How to Choose the Best Berkey Water Filter For Your Home

You may have a family of 4, 5, or 6 people in your home who are all thirsty. Thus, satisfying your drinking needs is one of the priorities in your household. You would prefer to use something other than tap water. 

With all the shocking stories about contaminated water and various chemical compounds in water supplies, you know you need an excellent water filter. There are dozens in the market, but the Berkey Water filter system has kept its name and reputation to the utmost. The system offers you water you can trust, aiming to provide safeclean, and delicious water.

Now that you have to purchase your next or new Berkey Water filter, you have heard a lot about its range of filtration systems. You need clarification about where to go next and what type of water filter to consider for your home.

Choosing the best water filter for your home can be a complex task. To simplify the process, consider the following essential factors. Remembering these, you can confidently select the perfect Berkey Water Filter for your needs.

Determine the Daily Consumption of Water in a Household

Determining your household’s daily water consumption is essential when choosing your Berkey water filter system. The recommended daily water intake for an individual is 0.5 to 1 gallon. According to research conducted by the USDA, that is the case. The average person weighs 154 pounds. Drink 8 oz of water daily, equivalent to the one-half gallon per day requirement.

Most users discovered that they prefer filtered water for cooking once they started using their system. Cooking with your Berkey water system effectively doubles your consumption to 2 gallons per person per day.

After several years of tracking customer feedback, the most precise amount for most users is 1 gallon of water per individual per day.

Upon deciding the number of people in your home and the water consumption of each individual, refer to the chart below to select the correct size Berkey filter for your needs.

If your water requirements are two gallons per person per day or if you plan to use the water system for purposes other than drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene, you should purchase the next larger size system, as demonstrated in the chart below.

Berkey Model

Capacity

Number of People

Go Berkey

1 Quart

1 – 2 people

Travel Berkey

1.5 Gallons

1 – 2 people

Berkey Light

2.75 Gallons

2 – 5 people

Big Berkey

2.25 Gallons

1 – 4 people

Royal Berkey

3.25 Gallons

2 – 6 people

Imperial Berkey

4.5 Gallons

4 – 8+ people

Crown Berkey

6 Gallons

4 – 12+ people


When preparing for an emergency, having one extra gallon provides added peace of mind. It supplies the expanded liquid requirements of higher elevations, particularly in warm weather or for individuals with special needs. One-half to 1 gallon each day is suggested for bathing, cleanliness, and washing dishes.

Identify the Flow Rate of Every Berkey Water Filter

Every Berkey Walter filter comes with a black water filter, which means blocking contaminants is one of its main duties. You can speed up the process by adding more filters. The more filters your system has, the quicker your unit will produce water and the quicker it will recover from peak or prolonged water usage. 

The bigger systems are taller and produce more water pressure, which expands the flow rate. The numbers displayed on the Berkey water filter comparison chart below are for a full unit. The flow rate will diminish as the water level in the upper chamber drops.


Model

Capacity

Filters

Flow Rate*

Go Berkey

1 Quart

1

1 GPH

Travel Berkey

1.5 Gallons

2

2.75 GPH

Berkey Light

2.75 Gallons

2

3.75 GPH

Berkey Light

2.75 Gallons

4

7 GPH

Big Berkey

2.25 Gallons

2

3.5 GPH

Big Berkey

2.25 Gallons

4

7 GPH

Royal Berkey

3 Gallons

2

4 GPH

Royal Berkey

3 Gallons

4

8 GPH

Imperial Berkey

4.5 Gallons

2

5.5 GPH

Imperial Berkey

4.5 Gallons

6

16.5 GPH

Crown Berkey

6 Gallons

2

6.5 GPH

Crown Berkey

6 Gallons

8

26 GPH

How long does it take to filter water?

If the system has two Berkey filters and the upper chamber is filled to the top, it can hypothetically filter 3.5 gallons each hour. As the water level at the top goes down, the flow rate also decreases. That's why it's ideal to fill it right to the top and refill it frequently. 

How to clean your filter? 

The Berkey water filter requires some maintenance. Use gentle soap and water or diluted white vinegar to clean the stainless steel holder. 

When the black Berkey filters need cleaning, you scrub them with plain water using one of those scratchy green cleaning pads. 

You may need to clean those filters if the flow rate returns to normal. Continuously attempt that first before accepting that they're worn out

In case you're wondering, the fluoride filters aren't washable. They ought to be replaced when they're worn out.

How long do the filters last? 
It relies upon your usage. Each Black Berkey filter has a life of 3,000 gallons. That implies that if you have 2 filter elements and use 3 gallons daily, they will last more than 5 years. A pair of fluoride filters should be replaced every 1,000 gallons at 3 gallons daily, about once every eleven months. 

The Size of the Berkey Water Filter

The best rule for choosing the right size of Berkey Water Filter is that bigger is generally better, considering the space you have available for it. This implies that having a larger system is more advantageous, as you will not need to refill it as frequently.

Since the higher water volume in the upper chamber builds pressure on the filters, the water flows through more quickly in this manner. The variation in cost between the different models is insignificant when considering that you will likely use a similar model for 10 to 20 years or more.

The next key consideration when selecting the size of the water filter is whether it has sufficient holding capacity to meet your group’s needs during peak hours. For instance, you would prefer not to run out of water during mealtime or when you gather companions on a warm summer day. In an office setting or a yoga studio, you would prefer not to run out of drinking water during a break when everyone needs to quickly fill a glass or water bottle.

As a general guideline, you prefer to fill your Berkey at least twice daily to suit your needs. 

Here is the chart for calculating your daily use.

Berkey Model

Capacity

Max per Hour

Go Berkey

1 Quart

1 gal/hr

Travel Berkey

1.5 Gallons

2.75 gal/hr

Berkey Light

2.75 Gallons

7 gal/hr

Big Berkey

2.25 Gallons

7 gal/hr

Royal Berkey

3.25 Gallons

7 gal/hr

Imperial Berkey

4.5 Gallons

16.5 gal/hr

Crown Berkey

6 Gallons

26 gal/hr

For average daily usage, multiply the number of individuals in your group by .5 gallons. In an emergency, increase the number of individuals in your group by X (1 gallon). This is the suggested minimum amount of water you may expect for daily use.
  • The Big Berkey is by far the most popular. It has the ideal size to serve sufficient water to a group of 4 and isn't excessively bulky for most kitchens. Another advantage is that it remains compact and can be easily moved around without any issues. 
  • The Go Berkey is the smallest in size. It's ideal for on-the-go setups or camping adventures where filtered water is not required. The unit comes with the Berkey Sport water bottle. 
  • The Travel Berkey is greater than the Go yet compact enough to fit in many bags. It can give filtered water to up to 3 individuals and is well-known among singles and individuals living in smaller apartments.
  • The Crown Berkey is the largest unit and can hold up to 6.5 gallons of filtered water. Its flow rate is additionally outstandingly high for a gravity-based system, especially when all eight filter elements are installed. This way, there’s no waiting time for you at all. 
  • Finally, the Berkey Light, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, is notable for being produced without BPA-free copolyester (plastic) and instead features stainless steel. Why plastic? Since it's intended for individuals on a tight budget. This is also why it uses special Berkey Earth ceramic filters, giving strong water quality at a lower price.

If you ask us, we would reveal that bigger is usually better. It bodes well: The bigger the system, the more water it can hold, and the less frequently you need to top it off. 

Simultaneously, the cost of a Berkey increases slowly with its size, so you must have a budget plan. The price gap becomes irrelevant, considering you will use it for a long time, ideally over 10 years.