Berkey®- How should I store my purification items.
How should I store my Black Berkey® purification elements and what is their shelf life?
If you used your items:
The storage method depends on how long the Black Berkey® purification elements will not be used:
If the filters will not be used between 4 and 15 days and you wish to avoid the re-priming process, remove the filters from the system, place them in a sandwich bag or airtight container and place the filters in the refrigerator facing forward to ensure they do not freeze. This will allow the filters to remain mostly saturated, so repriming is usually not necessary. If for any reason the filters are running slower than usual, prime them again until the outer wall of the filter begins to sweat beads of water for 10 seconds.
For long term storage, we recommend drying and sealing the filters. The key is to ensure they are dry before storing them long term, to avoid any potential bacterial growth. One option for drying your filters is to leave them on a windowsill for one to three days and let them air dry. We also offer a tool to assist with both priming and purging. This tool is called a Black Berkey Primer™. The advantage of purging Black Berkey® purification elements is that they dry very quickly. Once the filters are completely dry, place them in a storage bag such as a large resealable sandwich bag. The elements are extremely powerful and can absorb odors and smoke from the air. By sealing them in a storage bag, they should not absorb odors from the air. When you are ready to reuse your filters, clean them by scrubbing the exterior with a Scotch-Brite® pad or stiff brush. Then re-prime the filters manually or with Black Berkey Primer™ before returning them to the system.
In theory, the shelf life of Black Berkey® purification elements is indefinite.
**Please note that the above storage methods apply only to Black Berkey® Purification Elements.
If you have never used your items:
If the items are unopened and in their original packaging, be sure not to store the items in an area that also has strong odors, such as a laundry room or garage. The elements have carbon as one of their components, so it is possible for them to absorb odors from the room in which they are stored. For example, if stored in a laundry room, it is possible that the media in the items will pick up the scent of highly scented items such as powdered laundry soap.
**When storing the chambers of your Berkey® system, it is best to empty both chambers before storing, as any time water is still it becomes stagnant and can produce bacteria. We advise you to wash your Berkey® system with soapy water before letting it dry.
To order our Black Berkey Primer™, please click here.
If you used your items:
The storage method depends on how long the Black Berkey® purification elements will not be used:
If the filters will not be used between 4 and 15 days and you wish to avoid the re-priming process, remove the filters from the system, place them in a sandwich bag or airtight container and place the filters in the refrigerator facing forward to ensure they do not freeze. This will allow the filters to remain mostly saturated, so repriming is usually not necessary. If for any reason the filters are running slower than usual, prime them again until the outer wall of the filter begins to sweat beads of water for 10 seconds.
For long term storage, we recommend drying and sealing the filters. The key is to ensure they are dry before storing them long term, to avoid any potential bacterial growth. One option for drying your filters is to leave them on a windowsill for one to three days and let them air dry. We also offer a tool to assist with both priming and purging. This tool is called a Black Berkey Primer™. The advantage of purging Black Berkey® purification elements is that they dry very quickly. Once the filters are completely dry, place them in a storage bag such as a large resealable sandwich bag. The elements are extremely powerful and can absorb odors and smoke from the air. By sealing them in a storage bag, they should not absorb odors from the air. When you are ready to reuse your filters, clean them by scrubbing the exterior with a Scotch-Brite® pad or stiff brush. Then re-prime the filters manually or with Black Berkey Primer™ before returning them to the system.
In theory, the shelf life of Black Berkey® purification elements is indefinite.
**Please note that the above storage methods apply only to Black Berkey® Purification Elements.
If you have never used your items:
If the items are unopened and in their original packaging, be sure not to store the items in an area that also has strong odors, such as a laundry room or garage. The elements have carbon as one of their components, so it is possible for them to absorb odors from the room in which they are stored. For example, if stored in a laundry room, it is possible that the media in the items will pick up the scent of highly scented items such as powdered laundry soap.
**When storing the chambers of your Berkey® system, it is best to empty both chambers before storing, as any time water is still it becomes stagnant and can produce bacteria. We advise you to wash your Berkey® system with soapy water before letting it dry.
To order our Black Berkey Primer™, please click here.