#Zen water filter vs berkey full#
#Zen water filter vs berkey series#

Since Berkey has refused to this point to get NSF certification, it’s hard to compare these filters. Aquasana 4,000įor starters, an Aquasana 4,000 will run you about $100 vs. My solution was a cheaper water filter that surprisingly beats the Berkey hands down on filtration ability, the Aquasana AQ-4000. A 2.25 gallon Berkey will run you almost $400, and that doesn’t include extras like flouride filters, which are a nightmare to screw on and get working. The Berkey is overpriced and cumbersome to setupįor a company lacking important certifications, the Berkey costs an arm and a leg. This is what happened to my Berkey, and a leak like this is quite an issue since it prevents the charcoal filters from grabbing all the water that gets to the lower chamber, hence nullifying the filter altogether as water bypasses its intended route. Leaks can spring from the actual faucet that attaches to the bottom chamber, or from upper chamber to lower as the metal floor of the top chamber gets dented, prohibiting a tight seal from the upper to the lower. Mine developed a leak after a few years of use. Last, and this is a big one, Berkey filters are prone to leaking. I love that damn dog and want him to get good water as well, but with the slow filter speed of the Berkey, I would sometimes give Ned subpar water when laziness or a rushed schedule took over. Same for the water I give to my dog, Ned.

#Zen water filter vs berkey full#

If you believe, or really just know, that there is some bad stuff in the tap water, why cook with it? I’d wake up, and make my buckwheat with a little hesitancy, knowing that the water seeping into the groats was full of chlorine.

But this water rationing kind of defeats the purpose of the filter in the first place. The lack of speed forced a reluctant glass of tap more often than I would have liked.īecause of the fact that it’s slow, the Berkey also made me hesitant to use filtered water for cooking (I wanted to reserve my fresh water supply for drinking). The drip process can take some time, so if you’re in a rush, it could be awhile before your water is ready. You add water to the top chamber and the water is then pushed through two heavy duty charcoal filters to the bottom chamber. For those of you who have never used one, the Berkey is a basic gravity filter. The Berkey, despite its cult like following in health circles, has some major issues. The downside of Berkey water filters: my experience #1.

#Zen water filter vs berkey series#

The Berkey is not National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certified and there seems to be a discrepancy between some of the company’s claims and independent lab tests.Īs a result, Leigh only gave the Berkey 1 leaf in her review.įrankly, I was surpised to learn from Leigh that she had concerns about the Berkey, but there had been a series of issues that had me doubting my filter as of late for independent reasons. Leigh’s concern is that Berkey hasn’t taken the extra step of proving the efficiency of its filters with the major tests and certifications. I used a Berkey proudly for years, but recently switched to an Aquasana above counter filter system, which is much more effective and much cheaper.įirst, Leigh, the eco-genius heading up our Leaf Score content, gave mixed reviews after compiling her list of the best water filters. Its shiny stainless chambers do an excellent job filtering water and look cool at the same time, or so I thought. Ben Lynch, was always the gold standard for me. The Berkey water filter, a staple in many health conscious homes, including apparently true wellness gurus like Dr. When I first moved to Austin, I remember walking into a yoga studio on the east side, seeing a Berkey water filter and being very impressed.