I use water filtered through my Berkey. Would I still need to use these charcoal filters?
1587280
I use filtered water as well and still use the charcoal filters. They help keep the water fresh throughout the week in between cleanings.
1587281
Yes for the simple reason that your pet drops food and hair, etc. into the reservoir.
1587282
I do too. I think having a filter in the Drinkwell is still a good idea as I do not change the water daily, especially if I am away.
1587283
not positive, but i think the charcoal is there less to filter the impurities from tap water and more to filter the water as it sits and gets used-like from your pets' saliva, tiny hairs, dust, etc. So it can remain fresher longer and gets less buildup. just my opinion.
1909393
Here are the recent lab results of the Berkey with the black filters: www.waterfilterlabs.com/Big-Berkey-gravity-water-filter-heavy-metals-lab-results.html. States that it removes 100% of lead. There are also the white ceramic filters which were not tested so I don't know about those removing all the lead. This is a webpage from naturalnews.com put out by Mike Adams the Health Ranger
132089
Natalie, I asked the customer service department at Big Berkey and here's their reply: The PH will be dependent on the source water PH. The berkey filters do not add anything to the water to increase the PH, they only remove acidic components that can result in a PH increase. With that being said, we cannot provide a PH number for you as an end result for your filtered water. Most customers see a rise, but there is no guarantee. You can purchase PH strips to test this.Hope tjhat helps answer your question.
1297756
I have a DCC-1200 series and the charcoal filters work well. Prior to purchasing from Amazon I bought them at Bed-Bath-Beyond. Hope this was some help.
915898
That's the point of the filter. It will get dirty over time. If you want to extend the time between changes you may want to get a replacement filter that includes the charcoal pre-filter as it will help pick up some of the larger debris and can be hand washed.
283978
I believe it is. I was not 100% convinced that I should replace my black Berkey filters with new black Berkey filters due to some complaints about glue releasing from them. So I researched quite a bit and discovered the white filters that could be used in place of the black. In my research I learned/was told, that these filters had been used by the queen of England. I have been very happy with my Berkey system and really like the white filters best.
1155948
No. The optional is for the charcoal prefilter. You should use the standard prefilter, if not using the optional charcoal one. It will make your main filter last longer.
1664276
I would contact the company and clarify. I use filtered tap water, but to be sure, I'd believe the company over a description on Amazon.
368589
If you purchase the flouride removal filters for it.I have found our Berkey better for that though.
453290
We actually use fish tank filters, the kind that are blue and white and you can cut to any size. They have worked well with trapping debris, but I don't know if they are as good as charcoal filters.
1103442
I can see the reason for the long wait. If you're using tap water, there's going to be chlorine. Your charcoal filter will eventually adsorb all the chlorine out of the water, but not right away. The wait is so the Chlorine is completely gone out of the main tank and doesn't kill any of the SafeStart bacteria. The longer you wait, the less Chlorine.
1263355
Yes, I believe it is normal for filters to do this. Mine does that as well. I assume they use charcoal that helps the filtering process. None of my charcoal goes into the drinking water thou. When I first got mine I thought that it was kind of weird but I was pretty sure it would go away after the filter was broken in. But even after a couple of months the black specs continue to show up. I was thinking if they just put a mess over the top part this may help. I am so happy with my filter and how the water tastes. I now recommend them to all my family and friends. Hope this helps.
54650
Still has good micro elements! I chose the berkey because it leaves in trace minerals, but I'm no expert. There's plenty of water filtration system comparison reviews on YouTube, and most of them vouch for the berkey, especially considering what it does for the price. And the filters are good for a crazy long time.. Many years if they're properly washed and cared for. :)
598546
No, i just rinsed off the charcoal particles from the outside and then used and it worked wonderfully. boiling then seemed help after the water started tasting like they had stopped working but I have never needed to do so before hand unless the charcoal had sat in a package where the air tight seal had been compromised.
1892962
The charcoal does come with the system. Nowhere in the instructions does it say to keep the filter wet.
829883
Yes they do. They come with everything you need to change the filters in your Berkey.
1474778
I would think if you used a charcoal filter in this unit, it would "help" eliminate lime, but a high lime content would greatly reduce the longevity of the filter and they are somewhat expensive.