How to Prime Black Berkey Filters

Maintenance of Black Berkey Elements

When a Black Berkey™ filter is new, it is essential to perform the following priming procedure to expel air and production dust from the micropores. The surface tension of water is generally too high to pass through the micropores of the Black Berkey™ using only the pressure of gravity. Therefore, you need to remove the air and residue by forcing water through the micropores before installation.

1. Place the beige priming washer onto the stem of the Black Berkey™ filter.
2. Hold the filter stem between your fingers under the wingnut with your palm facing up. Press the priming washer onto the kitchen faucet and secure it tightly with your thumb or palm.
3. Gently turn on the cold water tap to avoid splashing, and hold the filter stem firmly against the faucet to fill all the micropores of the element with water.
4. You will notice water beads forming on the surface of the Black Berkey™ from the base. Let the water run until the beads reach the top of the filter, and then let it run for 5 more seconds.
5. Rinse the outside of the filter thoroughly to remove dust that has been flushed out of the micropores.
6. Repeat this procedure for each Black Berkey™ filter.
7. Fill the lower reservoir of your Berkey® system with tap water and place the filters in the water reservoir, stems facing upward. Properly primed filters should sink to the bottom of the reservoir. If they float, there is still air that needs to be purged, or your Berkey® system will not function at its full potential.

NOTE: Keep the priming washer in a safe place, as you will need it again when maintaining your Berkey® system or when the elements have been dry for an extended period.

How to Use the Black Berkey Priming Pump

The Black Berkey priming pump is a manual-action pump that allows you to prime the Black Berkey purification elements using any water source, whether potable or not, without needing a faucet. The Black Berkey priming procedure removes the air trapped in the filters, allowing your Berkey system to produce pure water at full flow.

The Black Berkey priming pump can also be a useful accessory for people who have difficulty priming their filter with a faucet due to a shallow sink or a faucet spout that does not allow a tight seal with the priming button included with the Black Berkey elements.

How to Prime Black Berkey Elements

1. Ensure the valves are connected in the correct direction at both ends of the pump so that the air exits through the elbow. If not, reverse the position of the elbow and the hex nut on the two transparent tubes.
2. Attach the pump to the element by screwing the hex nut onto the threaded stem of the Black Berkey element.
3. Place the element in a container full of water with the stem pointing upwards so that the element is fully submerged.
4. Operate the pump by squeezing it with your hand and then allowing it to relax slowly. It is normal for the pump to take time to relax, as the pores through which the water is drawn are extremely small.
5. Repeat the pumping action several times. At first, only air will come out through the elbow, then air will gradually mix with water. Continue until no more air bubbles are in the water exiting through the elbow. Once the elements are fully primed, they should sink to the bottom of a full water reservoir. If they float, there is still air to purge from the elements.

How to Purge Black Berkey Elements

The Black Berkey priming pump also allows you to purge the water from the Black Berkey elements to speed up drying before storing or traveling with the filters. It can also be used to perform a backflush cleaning of the elements to remove particles that accumulate in the filter medium, helping to extend the life of the filters.

1. Ensure the valves are connected in the correct direction at both ends of the pump so that the air exits through the hex nut side. If not, reverse the position of the elbow and the nut on the two tubes.
2. Attach the pump to the element by screwing the hex nut onto the threaded stem of the Black Berkey element.
3. Squeeze the pump with your hand and allow it to relax slowly. This action will draw air into the elbow and push it through the micropores of the elements, not only to expel the water but also to purge any sediments lodged inside (especially if the Berkey system is used with untreated water sources).
4. Repeat the pumping action until no more water comes out of the elements.