How To Prime Black Berkey Water Filters? 2023 Ultimate Guide

To prime Berkey filters, begin by assembling the black filters with the tan priming button, washer, and wing nut. Hold the filter stem and press the priming button against a faucet. Gradually turn on the water, allowing it to fill the filter’s interior. As the filter saturates, water droplets may appear on the outer surface. After about 10 seconds, the filter is successfully primed. Remove the priming button and assemble the filters into the Berkey system. Fill the upper chamber with water, and gravity will initiate the filtration process. Priming ensures optimal performance by flushing out air and manufacturing residues, allowing clean, filtered water to flow efficiently through the system.

Importance of Priming Your Black Berkey Filters

Priming your Black Berkey filters is important for several reasons:

1. Efficient Water Flow: Priming helps to remove any air trapped within the filter elements, allowing water to flow more easily through the media. This ensures a smooth and efficient filtration process, preventing any potential blockages or slow flow rates.
2. Proper Filtration: Priming ensures that the filter media is fully saturated with water, enabling it to effectively filter out contaminants. Without priming, the filters may not function optimally and may not provide the desired level of filtration performance.
3. Initial Cleaning: Priming helps to flush out any manufacturing dust, particles, or carbon fines that may be present in the filters. This initial cleaning process ensures that the filtered water is free from any debris or impurities that could affect its quality.
4. Enhanced Lifespan: Priming your filters helps to prolong their lifespan. By removing air and ensuring proper water saturation, the filters are less likely to experience premature wear or clogging, resulting in longer-lasting and more efficient filtration.
5. Improved Taste and Odor: Priming can help eliminate any initial taste or odor associated with new filters. By thoroughly saturating the filter media, any residual flavors or odors from the manufacturing process are effectively flushed out, resulting in clean and fresh-tasting water.

How to Prime a Berkey Filter with the PrimeRite Tool

1. Attach the PrimeRite tool to a faucet and position it as far up the water spout as possible.
2. Remove the wing nut and washer from the Black Berkey Filter.
3. Hold the filter in one hand and gently insert the stem of the filter into the small opening of the PrimeRite tool.
4. With the filter in place, slowly turn on the faucet to create a low but steady flow of cold water. If the PrimeRite tool inflates or forms a bulb, reduce the water pressure.
5. Run water through the filter for approximately one minute or until you see beads of water appearing on the sides of the filter.
6. Turn off the water and remove the filter from the PrimeRite tool. Repeat this process for all the filters before installing them into the Berkey system.

Using the PrimeRite tool can make the priming process quicker and more convenient. Ensure that you follow these steps to properly prime your Berkey filters before installation.

How to Prime a Berkey Filter with the Priming Button

Here are the updated steps to prime a Berkey filter using the Priming Button:

1. Place the thick tan washer, wing nut, and the tan-colored priming button on top of the Black Berkey Filter.
2. Hold the stem of the Black Berkey Filter between your fingers and use the wing nut to grip the priming button firmly against a faucet.
3. Turn on the faucet slowly to allow water to fill the inside of the Black Berkey Filter. The priming button helps funnel water into the filter interior, saturating the media and flushing out any air or manufacturing dust.
4. Allow the exterior wall of the Black Berkey Filter to sweat beads of water for about 10 seconds. This indicates that the filter is properly primed.
5. Remove the priming button, washer, and wing nut from the filter.
6. Install the primed Black Berkey Filter into the lower chamber of your Berkey system.
7. Reattach the upper chamber to the lower chamber.
8. Fill the upper chamber with water, and the filtered water will flow through the primed filters into the lower chamber.

Please follow these steps to ensure that your Berkey filter is primed correctly before use.

How to Prime a Berkey Filter by Soaking

To prime Berkey filters by soaking, follow these steps:

1. Position the filters upright with the stems facing up in a container, such as the bottom chamber of your Berkey system.
2. Place a mug or glass over the filters to weigh them down and ensure they remain submerged in water during the soaking process.
3. Allow the filters to soak for a minimum of eight hours or overnight. This extended period of time allows the filters to become fully saturated with water.
4. After the soaking period, remove the mugs or glasses from the filters.
5. Check if the filters float or sink. If the filters float, they may require additional priming. If they sink, it indicates that they are now properly primed and saturated.

Please note that this method of soaking is suitable for priming Berkey filters when water pressure is not adequate or available, or if you do not have access to the PrimeRite tool. However, it’s important to remember that the Fluoride Filters cannot be effectively primed using this soaking method and require water pressure for proper priming.

How to Prime a Berkey Filter with the Black Berkey Primer

To prime a Berkey filter using the Black Berkey Primer, follow these steps:

1. Attach the valves to the plastic tubes on the Black Berkey Primer bulb, ensuring they are securely connected.
2. Connect the threaded piece of the tube onto the stem of the Black Berkey Filter, making sure it fits tightly.
3. Place the filter in a container or sink filled with enough water to completely cover the filter media. For example, you can use the bottom chamber of your Berkey system filled with water.
4. Squeeze or pump the bulb of the Black Berkey Primer. This action creates pressure, forcing water into the filter and priming it. Continue squeezing or pumping until you see water coming out of the other end of the tube.

By utilizing the Black Berkey Primer, you can prime your Black Filters without relying on water pressure. This method is faster and more efficient compared to the soak method. Please note that the Black Berkey Primer is not suitable for priming Berkey Fluoride Filters, as they require a different priming technique.

Why is Priming the Black Berkey Filter Elements Important?

Priming the Black Berkey filter elements is important for several reasons:

1. Removal of Air and Manufacturing Dust: Priming helps to remove any air trapped within the filter elements and flushes out manufacturing dust or particles that may be present. This ensures that the filters are ready to efficiently and effectively filter water.
2. Improved Flow Rate: Priming the filters allows water to flow more easily through the media, which can enhance the flow rate of filtered water from your Berkey system. This is especially beneficial when starting with new or dry filters.
3. Optimal Performance: By priming the filters, you ensure that they are fully saturated with water, enabling them to function at their best. Properly primed filters provide optimal filtration performance, ensuring that contaminants are effectively removed from the water.
4. Avoiding Initial Cloudiness: During the initial use of new filters, it’s common for the filtered water to appear cloudy or have a slight discoloration. Priming the filters helps reduce this initial cloudiness by eliminating loose carbon fines and any residual particles.

Priming the Black Berkey filter elements is a crucial step to ensure the filters are ready to deliver clean, filtered water efficiently and effectively. It helps improve flow rate, removes air and manufacturing dust, and contributes to the overall performance of the filtration system.

Do the Berkey Fluoride filters also need priming?

Yes, the Berkey Fluoride Filters also require priming before use. Priming helps to prepare the filter media by saturating it with water and removing any air or manufacturing dust. Proper priming ensures that the filters are ready to effectively remove fluoride and other contaminants from the water.

When priming the Berkey Fluoride Filters, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions specific to these filters. Typically, the priming process involves soaking the filters or using a priming tool designed for the fluoride filters.

Please refer to the instructions provided with your Berkey Fluoride Filters or consult the manufacturer’s guidelines for the proper priming method.

How long does it take to prime a Berkey filter?

The time it takes to prime a Berkey filter can vary depending on the method used and individual factors such as water pressure. Here are some estimated time frames for different priming methods:

1. Priming with the Priming Button or PrimeRite Tool: When using these tools, the priming process is usually quick, taking around 1-2 minutes per filter. This method allows for faster priming by directly applying water pressure to the filter.
2. Priming by Soaking: Soaking the filters typically requires a longer period of time. It is recommended to soak the filters for at least 8 hours or overnight to ensure they become fully saturated. This method relies on the filters absorbing water gradually over time.
3. Priming with the Black Berkey Primer: Using the Black Berkey Primer tool provides a relatively fast and efficient priming process. It usually takes a few squeezes or pumps of the primer bulb to fully prime each filter, which can be done within a minute or so.

Do I need a Berkey primer?

The use of a Berkey primer is not mandatory, but it can be a helpful accessory for priming your Berkey filters. The Black Berkey Primer is a hand-powered priming and purging bulb that allows you to prime the Black Filters without relying on water pressure. It can make the priming process faster and more convenient.