Do your filter elements
reduce fluoride in the water?
No, in order to reduce fluoride in your
water you will need to use post filters that work in conjunction
with the filters in your system. We have two types, PF-2′s,
which are used in conjunction with the Black Berkey®
purification elements, and the PF-4 filters that are used in
conjunction with our ceramic filters.
I noticed that the PF-4
elements also remove MTBE and heavy metals. Should I use these
with my Black Berkey® purification elements?
No, the PF2′s are used in conjunction with
the Black Berkey® purification elements and the PF-4
elements are used in conjunction with the ceramic filters. The
Black Berkey® elements remove MTBE and reduce heavy
metals whereas the ceramic filters do not therefore; we
incorporated MTBE and heavy metals reduction capabilities into
the PF-4 elements.
What is the life of the PF-4
filters?
Each set of four PF-4 filters is will last
for 1,000 gallons or six months whichever comes first. The
reason for the six-month limitation is that the carbon within
the PF-4 filters extracts contaminates that can be nutrients on
which bacteria can grow. If the filters are used longer than six
months “grow-through” can occur.
What is the life of the PF-2 filters?
Each set of two PF-2 filters is will last
for 1,000 gallons. Since these elements contain pure fluoride
and arsenic reduction media and no carbon, there is no six-month
limitation rule as is the case with the PF-4 elements.
How do I know when 1,000 gallons has been filtered and when its
time to replace the elements?
The best way to gauge when to replace the
filters is to do the following:
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1) Keep a track of how many times per week you need
to refill your system.
2) Then multiply that figure times the
capacity in gallons of your particular system (for
example the Berkey light™ system is 2.75 gallons) to
determine Total Gallons Used Per Week.
3) Finally divide the Total Gallons Used
Per Week into the 1000 gallons and that will tell
you how many weeks before the filters should be
replaced.
4) Next calculate the future date for
replacement (52 weeks per year) and write that date
on a sticker and attach it to the bottom of your
system for future reference.
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By the way, if you have been using your
fluoride reduction filters for some time now, you can still use
the above formula to determine when to replace the elements.
Just count forward from the date you purchased your elements.
I installed my PF-2 elements
but my water is a bit cloudy and why does it have a funny taste?
The odd taste is from process dust that
may not have been washed free from the filter elements during
the conditioning process. Please remove the PF-2 elements and
re-condition them for 60 seconds on both ends. This should expel
any residual process dust and fix the problem.
Do the PF-2 elements replace
the Black Berkey® purification elements?
No the Black Berkey® elements
fit into the base of the upper chamber with the stems of the
filters protruding through the holes in the base of the upper
chamber. The protruding stems are threaded and the PF-2 filters
screw onto these threaded stems so that the PF-2′s hang down
into the lower chamber. The water flows from the upper chamber,
through the Black Berkey® elements, into the PF-2
filters and then into the lower chamber. The “PF” in PF-2 stands
for Post Filter. So in answer to your question, no they do not
replace the black filters but rather work in conjunction with
them.
If I begin using use the
PF-2 elements, will I need more counter space for my system?
No, the PF-2′s attach to the stems of the
Black Berkey® elements and hang down into the
interior of the lower chamber of the system requiring no
additional counter space.
I understand that the media
used within the fluoride reduction elements is activated
alumina, it that the same thing as aluminum?
The media used to extract the fluoride and
arsenic is activated alumina. Since fluoride is a by-product of
aluminum production, fluoride has a natural affinity to
recombine with activated alumina making it an ideal extraction
media. We are not chemists but will communicate our
understanding on the subject. Both nutritionist and lab
technicians have informed us that aluminum and alumina are two
separate animals. Aluminum can cross the blood brain barrier and
cause problems with the brain whereas alumina is inert. It is
our understanding that alumina is oxidized aluminum. Aluminum is
regulated whereas alumina is not for example, alumina is the
material used for making the paste in toothpaste. At any rate,
when testing for aluminum in water, most tests cannot
distinguish between aluminum ions and oxidized alumina. Since we
are not chemists, we tested the effluent from the filters and
included that information in our brochure. While we were not
required to do so, we felt that it was important to disclose to
our customers what our results were so that they would have the
necessary information to do further research on the issue should
they desire to do so. We think it was significant in the test we
conducted using the combination of Black Berkey®
elements and PF-2 elements there was a net reduction in the
tested aluminum content of the source water vs. the purified
water. Again that test did not distinguish between aluminum and
alumina. The bottom line is that the media utilized is oxidized
alumina and not aluminum.
What are the dimensions of
the PF-2 and PF-4 elements?
The individual elements are 6” in length
and 2.5” in diameter.
I have high PH in my water,
will that reduce the efficiency of the PF-2 elements?
That is correct, high or low PH impedes the ability of the media
to remove fluoride.
New Millennium Concepts Ltd.
888-803-4438
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Berkey Water Filters | admin November 28, 2011