When to Replace Your Berkey Filter

Typical Scenarios

Filter lifespan depends on demand -- how much water will pass through the filters? A single person would come in at the low end of the demand scale, so it would likely choose a smaller model like the Travel Berkey. Such a customer might fill the upper chamber once in the evening to have filtered water ready in the morning for making coffee and filling a few reusable water bottles, then fill it again before heading out to work to have some delicious water to sip on throughout the evening. This could be estimated to be about two gallons a day. At that rate, a pair of Black Berkey elements is going to last eight years!

Moving up to a couple with double the drinking water needs and perhaps some extra water needed for cooking, the Big Berkey water filter seems about right. Our estimates peg this at about four and a half to five gallons a day. This would come out to the same three years as in the example above with a two-filter setup. With four filters, double that and go six years between replacements.

On the larger end of the spectrum would be a large family with several kids. In this case, a larger unit like the Royal, Imperial, or even Crown Berkey would best accommodate lots of thirsty kids, making hot and cold drinks, cooking, and perhaps even some water for pets. For this example, an Imperial Berkey with six filters will last almost five years, putting out ten gallons of water per day.

Related: Selecting the Right Size Berkey