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women filling a mason jar of filtered water from a Berkey water filter
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How To Set Up A Berkey Water Filter

Learn how to set up a Berkey water filter for the cheapest and best water purifier in your home.
Course Projects
Cuisine American
Keyword berkey filter, filtered water
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 1
Author Lisa Bass
Cost 5

Equipment

  • Berkey Water Filter

Ingredients

  • water

Instructions

  • Clean the Berkey Water Filter.
  • Take the silicon ring and place it on the counter. Place the bottom Berkey canister on top of the silicon ring.
  • Place the screw into the washer.
  • Next, take the screw and washer and place into the underneath part of the lid into the hole. 
    Screw the handle onto the lid.

  • Whether you have the stainless steel one or the plastic, the installation remains the same. The only difference is the plastic spigot has plastic hardware while the stainless steel one has stainless parts. Also, the plastic one doesn't have the metal covers.
  • Remove the plastic from the two metal washer-looking pieces.
  • Place the metal ring on the spigot tube with the round part closest to the spigot. 
  • Next, place one of the silicon gaskets on the spigot tube. This creates a nice seal on the Berkey, so you don't have any leakage. 
  • Place the spigot tube into the hole in the bottom canister.
  • On the inside of the canister, place the other silicon gasket into the spigot tube, and then place the metal ring after, with the wider part touching silicon. 
  • Take the metal nut and tighten it onto the tube, making sure it is really tight. You will know if it is not tight enough if your Berkey starts leaking.
  • Make sure the filters are primed before installing them. You can see how to prime them here.
  • Add the gasket to the black filter element, and then place the element with the tube down through one of the holes on the top chamber.
  • Next, screw it on with the screw nut. You want it tight, but make sure not to tighten it too much, or you risk stripping the screw.
    Do the same for the other black element.
  • We've never had a problem with the rate of filtration with just two filters. But, if you saw my recent post when I did the red dye test, I figured out that one of the elements had been damaged at some point. 

    Take the stopper and push the small end through the hole. Do the other side as well.

    Add water to the upper chamber, and check to make sure the water is coming out where it is supposed to. You want to make sure it is coming through the filters, and not leaking through any of the nuts or the plugged holes.
  • Hold it up and check to see where it is dripping through.
    If they are leaking through spots they are not supposed to, empty the water and tighten the element nuts. Test again.
  • Set the top chamber on top of the bottom chamber, fill completely with water, and place the lid on top.
  • Let the water filter out a few times before drinking it, just to make sure any sediments in the filter come out.
  • You are all set. Enjoy your delicious, filtered water.

Notes

  • Wash the stainless steel canisters before putting it all together.
  • Prime the filters before installing them, or your water will filter extremely slowly.