Posted: 12/15/2009 8:31:30 AM EDT
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Hello, my Berkey ceramic elements seem to have bitten the dust; after six years, my water is tasting nasty, and even worse, my coffee is tasting nasty.
Are there any good deals out there; I found 4/$150, can I do better? Thanks for your help, Rob |
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I found them whilst a-Googling at http://www.h2ofilters.com/britbersupst1.html
Thanks for the response. |
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I have a several Berkeys, but since I have found these, I don't use anything else. They are a great filter and so cheap that anyone can afford to buy several and use them for trading stock.
Look at the testing and who did it, and what it will filter out to include chemicals. Then look at the price. You will dump your Berkeys. I love these filters. Water Filter Buy It Here Removal capabilities as follows: >99% Arsenic 5 and 99% Arsenic 3 (special order) >99% Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) >95% Chlorine and Chloramines >99% Taste >99% Odor >98% Aluminum >96% Iron >98% Lead >90% Pesticides >85% Herbicides >85% Insecticides >90% Rodenticides >85% Phenols >85% MTBE >85% Perchlorate >80% Trihalomethanes >95% Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons >99.999% of particles larger than 0.5 micron (Staffordshire University Labs) (includes Anthrax) >99.7% of particles larger than 0.3 micron (Staffordshire University Labs) >98% of particles larger than 0.2 micron (Staffordshire University Labs) >100% Giardia Lamblia >100% Cyclospora >100% removal of live Cryptosporidium (WRc Standard) >100% removal of Cryptosporidium (NSF Standard 53 – A.C. fine dust – 4 log challenge) >100% removal of E. Coli, Vibrio Cholerae (Johns Hopkins University) >99.999% removal of Salmonella Typhil, Shigella Dysenteria, Kiebsiella Terrigena (Hyder Labs) |
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Quoted:
I thought I read that the black elements can't be cleaned; is that correct? From the sheet that comes with the Black Berkey filter: " As the elements filter out particulate from the water ,the flow will gradually reduce over time.When this occurs,remove the element and scrub with a stiff toothbrush or ScotchBrite pad under running water This procedure will restore the flow rate to normal." Red |
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If I'm not mistaken, the 'black elements' have a carbon block core that becomes saturated with impurities over time and loses its effectiness.
That's probably what's making your water taste bad. It can still can be cleaned by scrubbing with the same results you'd get from the plain white ones. |
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The white ones have the carbon center as well.
Mine have been scrubbed several times, and there are bits of activated charcoal in the bottom canister of my filter, so it seems the carbon is leaking from the filter. I did find the source of the nasty taste; it was due to not clearing the hose long enough at my water source, and the water standing in the hose absorbed some plastic flavors. Yummy. Not. 
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