Berkey Water Filter Reviews

Heard a lot about Berkey's range of water filter systems but unsure where to go next? We take a close look at the most popular models and decide which is best in a range of scenarios.

If you’re worried about contaminants in your water, you’re probably looking for a water filter to get rid of pollutants and heavy metals.

But, even when you’ve decided that a water filter is the way forward, it can be difficult to plough your way through all the many options out there.

Common sense dictates that not every water filter is created equal, and if you’re determined that only the best will do, that’s a lot of extra work you’ll need to put into reading reviews and researching quality.

If you’ve begun your research, you’ll no doubt have already heard of the Berkey water filters.

These water filtration systems are ranked among the top performers on the market today and they are extremely popular among homeowners.

With this in mind, we answer all your questions about this filter range and save you the effort of reading countless Berkey water filter reviews.

Read our buyer’s guide today and find out everything you could possibly need to know about choosing the right water system for you.

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may make a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Berkey Water Filters Compared

See how the top Berkey systems compare in the table below.

You can read about the the specific contaminants that they remove and all about the key features in the reviews and buyer's guide that follow.

  Bottom Line: Overall, the Big Berkey is the perfect choice for small to mid-sized family homes. Removing harmful chemicals and contaminants very effectively, its stylish stainless steel exterior makes it an attractive addition to any countertop.

2. Berkey Light

The Berkey Light water filter system is capable of holding up to 2.75 gallons of water. Its Earth filters are made using natural diatomaceous earth together with granulated activated charcoal. They are more effective than natural ceramic filters and offer the same level of high performance as the black filters.

The Berkey Light is particularly effective for use with well water, and features a water system composed for four separate parts. The base is at the bottom with a middle chamber to hold filtered water, a top chamber holding up to 4 filters and a blue cap lid. This system is also compatible with a set of LED solar powered lights for an attractive look at night.

The Berkey Light comes complete with two filters, however it’s possible to buy two more to make a total of four. While the filtering process is effective with two filters, it is quite slow. With the addition of two more, the process is sped up considerably.

Thanks to the transparent exterior, it’s possible to easily view the water line to see how much water is already filtered. Meanwhile, the water has a delicious, clean taste.

  Bottom Line: Overall, the Berkey Light is recommended for families who want the easy and convenience of a transparent unit. While it isn’t as attractive as the stainless steel model, it is an effective choice for any home.

3. Royal Berkey

The Royal Berkey boasts a water capacity of 3 gallons and features a stylish stainless steel exterior for extra aesthetics in your kitchen. It comes complete with two powerful black water filters as well as a set of PF2 fluoride filters and four 12oz stainless steel drinking cups, representing amazing value for money.

Berkey reviews point out that this model is the second most popular of the range, and it is recommended for families of five or bigger. This model is capable of providing delicious, clean-tasting water much faster than a pitcher model and as it requires no electricity thanks to its gravity-fed design, it is a really convenient choice for any countertop.

The powerful filters supplied with this model remove over 99% of all bacteria and viruses while keeping the healthy minerals that your body needs. Every filter is capable of filtering as much as 3,000 gallons of water for long-lasting value. 

  Bottom Line: Overall, if you have a larger home and family, the Royal Berkey is the perfect choice for you. Stylish enough to keep out on your countertop, it produces excellent results and comes with everything you need to get you up and running.

Recommended Reading: Don't miss our review of the popular Whirlpool WHELJ1.

4. Crown Berkey

If you need a water filter system which is capable of supplying the water needs of the largest families and groups, the Crown Berkey perfectly fits the bill. Suitable for water filtration for ten people or more, it produces clean-tasting, fresh water quickly and conveniently thanks to its gravy-fed system.

The Crown model comes complete with two black filters and it couldn’t be simpler to set up and use. Compatible with all kinds of water from tap to well, this model is capable of removing as much as 95% of fluoride from your water as well as over 99% of other harmful heavy metals and contaminants.

A four pack of stylish stainless steel cups come complete with this model representing even better value for money. 

  Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a Berkey filter review for a product that meets the needs of the biggest families or workplaces, the Crown model will tick all your boxes. Stylish, modern and highly efficient, it’s the perfect option for large-scale operations.

Conclusion

When you want complete peace of mind that the water you drink at home will be free of any harmful contaminants and pollutants, a Berkey water filter system will give you the reassurance you need.

Read any Berkey water filter review and you’ll find that in most cases buyers are extremely impressed with all four of these systems for their effective functionality and stylish good looks.

Choosing a water filter system isn’t always easy, but you can rest assured when you choose any of the four models suggested here you’ll benefit from delicious-tasting, clean water as well as long-lasting value for money.

However, if you need a little more guidance, we would recommend the Big Berkey as the best choice for most family’s needs. Capable of providing fresh water for small to mid-sized family units, this is the most popular product in the range.

With its impressive performance, attractive stainless steel appearance and spacious water capacity, it’s a great way to ensure your own water supply is as clean and contaminant-free as possible.

Berkey Water Filter Buyer’s Guide

If you’re interested in buying one of these water filters, you probably have a number of questions before you make your final purchasing decision.

It’s important to know the answers to questions such as “how long do Berkey filters last?” as well as knowing about any potential Berkey water filter problems which could arise.

Here we look at the most common Berkey water purifier complaints as well as the benefits of choosing one of these water filtration systems.

An Introduction to Berkey Filter Systems

This range of water filter systems all function in an identical way, however they have subtle differences when it comes to the way in which they’re used.

Unlike other types of filter system which require connection to the house plumbing system, these units are independent, free-standing units which are placed onto the countertop of your kitchen and filled up with tap water.

The water is gravity fed through the filter with the resulting clean water being delivered via the spigot in the device’s base.

What are the Benefits?

The benefits of these water filter systems include:

• No complex installation process is required
• There is no need to put a hole in your expensive countertop
• Portability
• Easy cleaning and maintenance
• Very clean water that is free of contaminants
• Delicious tasting water
• Attractive design

How do the Filters Work?

There are two filters in the Berkey range. The black filter comes supplied with every model and has to be used. There are also optional arsenic and fluoride filters.

The black filter contains a matrix of microscopic pores which microfilter the water. It removes mercury, lead and other heavy metals. Each filter lasts for around 3000 gallons of filtration use which is an impressive lifespan representing amazing value for money.

If you use more filters, you can prolong that lifespan even more. Using 4 filters rather than just the two supplied gives up to 12,000 gallons of filtration use before a replacement is required.

The arsenic and fluoride reduction filter can also be used with a black filter. It is hard to remove arsenic and fluoride from tap water and this is why the filter is so impressive. It is rare to find this kind of functionality in a countertop unit.

When this filter is used the filtration process is slower and there is a shorter lifespan of just 1000 gallons. This type of filter uses activated alumina to target arsenic and fluoride in the water. Using adsorption, the potentially harmful particles are removed from the water.

Unlike other water filter systems, the filters are gravity-fed. This means that gravity forces the water through the filter from its top to its bottom with no artificial pressurization.

The long length filters and the water remain in contact for long periods to capture contaminants more effectively. Contact time is the key when using filtration methods such as absorption and adsorption.

What Sort of Water Can it Handle?

A Berkey water filter is ideal for use with all kinds of water. Whether you have a well or whether you have city water, you’ll find that these models produce excellent, contaminant-free, tasty water.

However, a Berkey filter is even more impressive than that since it can filter untreated water too. If you want to take it camping, for example, you can even filter lake water through it to produce safe drinking water. There is only one kind of water which cannot be filtered – salt water as it corrodes the elements of the filter.

What Kinds of Contaminants can it Remove?

Black Berkey filters remove or reduce pathogenic bacteria, cysts, parasites, viruses, trihalomethanes, pharmaceuticals, inorganic materials such as chlorine, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), heavy metals, sediment and rust. They also remove odors and unpleasant tastes.

The fluoride/arsenic filter is optional and can remove pre-oxidized arsenic III and arsenic V, fluoride, heavy metals and MTBE.

However, unlike many of its rivals, it will not remove any of the beneficial minerals found in water, so you can be confident that you’re choosing a filter system which will produce great tasting water too.

How About Maintenance?

These filter units are low maintenance with infrequent filter changes which can be accomplished quickly and easily.

The black filters last a very long time – often years – however over time they eventually clog up causing a reduced rate of water flow. The filters can be cleaned using a dish scrubber to scratch the outer layer away from the filter. Once this has been removed, the water will flow properly again.

Towards the end of the lifespan of the filter, you should test how effective it is. Since there is no warning light or other indicator to suggest when the filter has reached the end of its life, you will need to carry out some simple tests.

One way to test the effectiveness of the filter is to add some red food color to the water. This way, you can see easily if it can pass through the filter. If the red color goes through, it is time for a filter change since a fully functioning filter is capable of taking even coloring out of water. It’s recommended to try this test process once every couple of months to keep your system functioning at optimal levels.

What Steps Should I Take Before Buying a Water Filter?

Before you buy any water filtration system, there are a few things that you should bear in mind.

Firstly, you should always test your tap water. This is a key step when it comes to choosing the best water filter for you. If you’re using a Berkey filter as your primary filtration source, you’ll need to ensure you’re targeting the most appropriate contaminants. Fluoride filters will only be required if you use a city water supply since there is no fluoride added to well water.

There may be other pathogenic bacteria, contaminants and harmful chemicals in your water which affect its taste. These can be removed by most water filters, however many of their rivals also remove beneficial minerals which are actually good for your health. Therefore, a Berkey model is a good choice since it will leave the good minerals intact to help improve your well-being.

You should also estimate just how much drinking water your household is likely to require. All of the Berkey water filter models are pretty similar, however they are suitable for different sizes of household. The size of the model will also dictate the number of filters which you’ll require.

If you’re not sure which size to try, always go for a larger one than you expect. Remember that the average person will consume around 0.85 gallons of water per day. The Royal Berkey is the most popular choice, holding three gallons. Meanwhile, the Travel Berkey is the smallest, holding only 1.5 gallons.

When working out how much water you’ll need, it’s best to take half a gallon per day for each member of the household as your rule of thumb. This is only under normal circumstances, however. If you are very active or if the weather is extremely warm, you’ll need more than this amount.

If you’re also planning on using filtered water to cook with, that will also need to be borne in mind when figuring out how much water you use per day.

Not only that, but you’ll also need to think about preparing for any emergency situation such as a natural disaster. In an emergency, you’ll require at least two gallons of clean, safe drinking water every day for personal hygiene, cleaning and drinking.

There are six models in the filter range, each holding different capacities of filtered water. Each filters water at different rates too and this will vary depending on how many filters are being used.

Each model is supplied with two black Berkey filters but every model except the Travel Berkey allows you to add extra filters to speed up the flow rate of the water. If you’re keen to filter water as quickly as possible, you should choose a model with more filters.

The amount of time each model takes to filter one gallon of water relies on several factors including filter condition, the amount of filter elements in the system and how much water is in the chamber. You can keep the chamber filled with water to speed the filtration process since the amount of pressure is increased and this forces water through the filter more rapidly.

The third thing to bear in mind is the amount of space you have available in which to store your water filter system. How much countertop can you dedicate to water filtration? If you have a small kitchen, you’ll need to ensure you have adequate space for a larger model, or you’ll need to opt for a smaller version.

Also, remember that you will need to fill up the unit yourself with tap water. This means you should have sufficient countertop space close to the sink to make this as quick and convenient as possible.

If you’re in doubt about which system to buy, the Big Berkey may be the most sensible choice since it’s the middle-sized option. Suitable for most smaller families, it’s an ideal solution to getting rid of all the unwanted contaminants in your water.