Learn how to prime Boroux water filters to filter out impurities and get the best, most delicious water quickly. Follow my step-by-step procedures to make this process simple.
It’s so important to us to have good quality filtered water at the farmhouse. I use it to make all of my fermented foods and from-scratch recipes, to feed my sourdough starter, and of course, to drink. It is an essential part of our real-food kitchen.
I still use the actual stainless Berkey system, but I get my replacement filters from Boroux. You can read all about why I now use the Boroux filters in this post.
If you are using a Boroux filter, it is important to understand how to properly prime them. Follow along in this easy tutorial!
What Is The Purpose Of Priming Boroux Water Filters?
When you first get your Boroux water filters, you will find they are really light. They are actually full of air, and when you’re assembling your water filter system, you want to prime the filters to get all that air out.
If you don’t do this crucial initial step, it will take a super long time to filter out the water. You could put gallons of water in the top portion at night, and come back in the morning to barely any water in the bottom canister.
That is the point of properly priming them. You may also need to clean the Boroux filters if you notice that the filtering rate is starting to slow down.
How To Prime Boroux Water Filters
Step 1: Take the wingnut and washer off of the filter.
Step 2: Take the blue priming tool and attach it to your faucet by stretching it over where the water flows out. Turn your water on at a slow rate. You do not want the water flow so high that the primer inflates or causes leakage around the primer. Test this by filling a 12 ounce cup. It should take 45 to 60 seconds.
Step 3: While the water is running, put the stem of the filter inside the priming tool. After 1 to 2 minutes, water should start seeping out of the filter.
Step 4: Continue to prime until water beads cover the entire filter surface, about 1 to 2 minutes longer. Remove the filter while the water is still running. Place the primed filter on a clean surface and repeat on the other filter.
Tips For Priming Boroux Water Filters
- Only use cold water; never use warm water, hot water, or soap to prime the elements.
- It can take 3 to 4 minutes per filter. It takes awhile sometimes, so if you feel like you’re doing something wrong, try to wait a little longer, and it may start seeping through correctly.
- If the blue primer inflates during priming, you likely need to readjust the water flow. It should fill a 12 ounce cup in about 45 to 60 seconds.
- Make sure you check out my post on how to assemble your Boroux water filter system.
FAQs
You will know that the filters are primed properly when you set up your Boroux water system and the water is filtering at a pace you are pleased with.
Yes. The priming process is an essential procedure to make sure your filters are filtering at an optimal rate. If you don’t, they will filter extremely slowly, to the point where you could leave it all night and barely any water will filter out.
We filled our new berkey and the water never drained to the bottom tank. Any ideas?
Were the filters primed before adding the water. The only time I’ve ever had them not drain was when they needed to be primed again.
Thank you so much! I kept trying and trying but I couldn’t get any water to seep out. Switched to a different faucets and finally got it to work.
hi do you still use the fluoride filters now that you’re on well water?
No, I don’t now!