Maintenance
A stainless steel Berkey® system lasts for years. What makes the difference day to day is simple, regular maintenance: clean chambers, and filters that are properly primed and replaced on time. Here is the complete method, adapted to our Phoenix Gravity filters.
15 min
approximately for a full clean, with no special tools
20,800 L
per pair of Phoenix filters before replacement
3 days
or more away from home: dry the filters and store them
Know the signs
When to clean your Berkey®
A regular routine prevents most problems. Some signs also show that a clean is needed straight away.
In areas with very hard water, clean the tap more often. To find out how hard your water is, check the water test results for your municipality.
The method
A full clean, step by step
Empty and dismantle
Empty both chambers. Remove the upper chamber, then unscrew the wing nuts to take out the filters. Lay them flat on a clean cloth, somewhere they cannot roll.
Wash the chambers
Wash the stainless steel chambers in hot water with a little mild soap and a non-abrasive sponge. Rinse thoroughly so that no trace of soap remains, then leave them to dry or wipe them with a clean cloth.
Clean the tap
Remove the tap and wash it in the same way. If there are limescale deposits, soaking it in white vinegar and then rinsing it well is enough. The stainless steel tap is particularly easy to clean.
Refresh the filters if the flow has slowed
Under cold running water, gently scrub the surface of each filter with a green Scotch-Brite® type scouring pad, new and kept for this purpose only: the green pad sold on its own, or the green side of an ordinary kitchen sponge. Berkey also accepts a stiff-bristled brush, such as a new vegetable brush. Never use soap, detergent or hot water on the filters. Refer to the instructions supplied with your Phoenix filters for details.
Prime the filters
Priming drives the air out of the filter's pores so that the water flows through properly. Attach the PrimeEasy™ universal primer supplied to your tap and run cold water through each filter. The priming guide in French details every step.
Reassemble and check
Put the filters back with their sealing washers, tighten the wing nuts by hand and reassemble the system. After replacing the filters, carry out the test with the red food colouring supplied, following the instructions.
The red dye test. It checks that each filter is correctly installed and watertight. If the water reaching the lower chamber is still pink, check the tightness and the washers, then repeat the test. If the colour persists, contact our team.
Time away and storage
Going away for at least three days?
Water standing in the system is never ideal. Before an absence of three days or more:
- Empty both chambers and leave all the parts to air-dry.
- Let the filters dry completely before putting them away.
- Store them away from light and odours, somewhere they can neither roll nor fall.
When you get back, prime the filters again before refitting them. Priming is necessary the first time you use them and after a long period without use.
Replacing the filters
A well-maintained filter reaches its full capacity
Without maintenance, surface deposits clog the filter and slow down filtration, to the point where you are tempted to replace it too early. Regular cleaning restores the flow rate and lets you use your filters up to their stated capacity.
This capacity remains the benchmark for replacement. New Millennium Concepts recommends replacing each Phoenix Gravity element approximately every 10,400 litres, i.e. 20,800 litres per pair, even if the flow rate is still good.
To keep track of this volume, note the installation date and estimate your daily consumption. A family filtering 6 litres a day reaches this threshold in just over nine years; a family filtering 20 litres a day, in just under three years.
Key points
- Chambers and tap: hot water, mild soap, thorough rinsing.
- Filters: cold water and a new green scouring pad, never soap or hot water.
- Prime the filters after every clean, the first time you use them and after an absence.
- Replace the pair of Phoenix filters after about 20,800 litres.
Frequently asked questions
Your maintenance questions
Why no soap on the filters?
The filter media is porous. Soap or detergent can lodge in it and give the water a taste. Mild soap is for the chambers and the tap only, always followed by thorough rinsing.
My water is filtering very slowly: what should I do?
With new filters, very slow flow is most often due to incomplete priming: prime them again. With filters that have been in use for a while, it is usually surface deposits. Going over them with a green scouring pad under cold water, then priming them again, restores the flow. If nothing changes, check the volume already filtered.
My old filters are Black Berkey®: does the method change?
The steps for the chambers and the tap are the same. To replace your Black Berkey®, the Phoenix Gravity elements fit all Berkey® systems and come with their priming kit.
Can I add filters to speed up filtration?
Yes. You can add extra elements depending on the number of slots in your upper chamber. This increases the filtration speed and the total capacity before replacement.