When it comes to the water that comes into your home chances are at one point or another you have wondered if it is really safe to drink. Perhaps you live in an area that is often put on a boil order. There are many reasons to not trust the water that is coming out of your faucet and for this reason it is a good idea to consider a water filter for your home. Here we have a buyers guide to the popular Berkey Water Filter, with its stainless steel design and clever filtering system, this water filter is becoming very popular with users.
Berkey Water filters are very popular for a reason. Berkey water filters are simple to use, easy to clean, powerful at removing harmful contaminants, and portable. This guide will explain how these filters work and walk you through some of the different Berkey Water systems that are available.
How Do Berkey Water Filter System Work? 
Page Contents
- 1 How Do Berkey Water Filter System Work?
- 1.1 Are Berkey Water Filter Portable?
- 1.2 What Type of Water Can be Used With A Berkey Water Filter?
- 1.3 What Contaminants Are Removed By A Berkey Water Filter?
- 1.4 What About Good Minerals?
- 1.5 What Is Berkey Water Filter Made From?
- 1.6 Choosing The Right Berkey Water Filter
- 1.7 Top Berkey Water Filters
- 1.8 Berkey Water Filters
The Berkey water filters systems work by using gravity to remove contaminants from your water supply. The system is made of 2 chambers and from two to eight black or ceramic filter elements. Water is poured into the top chamber where the filters are located.
The filters have small holes that allow water to pass through into the lower chamber. The holes are tiny and will block sediment and contaminants, allowing only pure water to make it into the lower chamber.
Some units allow optional fluoride filters that can be attached to these filters. The water will then pass through each set of the filters before it enters the lower chamber. There is a spigot that attaches to the lower chamber to dispense the water.
Are Berkey Water Filter Portable?
All of the Berkey filter systems are free standing. They can be set on a stand or on your countertop. This means that you do not have to figure out any plumbing to use them. In addition, you can take the system with you when you move or if you go on vacation.
What Type of Water Can be Used With A Berkey Water Filter?
Not only can you put tap or well water through the Berkey filter, but you can also put untreated water through the system as well. This means that if you are camping or in some type of emergency situation you will be able to take water from a pond or a stream and run it through the filter. However, salt water cannot be filtered through a Berkey filter as it will corrode it.
What Contaminants Are Removed By A Berkey Water Filter?
Perhaps one of the most important questions about a Berkey filter is what contaminants can be removed using these filters. The black filter elements will greatly reduce or completely remove pathogenic bacteria, viruses, cysts, parasites, trihalomethanes, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, inorganic materials, sediment, volatile organic compounds, and rust.
The fluoride filters will remove pre-oxidized arsenic 3 and 4, MTBE, heavy metals, and of course fluoride.
What About Good Minerals?
Unlike some of the other filters that are available, Berkey does not remove any of the beneficial minerals that are found in water supplies.
What Is Berkey Water Filter Made From?
Black Berkey filters use a combination of carbon and other media types. The fluoride filters contain activated aluminum oxide to effectively remove fluoride.
All of the Berkey filter systems are made from a high grade stainless steel. The Berkey light is made from plastic that is BPA free and shatter resistant.
Choosing The Right Berkey Water Filter
When it comes to choosing a Berkey Filter there are several options available. It is important to note that each of the water filter systems from Berkey work exactly the same way. The one that you choose will be mostly based on the amount of water that your household goes through each day.
As a general rule you should plan on each person in the home using about a half a gallon of water per day. If it is hot out or if you are really active, this amount may be more. If you are going to use the filtered water when you cook, you need to think about that amount as well.
It is also a good idea to consider preparing for an emergency situation such as a natural disaster. In an emergency you will need about two gallons of clean water for each person each day for cleaning, personal hygiene, and for drinking.
There are several models of Berkey filtration systems available. Each of these models have different capacities and filter water at different speeds based on the elements that they have. Most models will come with either two black or two ceramic filters. On some models you can add more filters to speed up the filtration process.
Essentially, you will need to consider how much water you need per day as well as how fast you want to get it. You may be able to choose a system with a smaller capacity if you choose to add extra filters.
Below you will find more information about each of the Berkey water filter systems that are available. This includes shower head water filters that will help provide cleaner water for you to use in your shower.
Top Berkey Water Filters
| Berkey Water Filter | Reviews | Average 5 Star | Image | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Berkey Countertop 2.25 Gallons | Over 750 | 65% + |  | Check Prices |
| Berkey BK4X2-BB 2.1 Gallons | Over 225 | 60% + |  | Check Prices |
| Big Berkey 2 Gallons Water Filter System | Over 700 | 65% + |  | Check Prices |
| Big Berkey Water Filter System | Over 135 | 65% + |  | Check Prices |
| ROYAL Berkey 3 Gallons Water Filter System | Over 100 | 70% + |  | Check Prices |
| Travel Berkey with Two 7” White Ceramic Filters | Over 95 | 70% + |  | Check Prices |
Berkey Water Filters
Travel Berkey with Two 7” White Ceramic Filters
The Travel Berkey with two 7 inch ceramic water filters is made of heavy duty stainless steel and will not leak or rust. The Travel Berkey is the smallest unit available from the company and is ideal for one or two people to use while they are traveling. When ordering this item you will receive a stainless steel travel Berkey along with 2 ceramic filters, a standard spigot, and a non-slip pad. 
The ceramic filters meet all NSF standard 52 for turbidity and are WRAS approved. The filters are designed to remove lead, chlorine, and bacteria. This filter is perfect for use every day and is necessary in hostile environments where water pressure, electricity, or treated water is not available.
Features
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to use and to clean
- Filters lasts for more than 1000 gallons
- No priming required
Advantages
The travel Berkey offers several advantages over other water filters of this type. This travel filter is small enough to take with you wherever you go, making it ideal for vacations and other travel. It does not take up a lot of space and is very easy to use. Simply fill and wait for clean and filtered water. The set comes with two ceramic filters, which will filter over 1000 gallons of water, meaning that it will last for a very long time.
Disadvantages
This is a small water filter system, so it is not ideal for larger families. Furthermore the filters with this set are made of ceramic, which may not last as long as some of the other filters that are available through the company.
Verdict
The Travel Berkey with two 7 inch filters is a great choice for single individuals or couples. This small filter is ideal for travel as it can easily be set up and used anywhere. The two filters that are included with this set will last for around 1000 gallons of water before needing to be replaced. The filter will remove chlorine, bacteria, and lead from water. For water that is more contaminated, a different filter will be required.
Big Berkey BK4X2 Countertop Water Filter System
Includes