Review: I used the Big Berkey water filter every day for the last year and now I can’t go back

Carlotta SusannaStaff - May 20, 2021

One of the ultimate goals of any prepper is to find preps that integrate seamlessly into daily life. It’s one thing to buy a product, put it on a shel
[See the full post at: Review: I used the Big Berkey water filter every day for the last year and now I can’t go back]

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After using the Berkey filter for 10 years I have a few questions. I agree that a stand is needed to aid in the use of the filter. That made a huge difference in our situation and how we located the filter on the countertop. 

 The other change we made was to get the sight glass spigot. I would not have a Berkey without a sight glass. We have one of the larger Berkeys and the logistics of lifting the top half to check the water level creates a disaster waiting to happen. We use  a self made stand and this puts the top half over 6 feet off the ground. The awkwardness of climbing up to lift and look at the water level is unreasonable if not dangerous.

The biggest question I have is you don’t give a clear cut reason for your objection to the plastic used in the spigot. We’ve used ours for 10 years without issue and would buy another if the original were to break. Is there something I’m missing in regards to the plastic? 

 

I love that you’ve been using the Berkey for so long – thanks for sharing your setup and experience with it. Re the plastic spigot: broadly speaking, we’re simply not fans of anything that is plastic because plastic has the potential for breaking, melting down, etc. And for how much the Berkey costs, I think they could include the metal spigot by default, instead of the plastic one.

 

I agree with you on the metal spigot, it should be included by default.

Good article by the way. I’m goin to be pickin up one of those spare parts kits. I don’t want to not be able to have clean water because of a cheap plastic part breakin.

 

I don’t have a Berkey but a St. Paul Mercantile filter, and I found the stainless spigot to be a huge upgrade. The plastic one is flimsy and kind of a pain to use. The stainless one is nice and solid.

 

My family bought a Big Berkey last August and have been using it ever since, every day.  Our experience is very similar to yours.  One pair of filters used, working  with second pair now.  We’ve found the filters don’t quite live up to their billing as far as how long they last, but we’re still happy with it.  We upgraded to a stand and the stainless steel spigot and thought they were worthwhile.  One other thing we did, in an effort to get everyone to drink more water, was invest in a six-pack of Boroux glass drinking bottles and a caddy (picture how milk bottles used to come), and then we also got a 1.25 gallon jug that’s thin, but the length of the fridge.  These both sit in the fridge so we have nice, cold, Berkey water always on hand.  We all feel the glass bottles are a great investment, and significantly cuts down on plastic waste.  My wife thought I was nuts spending upwards of $300 on a water filter, but now she uses it more than I do.

 

Why can’t you use the sight glass with flouride filters?

 

The fluoride filters sit in the lower chamber and throw off the accuracy of the sight glass.

I learned that the hard way by buying the sight glass for my wife as a surprise and to find that it never was accurate. We had to decide on getting rid of the fluoride filters or the sight glass and we ended up returning the sight glass.

Two ways Berkey could fix this issue, make a clear glass window in the side of the lower chamber wall or make a black element+fluoride filter combo.

 

FYI – I’ve been looking at the Berkey systems.  Received an e-mail a few days ago and NMC has a decent sale going until April 11th!  Might be time to pull the trigger on one if you’ve been contemplating it.  No, I have no connection to NMC  🙂   

Just a quick PSA.