Berkey Light Gravity-Fed Water Filter with 2 Black Berkey Elements Provides Filtered Water While Off-Grid, Camping, Emergencies and More

I put the Berkey Light on my boat. It worked pretty well for a 10 day cruise. There were only two of us and it wasn't very hot, so the slow drip wasn't a problem. Then I left the boat for 4 1/2 months (over the winter.) Before I left, I took the Birkey apart and washed and dried every part. When I reassembled it 4 1/2 months later, it was like a different product. Over the course of the next two weeks, I took it apart so I could prime it two more times, just to be sure it wasn't that. But the upper chamber wouldn't filter the water past the half full mark. It was filtering about 1 drip per 5-6 seconds per side. I winterized the boat with (potable) RV antifreeze. I drained all of the antifreeze I could, but there must have been a trace left in the water. The Birkey did not filter out the taste or smell of the antifreeze. For about two weeks I've had slow filtration producing bad tasting and smelly water. When I contacted Birkey, they said contact the Amazon seller. When I contacted the Amazon seller, they said contact Birkey. After going around a second time, I decided to write Birkey my disgruntled final appeal. One more time they insisted I go back to the Amazon seller. Whose warranty is it anyway? Who should care more than anyone and back up their products with good support? I thought they would try to educate me about how to make it work better. But, no. They just sent me back to the seller one more time. If I thought the seller cared or knew as much about using the Birkey as Birkey does, I might have the motivation to go back to the seller one more time. Instead of wasting more time, I'll just write this review and hope Birkey decides to improve the product or provide better educational materials when someone is having trouble using their $305 product.

We moved into a new apartment near Tampa Fl and didn’t like the taste of the water. We bought this water filter because we were going through 2.5 gal of bottled water every other day. We figured it would pay for itself in 10 weeks. It’s been great! We also wanted something we could use if we have a hurricane.It was easy to assemble and we didn’t need any tools. The instructions were pretty good. Just a reminder to prime the filters before you install them. If you forget, you’ll just have to take them back out, prime them and then put them back in.Filling the upper chamber is easy, especially if you have a sprayer attached to you kitchen sink. Make sure you wait to refill it until most of the water is gone. There isn’t a seal between the top and bottom chambers. If you over fill it, it will leak out between the chambers. It doesn’t take up much room on the counter and the spigot is long enough to hang over the edge of the counter. The spigot it easy to use. It can be set to drain out a lot of water by lifting up on the lever. The seal around the spigot doesn’t leak.We chose to not buy additional filters. The two filters it comes with will fill lower chamber (2.5 gal?) in a few hours. If the filter process slows down, just remove the filters, use a soft toothbrush to clean the filters, prime the filters and then reinstall them. Takes about 5 minutes and the filters act like they’re new again.The water tastes great and we seem to be drinking more water than we were before. We refill it every day. I would definitely recommend this water filter.

We'd used Berkey stainless steel units for years after waiting for our plumber to come out to completely revamp our whole-house water filtration system... in or around 2015. After waiting a year we got our first stainless steel unit for our kitchen, using it daily to filter drinking water out of our well just 50' or so from the kitchen. Although pleased, after a couple of years I got aggravated of never knowing what the water levels were despite having a transparent nozzle (we have extremely hard water so the little window was useless after a few months of full-time use). Then in 2019 we finally got this transparent plastic unit and haven't looked back since! Every morning we completely fill it, then do it again before evening chores, and sometimes during deer hunting season fill it many times a day for weeks while making gallon after gallon of bone broth. I love that I can see the water levels at a glance! One filter lasts us almost exactly a year (it's necessary to wash the whole unit quarterly with vinegar to get rid of the hard water deposits), that's a huge savings over what we would pay for questionable bottled water. After three years we figured out that while our plumber will come out in a serious emergency, he's never going to show up under any other circumstance. We tried two other plumbers but they were instantly frightened by the massively tangled 1970s-era jerry-rigged systems down in our basement, one advised us to call a well digger, but after several years of waiting for the well guy (with plenty of reminder-calls) we're just super-thankful for our wonderful transparent Berkey unit used many, many times daily over here. Those of you who value water quality in dicey plumbing situations, this is a fantastic solution -- even for the long term.

Setting up takes a little bit of time not too crazy. The quality of the water is well worth the price! I love this filter system.

I've used filters for over 30yrs Brita and as purchased bottled water.I had heard about the Berkley filter but didn't know anything about them. I researched them online and I watched YouTube films on how to set it up and followed what was said in the films.I've had my Berkley for about three months now and it is so good.I bought the plastic Berkey because it was the smallest and also because I could see the water levels. Having heard peoples' accounts of flooded out their kitchens. It is worth knowing Berkley is different to other filters so even when the bottom part is full it will keep filtering water.(ie it will leak out of the centre if it's over filled)I have M. S. I kn0w on bad days I wouldn't fiddle around trying to work out how much water was in the bottom and with the clear plastic filler you can see the water levels straight away.Since have this filter I noticed my skin is softer. Yes the water taste is slightly different (other people have complained) but it healthy and you get used to it. To me it tastes like soft mineral water.I have 4 husky/rot dogs who drink on average 10l of water a day. Since they hey have filtered water, their coats have hot so soft. One of my dogs is 14yrs old since having this water I've notice her health improving. I also have a large fish tank and use the filtered water rather than using chemicals to balance the water.I also purchased the fluoride filters and I'm so glad I did.Let's be honest it is a lot of money but over a year it pays for it's self. I was spending £12 a month on filters so I know in a year it will have paid for it's self.A few weeks ago I turned on the cold water tap and smell of chlorine was so strong I had to step away from the sink is was unbearable. I put it through the filter tasted as normal.I now give water from my filter to my neighbours and they love it and it keeps the water flow through the filter and stops the filters from drying out.The more you filter the more you drink and that is one of the most healthiest tings you can do. My health seems to have improved since using this filter.I give this a 100 stars.

Be Prepared NOT Scared !!!for those of you who still don't have there act together,now's ya chance to fix it,when you get caught with ya pants downplease remember you were warned - then deal with it !!!a buy once cry once but well worth every penny !!!

Been using it for about a month.Pro: Works great. Easy to fill and spigot is fast. Water tastes great.Con: Base isn't high enough for taller glasses so we end up pulling it to edge of the counter to fill (gets annoying for water bottles). Would be better if it was a few inches higher. I am looking into placing it on a chopping block to make it higher.

It was a cheap piece of junk. Did not fit well together as well cheap mastic used. Shame on Berkey for charging such high price for sub quality.

Parry missing!!!!