Black Berkey filter elements do not necessarily need to be cleaned every time you clean the Berkey water filter housing (the lower and upper chambers). However, this may vary depending on the region and water source. In certain parts of the world, the water is much dirtier than in other areas, and it will be necessary to clean the elements more frequently—possibly even more often than cleaning the rest of the system requires. If your water is muddy or very dirty, we recommend pre-filtering it by running it through some kind of cloth—such as a shirt, sheet, bandana, etc.—before filling the Berkey water filter with it. Although this isn’t necessary, it helps keep the cleaning schedule for the filter elements to a minimum by trapping debris that could clog the pores of your Black Berkey filter elements.
When is it time to clean your filters?
- You should clean the elements when you notice a significant decrease in flow rate.
- You may also want to consider cleaning the elements periodically. For example, every 6 months (IMPORTANT!! Never more often than once every 6 months, unless you notice a decrease in flow rate). The advantage of this is that you won’t experience a slow flow rate. Cleaning the elements on a regular schedule is at your discretion. This is a suggestion, not a requirement.
How do you clean the filters?
- Empty your Berkey water filter and remove the Black Berkey filter cartridges.
- Use a scouring pad or a stiff brush and gently scrub the outside of the Black Berkey filter elements under cold running water.
- Prime de filters opnieuw. Als je niet bekend bent met dit proces, bekijk dan onze instructievideo’s.
- Reinstall the Black Berkey filter cartridges in the Berkey water filter.
- Vul ten slotte jouw Berkey waterfilter en voer eventueel een rode kleurstoftest uit zoals beschreven bij de instructievideo’s, om te verzekeren dat de Black Berkey filterelementen nog effectief zijn.