How to Choose the Best Berkey Water Filter For Your Home

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.

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.

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.

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. 

• 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.

• You can consider Royal Berkey or Imperial Berkey if you need larger water. 

• 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.