary calcium and other sediments but if it is water soluble mineral it will not and actually make it appear more to the eye.

[@TheShootist]

a pure water distiller is available on google for $80USD that will purify 1 gallon of water every 4 hours. The water soluble contaminants (sodium chloride, calcium carbonate) are left in the boil pot to be wiped out between uses.

[@younggod2319]

My Berkey flow rate has been very slow since day one. I don't know what to do.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Were you able to prime them successfully?

[@younggod2319]

@@BerkeyCleanWater Yes I believe so. And I tested the spigot. The flow rate is excellent until I lower the large top half of the unit on to the large lower half of the unit. I can't think of a reason why that is.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

@@younggod2319 Let me follow up with the manufacturer on this.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

@@younggod2319 Here is what I was told by the manufacturer. I think he has an airlock - please refer him to our website warranty form at www.berkeybynmcl.com/support/forms/warranty-claims/

[@younggod2319]

@@BerkeyCleanWater Thank you for the info. I will follow through. I made a video of the problem - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aH2biX2BrahoaLM

[@chelseastar2018]

What flow rate am I looking for once they are cleaned and primed?

[@sonjasherzreisenveganundro1473]

Bitte gibt es auch Filter Reinigungs Videos in deutscher Sprache ? Das wäre so super !!! DANKE

[@MorpheusMushin]

2:17 starts explanation.

[@truebeliever6440]

I'm frugal about it like you. Unfortunately til now I've been one of those people who thought you had to be gentle with the thing. A lot of bad information out there. Thanks for the info!

[@switch2usa]

where should I buy the fluoride filter

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

They should be back in stock next week. www.berkeycleanwater.com/products/pf2-fluoride-filters

[@markd5067]

I would use water prefiltered through cheap activated carbon before introducing it to these moderately expensive filters to lengthen their lifespan...

[@MrsClippit]

The Black Berkey filters filter fluoride. Regular carbon does not filter as well

[@TheShootist]

I filter through two inline commercial particle filters b4 I berkey.

[@ChicagoJan]

I've been contemplating the same thing.

[@barbrafrench2674]

I have the opposite problem. We have new berkey filters and they seem to run through really fast. The water runs through when the Berkey is filled up (this slows to a drip as the water level drops to about half). How fast should new filters run through? Do we have a problem (they are solidly screwed in and aren't leaking through from what we can tell).

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Are you using the PF-2 fluoride filters as well? Many times if you're just using the black elements the flow will be faster.

[@timetowakeup00]

Hi Barbara, What did you learn about this? I am just switching to black berkey filters after using the British Berkefeld ceramic filters for the past 10 years. The water runs through very quickly when the upper chamber (imperial) very full, and that is including the PF-2s on the bottom. I have only two filters in, of a possible 6) and the water ran through to the bottom chamber in less than an hour. I am going to do the food coloring test today, but I want to see what others' exerperiences have been. Thanks!

[@barbrafrench2674]

@@BerkeyCleanWater No fluoride where I live, so just the black ones. Thank you.

[@barbrafrench2674]

@@timetowakeup00 I think Berkey Clean Water explained it for me. All is well.

[@noir.782]

@@timetowakeup00 any update? i'm having the same issue

[@mimi082385]

Got my filter delivered yesterday. Struggling to prime the black filters. Read I had to soak them for 8 hours if the usual way to prime them isn't an option. 1 day later...installed the filters, filled up the chamber it's been 3 hours and no hour has been filtering. What else can I do?/? HELP PLEASE!

[@user-ze8qn6eg9y]

In a previous question he answered he recommended they contact the warranty department as their may be an air bubble preventing it from working.

[@BarbaraInspires17]

The sight glass should come with the stainless steal spicket. The spicket should be at the lowest point of the Berkey. Different sizes for stands & collapseable stands would be nice with our travel unit. Why isn't there a rubber removable seal for the middle where it joins in the middle and for the lid? Less plastic please, can Berkey please try reusable rubber seals for the bottom of the filter? All these parts I've described are manufactured in USA so access to the parts shouldn't be an issue. If you want to keep a reputable name, please listen to the customers & make some adjustments. I've shopped the latest products and feeling let down on a once so proud product. Is there blacklight for killing any additional containments that's also an addional option? If so, is it solar powered, powered by kenetic motor, regular batteries and/or usb/outlet charged? I just have so many questions and expected more from my Berkey.

[@michelleschweizer9000]

How long should the travel Berkeley take to filter water?

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Produces up to 2.75 gallons per hour. Flow rate is calculated with the upper chamber full to top. Flow rate decreases as water level declines.

[@jackpoore3655]

Hi. I use a Berkey lite in my home on municipal water. I like your technique. Did you happen to mention the water? Cold? Moderate? Hot? Thanks for your time! ":-Dx

[@georgi9514]

Always COLD

[@thehobotographer6860]

I paid 170 for two filters from an authorized dealer. Filtered 10 gallons and it set dry for two months now I have zero filter flow no matter what I do . Do I get a refund or an exchange? So much for EMERGENCY FILTRATION. how about just dependable filtration

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

All you need to do is re-prime them. However, next time store them like this when not in use. www.berkeycleanwater.com/blogs/news/how-to-store-black-berkey-filters

[@thehobotographer6860]

@@BerkeyCleanWater i did prime them. They are still clogged

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

When you prime them the water doesn't bead?

[@zahavailan3782]

I always have a problem with having to put like a straw or something in between the two containers because the water flow doesn’t come out and it’s not because of not cleaning the filters someone said it might be because a hard water? Could that be true do you have any solutions? And I love love love my Berkey filter!

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

You place some sort of spacer in-between the black elements and the white filters?

[@zahavailan3782]

BerkeyCleanWater You mean between those two containers? Or between the actual filters? Thank you

[@user-ze8qn6eg9y]

Hi I've had my Berkey for about two weeks and the water barely flows through it anymore. It was primed and worked well for about the first week or so. I did reprime to see if that fixed the problem but it is still barely flowing.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

I'm sorry you're flow rate is slow. We had this issue too for a while. I just kept cleaning them and re-priming them once a week and then it worked itself out. I haven't had to re-prime them in two months.

[@lockergr]

I really appreciate these tutorials, but I don't understand why people feel the need to put cheesy elevator music behind their video. All it is is a distraction and it doesn't matter if you have it at a low volume, that's still exactly what I'm focusing on.

[@mrsmemartinez58]

I have no idea how many gallons of water I have run through the Berkey. How in the world am I supposed to know? I have had my Berkey for two years.

[@tanyawilliamson2584]

I've heard some wonderful things about this system. I'd love to win one.

[@Bman67]

Does it matter if the filters have been stored away for several years? My black filters have only been used to filter maybe a hundred gallons of water but then I stored the big berkey and filters away and it's been several years. I recently broke it back out and the water flow rate is terrible. So I cleaned them but didn't have a super abrasive pad and it helped a bit but they're still kind of slow. One of them especially. So I'm wondering if the age of the filters matters if they're only in storage.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

If you stored them according to manufacturers instructions you should have any issues. Please try to re-prime them and test again.

[@davesahli5244]

Can I soak my Berkey water filters in vinagar to remove the white calcium deposits?

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

No, I would not do that.

[@F-J.]

@@BerkeyCleanWater other video says yes.

[@goldiegirl6705]

Yes you can use vinegar but there is a process to it. I saw the video yesterday.

[@lorrainemagarian7697]

Hi! Just got a Travel Berkey today and having difficulty getting the filters to bead even though I flushed them 5 minutes. I know water got through because when I tipped the filter, water did come out of the tube. getting frustrated now as I've tried another new filter. :(

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

I'm very sorry to hear the filters aren't priming properly. Please contact me by email so we can talk further. info (at) berkeycleanwater (dot) (com)

[@other4819]

wait, do the black filters last a year or is it 3000 gallons per...that's a huge difference

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Each set of black Berkey elements last 6,000 gallons. That's 3,000 per filter. In this video I referred to one year because that's what our family of 5 does. It all depends on how many are in the household. A single person could have their filters last for several years.

[@other4819]

@@BerkeyCleanWater ah makes sense, thanks!

[@CelestialChef90]

I’m terrified of laying it on its side since the peg broke on one of our filters bec hubs didn’t know

[@JShmoe]

That was my thought too when I went to clean mine for the first time. Best thing to do is support the filter while unscrewing the wing nut. Another way is to place the chamber on the edge of the counter so both "pegs" are hanging over the floor, then unscrew and pull straight up.

[@carl16760]

the bottom chamber should be tall enough for a tank of water to clear the fluoride filters.............why do the pf-2 filters sit in the water.

[@velvettedelaney]

We’re supposed to be cleaning the filters weekly?!! 🥴😮

[@theodoreMcMurchy]

is it normal for a lot of black residue to come off when scrubbing the first time ?

[@lialowe5301]

I am having a unique problem that I can't yet solve with my berkey that maybe you have some insight on... We pour well water into our Berkey, and it drains well for about 1/3 of the full hopper, then slows down to very slow drops. So, I empty it, scrub with a brush and re-prime, and then it will drain well again for another 1/3 full hopper. I've only had my unit for 3 months and we are just using it on weekends (at the cottage), and for the past few visits, I have had to do this scrub and re-prime EVERYDAY! Our water is not that dirty, so not sure what the problem is....any advice would be appreciated!

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

I'm sorry to hear this is happening. You said well water so does that mean it's running through a water softener? If that's the case then all the salts in water softener will definitely clog the micro-pores. If you're filling the Berkey with well water that bypasses the water softener there's no way it should be clogging like that. If that's the case you should contact the Authorized Dealer you purchased from and discuss warranty.

[@IMOO1896]

I know the answer to this because I have the same problem, it’s the bottom portion of the filters that do all the work so they clog up much quicker.

[@kathleenaerin2436]

Same problem here. So…sick of waiting 24+hrs for a gallon of water to be ready. I’m so disappointed. 😩

[@Skaterkid-v9]

I have a problem with brand new new filters only working properly for one day and then stopping filtering at half way. I’m putting tap water through them only. The Berkey seller says it’s because they’re incorrectly primed but these are my second filters and I never had issues with priming the first set. I’ve primed them the same with the brown washer. I also tried soaking them for 24 hours as advised elsewhere. I don’t know what’s going on. After cleaning and priming they work perfectly for one full upper chamber. Then the second time I fill the upper chamber it will only filter half way and they stop. Is there anything in tap water that can cause this problem? Air bubbles? Water tension? Contaminants? I just don’t understand.

[@wilmahamilton2092]

I haven’t had my Berkey but a couple of months and it’s not filtering

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Hi, were you successful when priming your filters? Did the water bead on all sides of the black element while priming?

[@wilmahamilton2092]

@@BerkeyCleanWater yes it did, but still I have to filter the same water 3 times before the sample of food coloring was completely taken out

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

I would clean them (scrub with clean green scotch pad) and re-prime them.

[@wilmahamilton2092]

@@BerkeyCleanWater I took them out and cleaned them just the way you said and now I have to pour the water back through twice instead of three times

[@Freynightwalker]

Just a quick question where are the bacteria and viruses that are removed by the filter? Are you exposing yourself to these by cleaning in this manner?

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Manufacturer recommended this way of cleaning the elements this way and told me completely safe. They stressed that you shouldn't use a vegetable peeler...just the scotch pad and then prime.

[@jdavid118]

I thought it was 4 year lifespan on the black filters, and 1 on the flouride filters? Thanks

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

It's 6,000 gallons per pair on the Black elements. We plow through our filtered water like crazy and use it for everything. We purchase once per year. The fluoride filters are for 1,000 gallons per pair and we change ours every 6 months.

[@jdavid118]

@@BerkeyCleanWater well im probably due. Thanks ✌

[@johndouglas7014]

Yeah... this didn't work at all. And now there are black bits floating in the tank. And at the end of your video you said you do this once a week?! I've had this berkey for about 4 months, primed it 100% according to the directions before use. The flow rate has always been slow, but after emptying the system for a 1 week vacation, there is zero flow. Anyone else have these issues?

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Black bits? I've never had that. Very strange. My video is several years old and today (2022) I clean ours once a month unless the flow rate is slow. If the flow rate is slow I do it as often as it takes to get the flow going great again. For instance, I haven't had to scrub and prime for over 30 days. Before that, to get the flow rate great I did the cleaning and priming process three days in a row. The trick I'm using today is when priming with the button do each black element or white PF-2 for 60 seconds each.

[@davekash1]

so you clean the filters once a week every week? or do you clean them once a week when it is clogged until the flow rate increases

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

I clean the black elements every single time I clean the system out. Sometimes every two weeks, three weeks or four weeks. I'll also always re-prime them.

[@davekash1]

BerkeyCleanWater got it. No wonder it’s been filtering so slowly! I only ever prime them when they arrive in the mail about once a year

[@showtime3189]

@@BerkeyCleanWater but you said in the video we didn't need to re prime them? should i re prime when scrubbing the filters again? The water is filtering so slow and i've only had the berkey for 4 months

[@R.W.S.]

@@showtime3189 lol right? He literally says "you should only ever have to prime them once" in the video and now he's saying he re-primes them every time he cleans it out? So which is it for God's sake? There's so much conflicting info about how to care for the Berkey, it's so annoying. I swear people just make it up as they go along.

[@mariapagani1214]

Hi is that a plastic filter??

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Nope.

[@mariapagani1214]

@@BerkeyCleanWater ok looks like!!!

[@TheShootist]

my problem is that the filters, after flowing normally for around a year and 600-700 gallons, now flows way too fast. 1/2 hour to filter a gallon of water.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

I wouldn't think the flow should increase with time. Do you use the PF-2 filters as well? Or recently take them off?

[@TheShootist]

@@BerkeyCleanWater thanks for the reply. Both Black and Fluoride filter. When new it took overnight to filter 1.5 - 2 gallons. Now it takes about an hour. 15 minutes for the first gallon . . . It used to go drip . . . drip . . . drip, with over a second between drips. Now it goes dripdripdripdrip, not quite a solid stream but almost.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

@@TheShootist You should be fine. As long as it's not streaming from the hole. That would mean the filters aren't connected to the system tight enough. I talked to the manufacturer about this the other day and asked if this was normal. They said, "Yes it can be." But if the customer is still concerned to have them contact them to walk you through the red dye test just to be certain.

[@TheShootist]

@@BerkeyCleanWater Thanks. I'll pick up some red dye.

[@mkmason2002]

I have mountain well water. My Berkey never seems to run slow. How do I know when I should replace my filters? How often would you clean them?

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

I try and clean our Berkey every few weeks. Each pair should last up to 6,000 gallons. No matter what I replace ours once per year. Here's a video you might like. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKuylJuEd6h6pZo

[@susantellez6421]

can I soak in vinegar and water?

[@F-J.]

Other videos say yes.

[@kare.3664]

nice guy clear info give him like

[@funkydozer]

How do you fix the black filters when the glue fails and they come away from the plastic end?

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

How old are the black elements?

[@funkydozer]

@@BerkeyCleanWater 2 months old. And I have rust forming on the seam inside the tank, is that fixable?

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

@@funkydozer 2 months! There's no way the plastic end should be coming off. Please email me and let's figure this out and get it taken care of.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

@@funkydozer info (at) berkeycleanwater (dot) com

[@funkydozer]

@@BerkeyCleanWater aaaaand yet they do. This is the second time it's happened and ive already been down the replacement route, which frankly, was handled appallingly. I won't be buying any more berkey filters for this reason, was just curious if anyone has managed to DIY fix them so others can benefit from the info. I know for a fact i'm not the only one who has had the same problem, scary considering we are trusting our lives to these products. Who knows if I would still be alive if I hadn't noticed the sound was different when running through the system, only to find one of the candles leaning to one side in the tank. I live remotely and a good deal of my water comes from standing forest pools that contain all sorts of bacteria. One swallow of that stuff without decontamination is almost guaranteed hospitalization, which would be somewhat difficult when the nearest habitation is some 25 miles away. I am back to boiling my water, and plan on converting the now useless berkey drum into a still, which is why I am concerned about the rust... I thought these things were stainless steel? No matter, thanks for your concern nonetheless.

[@johnyracercat]

I only drink about one gallon per day, so as long as it filters within 24 hours, I'm fine.

[@jewellevy]

Kinda looks like you have a used scrubber cloth to do that. Yech! Instructions are to use a brand new one.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Nope, not used on anything except black Berkey elements.

[@Clackumcrew]

This is THE issue. Huge issue… with new filters.

[@georgi9514]

Every 6 months? Advertised as 6000 gallons!?

[@cathleen1717]

My burkey isn't even a year old yet and it seems to have stopped filtering.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Try cleaning the elements and re-priming them.

[@tenzackyogi1742]

Wash and scrub with warm water and soaps. And that you use tire pressure pump. That's how I did.

[@elainemoore9400]

WHAT

[@legend_aga-_-1660]

The black filters you should not change it every year unless you are a hotel

[@ananda5880]

A year? They are meant to last 11 years!

[@babewhowalks]

I just watched another video of the berkey on youtube with a guy from the uk, he claimed the filter lasts 11 years>?< That is probably where the confusion is coming from...

[@salvatorestonelliagain192]

from my pool business 30 years i learned the only reason to clean a filter is flow rate. the dirt becomes "media" & does not effect filtering -only flow rate. i find even drops per minute is enough for drinking

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

Some people claim if you store them properly in airtight container they can still be used 10 years later. That is only if they are unused. I've personally never stored mine long term.

[@gimmelmom]

How fast is the flow rate supposed to be? One of my filters drips fast, the other, at a slower rate. I just got an imperial Berkey a couple of days ago, and set it up. I've primed the filters twice because I wasn't sure I did it right, and the water was good after the first batch was tossed, but now it tastes a bit like tap water. Is it user error, bad filter, or is this normal?

[@babewhowalks]

Missy scroll up, i left you a message

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

@@gimmelmom Configured with 2 Black Berkey® Purification Elements, the Imperial Berkey® System can produce up to 5.5 gallons (20.8 liters) of purified water per hour. When I get new filters I prime them first and then filter two cycles through. The third cycle we drink it and it's fine.

[@johnwolf1475]

Prefiltered your crappy water ... Use Berkey as a finishing filter... I put nylons over the filter...

[@Noniinthebush]

Hey what are nylons?

[@omargaldames8959]

ok I guess that's a good videoLOL

[@waytogoraw9965]

my Berkey is brand new and nothing is filtering?????!!!! Don't need to be cleaned, new!!! What is happening

[@r-e-s-o-n-a-n-t]

Way To Go Raw you need to “prime” them. Please google and you will find it

[@waytogoraw9965]

@@r-e-s-o-n-a-n-t Already tried to prime 4 times. Problem has been solved but thank you

[@CherishEaDay]

No! You began with the unit already apart. Please start from the Beginning ie: the Berkey is totally installed. Not Everyone understands. Ty

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

There are currently no videos on how to take your Berkey apart but that's a good idea. For now, here's a video on how to put it together....just do the opposite. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJqZi2eDiJx8hLM

[@richardkoeknyc]

U emphasize twice that you are cheap basically saying that your clients can be cheap. Instead of talking about how to lengthen the life of your product. How it’s healthier to keep things clean. Get a descent sales training.

[@mandelaeffect1111]

Richard Koek get a DECENT spelling ability.

[@weewunswarrior5088]

@@greenapplejuice23 maybe you should tell him how it feels since you seem to know

[@bosrules1]

Once a week! Better get back to the drawing board.....who wants to do that once a week. We do it like every 6 months but it does get slow

[@Skaterkid-v9]

I have a problem with brand new new filters only working properly for one day and then stopping filtering at half way. I’m putting tap water through them only. The Berkey seller says it’s because they’re incorrectly primed but these are my second filters and I never had issues with priming the first set. I’ve primed them the same with the brown washer. I also tried soaking them for 24 hours as advised elsewhere. I don’t know what’s going on. After cleaning and priming they work perfectly for one full upper chamber. Then the second time I fill the upper chamber it will only filter half way and they stop. Is there anything in tap water that can cause this problem? Air bubbles? Water tension? Contaminants? I just don’t understand.

[@BerkeyCleanWater]

If you've properly primed them then it's possible they are defective. I would go to the Berkey dealer you purchased from and ask them for the warranty form. I'm very sorry you've had issues with this.