Trusted by 21,000,000 Americans, Berkey is a known brand with a great reputation all through these years. One of its most trusted products is the Big Berkey water filter. It is their best-selling filter.
Table Of Contents
−- Big Berkey Water Filter
- Key features
- Performance
- Installation and maintenance
- Assembly
- Who should invest in this unit?
- Reasons why you need this product
- Berkey water filter alternatives
- FAQs
- Can the black filters in the Big Berkey remove lead?
- How often should the water filter be replaced?
- Which is better, the Big Berkey and a reverse osmosis filtration system?
- Can the Big Berkey remove the salty taste in water caused by water softeners?
- Is the Berkey Care lifetime warranty still applicable even if I buy through Amazon?
- Can Big Berkey water filters work on any water?
- Why are Berkey water filters banned in California?
- Last words
The filter can store a whopping 2.25 gallons at once, making it ideal for up to 4 people. In addition, its compact size allows any household to have multiple of these units installed in one home.
Big Berkey Water Filter
The Big Berkey water filter is a great addition to your home and even RVs. It fares well with medium-sized households since it has a capacity that works well for up to 4 people. Plus, you can opt to install more than one in your home. It is made of FDA-approved and BPA-free stainless steel with a cylindrical body that promises you durability and longevity.
This water filter is quite hard to beat as it has been tested to remove up to 99.999% of viruses and 99.9999% of pathogenic bacteria. Add to that its capability to reduce the following:
- Trihalomethanes
- Protozoa
- Inorganic minerals
- Pharmaceuticals
- Heavy metals
- Pesticides z
- VOCs
- Petroleum products
- Perfluorinated chemicals
- Rust
- Silt
- Sediment
- Radiological
Key features
Build
This filter from Berkey is available in different sizes to match your needs. From tiny ones for travel to bigger ones for your countertop, they have it! The specific one in this review is 19.25” tall and 8.5” wide and specifically works best on your kitchen counter. In addition, its stainless build adds to the durability of this product so that you can enjoy your investment for longer.
Purification elements
The Big Berkey comes with some Black Berkey purification elements that have been tested to exceed the NSF and ANSI standard 53 as deemed by an EPA-approved laboratory. Thus, you can trust it to clean your water out. However, these microporous filters do not work exactly like some carbon filters.
Portable and no tubing
The gravity-fed filters do not require any pipe connection to work and can be placed anywhere in your home. As a result, it saves space and is convenient.
Performance
Because of its top-notch purification elements, the Big Berkey can filter and purify water simultaneously. It’s a great alternative to a reverse osmosis system because of its ability to filter a wide range of contaminants.
However, the lack of pressure in water flow may decrease its filtration compared to systems that utilize high water pressure. Another downside is that you’d need to wait three hours to filter a new set of water, but remember that this has a 2.25-gallon capacity which should be enough for up to 4 people.
Installation and maintenance
This unit needs no installation. To maintain, you need to flush out the filters to remove any sediments or substances that may otherwise cause some nasty taste. To do so, fill the tank, then let the water sit for at least two hours. Drain (don’t drink!), then use as per usual.
A single filter has a 6,000-gallon lifespan per pair which is amazing, especially once you learn that other filters only have a 500- to 700-gallon lifespan. This decreases the hassle of replacing and also saves you money in the long run!
Assembly
We were able to assemble the unit in as quick as 30 minutes! It’s nothing tricky. Maybe the only thing that may be new to some users is learning how to change filters, simply by holding the filter against a faucet with a gasket supplier allowing the water to force through the filter. Of course, this ensures that the filters are as clean as possible!
A quick tip: you may watch assembly videos on their website to make the assembly session much faster and easier.
Who should invest in this unit?
As discussed, the capacity of this unit is great for a household of 1 to 4 members. With a GPH of 3.5 and outstanding filtration capacity, you can rely on it to give you purified and filtered water.
In addition, the unit is lightweight and does not require installation, so it’s easy to carry around. Now, if you have a family of more than 4, you can purchase more than 1 unit and use them simultaneously. The company allows up to 4 units per house.
Reasons why you need this product
Easy to use
The Big Berkey is a gravity-fed filter. Thus, there is no need for tools, electricity, or plumbing to make it work. Instead, connect it to any faucet in your home, add water, and then purification will begin. After assembly, using this is almost effortless.
Portability
You can easily carry the unit around its compact dimensions and weight. In addition, the upper chamber lies within the lower chamber and has a total standing height of around 13”, only making it great for travel as well.
Maintenance
Again, since this is a gravity-fed filter, it has no attachments to any external units that may otherwise introduce contaminants, making maintenance much easier and less frequent. Plus, the stainless steel design paves the way for its cleanliness even without regular cleaning.
Outstanding filtration
As previously mentioned, it can remove up to 99.999% of viruses and 99.9999% of pathogenic bacteria. Plus, it can dramatically decrease other contaminants as well. If these numbers do not impress you, I don’t know what will.
Durability and value for money
Purchasing the unit may not be the cheapest in the market. But if you consider that you won’t have to keep replacing it due to its impressive 6,000-gallon capacity, you’ll save some cash in the long run. Plus, the durable build and system will ensure you can enjoy the fruits of your investment for a long time.
Eco-friendly
It’s a brainer that using filters such as this is a lot more helpful to the environment than buying hundreds of water bottles per year. As per the Earth Policy Institute, it takes about 17 million oil barrels to produce the yearly demand for bottled water in America alone.
Not convinced yet? In 2018, the Container Recycling Institute stated that ¾ of the 70 billion plastic water bottles purchased by Americans ended up in landfills or incinerators. In short, switching to water filtration systems rather than buying water bottles can help our environment immensely.
Berkey water filter alternatives
Now, if you’re still not convinced about purchasing the Big Berkey water filter, here are other choices from the company:
Travel Berkey Water Filter
As the name implies, this compact and portable option is great for travel. It comes with a 7.5 x 7.5 x 19.0 inch, a weight of 6 lbs, and a capacity of 1.5 gallons at a time. If your size might be sacrificing the performance, well, think again. It comes with 2 Black Berkey Filters and 2 Fluoride filters to turn your untreated water into a clean and safe one.
You don’t believe us yet? Experts have tried using water straight out of a dirty pond, and the filtered water still exceeded American standards. This product also allows filtration of 2.75 gallons of water per hour.
Royal Berkey Water Filter
If you’re a household 6, a Big Berkey may be too small, but buying 2 units may be too much. This is where the Royal Berkey water filter comes into play. It’s a bigger option with a 3.25-gallon capacity that will work great for 6 people. It filters 14% faster than the Big Berkey, but the top quality and effective purification remain the same.
FAQs
Can the black filters in the Big Berkey remove lead?
Absolutely! It was tested to have the capability to remove up to 95% lead.
How often should the water filter be replaced?
In normal water conditions, a tank filled 2-3x per day should last 6-9 months before a replacement is needed.
Which is better, the Big Berkey and a reverse osmosis filtration system?
The reverse osmosis filtration system undoubtedly wins when it comes to filtration effectiveness. However, with its almost perfect filtration comes the loss of healthy minerals in your water. The Big Berkey is pretty smart since it only removes contaminants that are detrimental to your health.
Can the Big Berkey remove the salty taste in water caused by water softeners?
Despite the top-notch purification, Big Berkey cannot eradicate the salty taste in your water.
Is the Berkey Care lifetime warranty still applicable even if I buy through Amazon?
Yes. Amazon is Berkey’s official retailer, so all the benefits and warranties are applicable.
Can Big Berkey water filters work on any water?
Yes, of course. The Big Berkey water filter is one of the best on the market. As discussed, you can even filter water straight out of a pond, and the unit will still do it effectively.
Why are Berkey water filters banned in California?
In California, it’s a part of their regulation for manufacturers to reveal proprietary information. This means that they have to reveal their industry secrets.
Although California promises confidentiality, it’s something Berkery does not want to risk. That’s pretty understandable! However, the Berkey Light and Travel is okay to purchase.
Last words
Berkey is a reputable brand, and loyal clients love their water filters for obvious reasons. They are truly world-class, and you can rely on their systems to give you a great investment.
Jay
Jay is a health and wellness enthusiast with expertise in water quality and nutrition. As a knowledgeable advocate for holistic well-being, Jay successfully manages Type 2 Diabetes through informed lifestyle choices. Committed to sharing reliable and authoritative insights, Jay combines firsthand experience with a passion for enhancing health."