Cleaning Your Berkey®
Berkey® purification systems are designed to last and provide you with filtered, healthy water for decades. The tanks are made of high-quality stainless steel and are durable. However, occasional maintenance and cleaning are necessary. Lime deposits can adhere to the tanks, and pollutants may concentrate in the upper chamber. Your Black Berkey® filters also require regular cleaning to prevent blockages and maintain optimal filtration speed.
Tank Maintenance and Cleaning
Cleaning Frequency
The type of water you use will influence the frequency with which the system needs to be cleaned. Hard water will tend to leave traces on the tanks that need to be removed. Using water other than tap water, which is more polluted, will also need more frequent cleaning. We recommend cleaning the tanks every 2 to 3 months, depending on usage conditions, with a higher frequency of about one month if you have hard water or use potentially polluted water.
Which Product to Use
For lime deposits, in regions with hard water, deposits can accumulate on the tank walls, at the base of the tap, or around the seals. A natural solution is to use vinegar, either pure for stubborn deposits or diluted 50% with water. Simply spray the solution on the affected areas, wait a few minutes, and then rinse.
Warning: Do not spray vinegar on the Black Berkey® filters or PF-2 filters.
For cleaning the tanks, you can use warm water with a little mild dish soap and gently scrub with a sponge. In case of known contamination, add a few drops of bleach to a container of warm water and clean your tanks with it. It is also possible to place the tanks in the dishwasher after removing the faucet and all filters.
Black Berkey® Filter Maintenance and Cleaning
Cleaning Method and Frequency
Under normal use with tap water, cleaning every 2 months is enough. This frequency may be shorter if your water is very hard or if the filtration speed tends to slow down. After removing the Black Berkey® elements (and PF-2 filters if present), scrub each filter on all surfaces under running water with the green side of a Scotch-Brite. This operation aims to remove a superficial layer to give your filter a fresh start. Then rinse and re-prime them before reinstalling. Detailed information is provided in the documentation received with your purchase or on this summary page. If using your Berkey® system with non-tap water, the cleaning frequency may be shorter, especially if the water contains various sediments or impurities.
Summary for Cleaning Berkey® Systems
- Carefully remove all Black Berkey® filtration elements
- If PF-2 fluoride and arsenic filters are present, remove them also.
- Remove the tap.
- Remove the rubber seal at the base of the lower tank.
- Gently wash your tanks with mild dish soap or other gentle cleaner and warm water.
- For lime deposits, use pure or diluted vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes and rinse with water.
- Also, clean the lid if necessary.
- Dry your tanks with a soft cloth or leave them to dry alone.
- If water spots are present on the outside of the tanks, you can use a microfiber cloth to remove them.
- Clean the Black Berkey® filters if the cleaning period coincides with tank cleaning, BUT NEVER USE ANY CLEANING PRODUCT.
- Reassemble your Berkey® system using the documentation received with your purchase or by consulting this page.