I ordered the Crown Berkey last year and have been using it since then.
It arrived within the specified time in great condition. I had ordered 2 additional black ceramic filters to use in the Berkey and those arrived in the same package as well.
It is so easy to assemble..I had it together in less than half an hour.
No electricity required for the Berkey to do its job and those ceramic filters last for years with minimal cleanup required every few months.
The water from the Berkey definitely tastes better than water straight from the tap.
It is easy to refill...although I don''t have a sink hose that can be used to add water directly to the Berkey, it is no problem using a jug to add water.
Since I have the Berkey kept on my kitchen counter, it is not possible to look into the chamber from above unless I hop onto a chair or something but instead, I just hold the reflective lid above the Berkey to see what the water level is at.
The Berkey has already paid itself off. I don''t understand how people can continuously buy those gallon bottled water seeing that it all adds up expense wise and also all that plastic is detrimental to the environment.
Also, who knows whether that bottled water actually lives up to the claims on the labels.
I just need to get 2 Fluoride filters to add into the Berkey and then I will be all set.
Everyone should own a Berkey.
I received my Berkey anxiously and put it to work immediately. My water smells "swampy" right out of the tap. The smell is removed once filtered. I am pleased to report that this product operates as described. The stainless steel dispenser is pleasing to the eye. I did elect to get the optional sight glass. However, I removed it and put back the original spigot. The sight glass starts to leak out of the top of the sight glass when more than approximately 3 gallons are in the bottom tank. I prefer to fill my Berkey at night and have it filter while I sleep. All of my water for cooking goes through the Berkey. I have a ppm meter but haven''t recorded the difference between the Berkey, Tap and Ozarka (Delivered Water). The smell test is enough for me to use the water for cooking/coffee. I am more interested in Fluoride removal and will buy the appropriate filters for that purpose in the future. I highly recommend this system.
Buy Crown Berkey Water Filter System Now
My old water distiler broke after 10 years of use. I wanted a replacement water purifier system that didn''t use $60/mo. of electricity (HI elec rates). I chose the Crown Berkey.
After 2 weeks of using the black charcoal filter, I decided that I didn''t care for the taste. It''s better than tap, but not as good as distilled. I purchased 4 7" white ceramic filters and now the water tastes better, but still not as good as distilled, but still good enough for me now.
Cons:
1. Taste. Standard charcoal filters are not good enough for me. Ceramic is better, but adds cost.
BTW I called Berkey customer service and they did have a bad batch of charcoal filters in April and May of 2011. They fixed the problem and to indicate the fix, new filters have a black grey (not just black) base color with ribbing/manufacturing marks.
2. Flow rate.
Berkey claims that a Crown Berkey with 2 black filters has a "flow rate" of 6 gallons per hour. Misleading. Perhaps _initial_ flow "rate" is 6 gph, but it will take 6+ hours to filter 6 gallons.
With the 4 7" white ceramic filter setup, the flow is much better, but still nowhere close to 6 gph.
BTW, I called Berkey customer service and they gave instructions on how to clean the outside of the filter and prime it. These procedures helped but did not solve the flow rate problem completely.
3. Capacity.
The Crown Berkey has a capacity of 6 gallons in the unfiltered section, but each filter you put in takes away roughly 1/4 a gallon of capacity. Thus a 2 filter system has a net capacity of 5.5 gallons and my 4 filter setup 5.0 gallons.
4. Taste.
Yes, I''m picky. I''ve been drinking distilled water for 10 years and HI tap water tastes awful to me. If HI tap water is 2/5 stars, then charcoal Berkey is 3/5, ceramic Berkey is 4/5 and distilled is 5/5.
5. Size.
The ideal placement of the Crown Berkey is 12" above the kitchen counter. This allows you to leave the valve open and fill up pitchers and gallon-sized containers. Filling it is a chore and requires the use of a stepladder and you carrying pitchers of tap water.
Pros:
A. Cost.
The longevity of the filters make the Berkey system very cost-effective.
B. Quality of Construction.
The Berkey stainless steel materials are of very high quality.
C. Quality of Water.
I can see the minerals the filters trap when I clean them. It seems to be doing a good job.
Conclusion:
The Crown Berkey system is very good, but not perfect.
Read Best Reviews of Crown Berkey Water Filter System Here
The people at Best Water Inc. in Canada (the makers of the AnyWater portable filter) are terrific. They''re friendly, they care, and they want to solve your problems. If you send them an email, they''re likely to call you, which is pretty cool. Not many companies do that. If only the product were as good as the customer service.
