Berkey filters don’t clean themselves.  This is why you need to invest in a Berkey pro care maintenance kit from USA Berkey filters.  When it comes to drinking clean, healthy water you should never cut corners. Big Berkey filters are one of the most effective consumer water filter systems on the market. However, like all water filtration products, they need to be properly maintained to ensure that they continue to perform as expected.

If you’re looking for a water filter that will last a lifetime and doesn’t require any maintenance at all, then Big Berkey might not be the best option for you. However, if you want an affordable water filter that is easy to maintain and takes only a few minutes per month, then Big Berkey is perfect for you!

We all know that water is essential for life. Clean water, however, can be more of a challenge. While the Berkey® system has been tested and proven effective against harmful pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites and cysts, this does not mean that it will not become clogged with particles over time.

When using the Big Berkey® system, we recommend cleaning your system every six months, depending on local water conditions. You may wish to clean more frequently if you live in an area with very dirty or sediment-laden water.

Cleaning involves soaking the black filters in hot water to dissolve any small particulate matter that may have become trapped in them. The stainless steel housing can be cleaned at the same time by wiping it with a cloth dampened with white vinegar.

This kit will allow you to do this maintenance and extend the life of your filters.  The Big Berkey and other Black Berkey water filters are made to have a long life span. If you use your Berkey water filter on a daily basis, then it will need to be cleaned every 6 months. There are some factors that will determine how often your black berkey filter needs to be cleaned. The more sediment in the water you are filtering, the faster build up will appear in the filter element. The more people using the filter, the faster you will need to replace or clean your black berkey filters.

If you take a look at your Berkey system and notice that there is white residue on the outside of your filter elements, this means that they have started to clog and need to be cleaned. If you notice that your flow rate has decreased and it is taking longer for you to fill up your upper reservoir than it used to, this means that the filters are clogging and it is time for them to be cleaned.

An easy way to tell if your black berkey filters need cleaning is to put a drop of food coloring in the bottom of the upper chamber. If any color passes through into the lower chamber after 24 hours, then it is time to clean or replace your black berkey filters.

The Big Berkey water filter system is a durable, stainless steel gravity-fed water filter that does not require electricity or plumbing in order to work. It filters up to 3.5 gallons of water per hour and is capable of filtering up to 3,000 gallons of water before the filter elements need to be reordered and replaced. The black Berkey elements are made of high-grade activated carbon from coconut shells and are so powerful, they can even remove bacteria from water sources that may contain disease-causing viruses such as E. coli and salmonella.

The Big Berkey is a large stainless steel tank with an upper chamber where the filtered water is stored, and a lower chamber where the unfiltered water enters through a spigot.

The Big Berkey is made up of two black Berkey purification elements and two PF-2 fluoride filters that attach to the bottom of each black element (or you can opt for the non-fluoride version which doesn’t have the additional PF-2 filters). Each kit also comes with a lid, spigot, base, 2 wingnuts, 2 washers, 2 blocking plugs and 2 priming buttons.

Edward Bertrand