SIGforum
Anyone have a Berkey?

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/320601935/m/1190005294

June 05, 2022, 10:04 AM
SIGnified
Anyone have a Berkey?
Just set ‘er up. Super tasty!
(Water here tastes like fish.)



Any suggestions? I think I broke all the rules yesterday. Had it overflowing onto the floor … overfilled. Lol!





"Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty."
~Robert A. Heinlein
June 05, 2022, 10:20 AM
btgoanna
Love mine
I got the sight glass tap , so I can tell if it is going to overflow



.
June 05, 2022, 11:02 AM
braillediver
What model is that? My girlfriend wants one. The tap water definitely tastes funky here.

Please tell me so I can order one. What filters are you using? How do you know when to replace the filters etc.


____________________________________________________

The butcher with the sharpest knife has the warmest heart.
June 05, 2022, 11:14 AM
honestlou
Why this versus a Brita filter, either on the tap or a pitcher type? Is it significantly different filtration, or taste, or is the cost per gallon of filtered water?
June 05, 2022, 11:34 AM
SIGnified
I bought it from the manufacture website. They just had a huge sale over memorial day weekend. I’m sure Labor Day will probably yield another sale.

IIRC, this is The Royal model; has six holes for six filters although I’m only running two at the moment. You can add more filters if you need higher flow rates.

Filtration out of the box with their black filters is 99.9999% pure, eliminating most bacteria viruses and a lot of chemicals. They do provide extra filtration if you wish for fluoride and other specific minerals. This is much better than a Britta.

With clean water filters are good for 6000 gallons.

I was going to do reverse osmosis but it turns out it can leech out too many minerals from your bones/body.

However I live right next to the ocean therefore reverse osmosis makes a lot of sense for endless water supply.

Where I live the water table is fairly high, I could just dig a hole, let her fill with water, decant after letting the dirt settle out, and then filter through (fine mesh) and the Berkey.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SIGnified,





"Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty."
~Robert A. Heinlein
June 05, 2022, 11:38 AM
Jeff Yarchin
We have one, love it. We bought it for traveling as when we use it the water tastes the same anywhere in the country. It’s a big money saver over time vs. bottled water.
June 05, 2022, 12:57 PM
hudr
I’ve had one for a couple years now. All my drinking and cooking water goes through it. I have the four filter model, 2.5 gallon. (Big Berkeley, I think?)
Makes a great pot of coffee. I have a spare set of filters (the charcoal filters are pricey) but the first set still seem to be doing fine.
I fill it up nearly every night, water is filters by the time I get up the next morning.
I do plan to get the sight glass tap.
June 05, 2022, 01:02 PM
Pyker
Can you clean and re-use the filters or are they replacement only?
June 05, 2022, 01:09 PM
SIGnified
quote:
Originally posted by Pyker:
Can you clean and re-use the filters or are they replacement only?



I believe they’re one time use only however 6000 gallons is a lot of water. During Memorial Day they were selling a pack of two for $177.

I too bought back-ups, but I’m thinking about purchasing more. They look like activated charcoal cylinders. I’m sure their website offers much more detail.

If I drank a gallon of water a day (times three), I’d still only use about 1000 gallons per year.

If $200 lasted three to six years I’d be pretty damn happy.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SIGnified,





"Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty."
~Robert A. Heinlein
June 05, 2022, 02:24 PM
braillediver
I've been reading and watching their product information:

"Routinely cleaning the Black Berkey Filters extends the life span, and increases flow rate. One of the many benefits of Berkey water filtration systems is the sustainability. The filters used in the system are not single-use disposable. These filters last extensively longer than other filter systems and have the ability to be cleaned. Instead of tossing a dirty filter, Berkey filters can be scrubbed and continuously used."

https://www.berkeyfilters.com/...ey-filters-resources


____________________________________________________

The butcher with the sharpest knife has the warmest heart.
June 05, 2022, 02:30 PM
bgouker
I've used ours for many years. It works great. I clean the filters once in a while and replace them about 18 months for us. I second the glass tube so you don't overflow. I wouldn't be without one. I used to use 100% distilled, but the dr suggested I quit for the same reason of the reverse osmosis system.
June 05, 2022, 02:36 PM
SIGnified
quote:
Originally posted by braillediver:
I've been reading and watching their product information:

"Routinely cleaning the Black Berkey Filters extends the life span, and increases flow rate. One of the many benefits of Berkey water filtration systems is the sustainability. The filters used in the system are not single-use disposable. These filters last extensively longer than other filter systems and have the ability to be cleaned. Instead of tossing a dirty filter, Berkey filters can be scrubbed and continuously used."

https://www.berkeyfilters.com/...ey-filters-resources


This noob thanks you! That’s terrific news.





"Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty."
~Robert A. Heinlein
June 05, 2022, 02:51 PM
Outnumbered
6 of us in the house, so we went with the 6 gallon Crown Berkey. Still only running 2 black, and 2 white filters.

I now have a love affair with drinking water, and everyone in the house is drinking much more water, too! We've pretty much eliminated bottled water purchases as well. LOVE our Berkey!!
June 05, 2022, 03:00 PM
old dino
I am fortunate to live in a little water district with 900 customers. Our water comes from a few deep wells into aquifers ... the water is pure with no chemicals of any kind added. No chlorine, no fluoride. Our water is tested monthly by the state and has numerous times been voted the best.

I case of SHTF ... I have a homemade berkey style filter for surface water purification. I also have a small well that taps into one of our shallow aquifers as well.

Love our water ... we are fortunate.
June 05, 2022, 03:01 PM
SIGnified
quote:
Originally posted by Outnumbered:
6 of us in the house, so we went with the 6 gallon Crown Berkey. Still only running 2 black, and 2 white filters.

I now have a love affair with drinking water, and everyone in the house is drinking much more water, too! We've pretty much eliminated bottled water purchases as well. LOVE our Berkey!!


Ha! My children said I’d be much happier if I would just hydrate more. I will say I’m drinking more water than the last 24 hours. Big Grin





"Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty."
~Robert A. Heinlein
June 05, 2022, 03:02 PM
SIGnified
quote:
Originally posted by old dino:
I am fortunate to live in a little water district with 900 customers. Our water comes from a few deep wells into aquifers ... the water is pure with no chemicals of any kind added. No chlorine, no fluoride. Our water is tested monthly by the state and has numerous times been voted the best.

I case of SHTF ... I have a homemade berkey style filter for surface water purification. I also have a small well that taps into one of our shallow aquifers as well.

Love our water ... we are fortunate.


Darn it… I just ran the public utilities report for our water… Just full of chlorinated hydrocarbons for starters.





"Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty."
~Robert A. Heinlein
June 05, 2022, 06:52 PM
braillediver
Done= Thank You. Looks like the Memorial Day Sale is still on and if you register for email updates they send you a 10% off coupon code.

My girlfriend wanted one but I wasn't convinced until it got the Sigforum thumbs up.


____________________________________________________

The butcher with the sharpest knife has the warmest heart.
June 05, 2022, 08:26 PM
old dino
quote:
Originally posted by SIGnified:
quote:
Originally posted by old dino:
I am fortunate to live in a little water district with 900 customers. Our water comes from a few deep wells into aquifers ... the water is pure with no chemicals of any kind added. No chlorine, no fluoride. Our water is tested monthly by the state and has numerous times been voted the best.

I case of SHTF ... I have a homemade berkey style filter for surface water purification. I also have a small well that taps into one of our shallow aquifers as well.

Love our water ... we are fortunate.


Darn it… I just ran the public utilities report for our water… Just full of chlorinated hydrocarbons for starters.


Unfortunately your water comes from surface water and the reason it needs to be chlorinated.

As our water comes from deep aquifers mother nature's earth is one big ass berkey filter and thus why our water is so pure.

Someday, lets meet at our little water district and we could fill up a few big jugs of water for you to try ... and could set up for all the refills you want for free. Let me know.
June 05, 2022, 08:50 PM
Rey HRH
I went with zerowater instead to get distilled water quality for the humidifiers. For use in my neti pot, I boil the filtered water. I also drink the water and I figure I get the minerals I need from the vitamins my wife makes me take.



"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.
June 05, 2022, 08:54 PM
mrvmax
I've had one for a long time. Years ago one forum I was on asked berkey for lab testing proving their filtration claims and berkey refused to provide it. Maybe they have since then but I've been using Doulton ceramic filters for years now instead of berkey.
https://doulton.com/ultra-sterasyl

Doulton filter