Berkey B0b8jx4g62 Gravity-fed Water Filtration System Instruction Manual

B0B8JX4G62 Gravity-Fed Water Filtration System

Product Information

Product Usage Instructions

System Assembly

1. Place the Lower Chamber (A) on the Base (D).
2. Assemble the Spigot:
   1. Place the Base (D) on a flat, stable surface.
   2. Carefully place the empty Lower Chamber (A) onto the Base (D)
      and press it down until the parts are secured together.
   3. To assure a proper seal, place one Spigot Flat Washer (H) on
      the stem of the Spigot (C).
   4. Insert the Spigot (C) into the system and turn it
      counterclockwise to the 9 o’clock position.
   5. Place the other Spigot Flat Washer (H) on the stem inside the
      system, then place the Spigot Hex Nut or Wing Nut (G) and
      hand-tighten it while holding the Spigot (C) at the 9 o’clock
      position.
   6. Hold the nut in place and rotate the Spigot (C) clockwise until
      it is upright.
3. Insert Blocking Plugs (I): Use the Blocking Plugs (I) to fill
   the remaining open holes in the Upper Chamber (B) from inside the
   chamber, smaller end first.

Priming Method 1: Using the Included Prime RiteTM Universal
Primer

1. Attach the blue Prime RiteTM Universal Primer (M) to the
   faucet, with the end of the primer pulled up as close to the end of
   the faucet’s spout as possible.
2. Keep one hand on the element and use the other hand to slowly
   turn on the faucet. Use only cold water. Do not allow the element
   to dangle unsecured.
3. Gradually increase water pressure until a moderate flow is
   reached. If primer inflates like a bulb, immediately reduce water
   pressure.
4. Allow the element to sweat beads of water for 1 minute. Water
   may be discolored at first, as excess media exits the element.
   Continue running water until it runs clear and the entire element
   appears to be saturated.
5. The element is now primed and ready for installation. Repeat
   steps 1-5 for remaining elements.

Priming Method 2: Traditional Method Using Tan Priming
Button

1. Place the Tan Priming Button (J) on top of the Wing Nut (L).
   The top of the Tan Priming Button (J) should be slightly higher
   than the top of the stem.
2. Place the threaded stem of the element between your fingers and
   press the Tan Priming Button (J) up against the faucet.
3. Slowly turn on cold water (gradually increasing water pressure)
   while holding the element and Tan Priming Button (J) firmly against
   the faucet to create a seal, allowing water to saturate the
   element.
4. As water pushes air out of the element, allow the element to
   sweat beads of water for 1 minute. Water may be discolored at
   first, as excess media exits the element. Continue running water
   until it runs clear and the entire element appears to be
   saturated.
5. The element is now primed and ready for installation. Repeat
   steps 1-5 for remaining elements.

Instructions for the Berkey Light® gravity-fed water filtration system

System Parts List Parts shown for illustration only and are not to scale.

Berkey Light® System

Spigot

Black Berkey® Elements

(H) Black Berkey® Elements (quantity varies by system)

Berkey Light®

Berkey Light®

(C) System Lid

(A) Upper System Chamber

(B) Lower System Chamber

(D) Base

(E) Standard Spigot
(F) Spigot Hex Nut or Wing Nut (style may vary)
(G) Spigot Flat Washer (x2)

(I) Blocking Plugs (quantity varies by system)
(M) Prime RiteTM Universal Primer

(J) Tan Priming Button
(K) Sealing Washer (1 per element)
(L) Wing Nut (1 per element)

Failure to read, thoroughly understand, and follow all instructions may result in injury, water damage, or voiding of the warranty! It is the assembler’s responsibility to make sure all components are properly assembled and installed using the instructions provided. While your Berkey® System should not have any leaking problems, there is always the chance that a leak might occur due to being improperly assembled or perhaps a faulty part. In an overabundance of caution, we recommend that for the first 24 hours the filled system be placed in an area wherein if such a leak were to occur, the resulting spillage would not damage anything.

System Assembly

We recommend setting up your system on a countertop or other waterproof surface. · Wash your hands, upper and lower chambers, and spigot before assembly to reduce the chances of contaminating the system’s components. · Be sure to keep all parts and original packaging in the unlikely event that your system needs to be returned to the manufacturer.

Berkey Light® System lower chamber (B)

Washer (G)

Washer (G)

Standard spigot (E)

Base (D)

Hex nut
(F)

Berkey Light® System lower chamber wall

1. Place Lower Chamber on Base

2. Assemble Spigot

Place base on a flat, stable surface. Carefully place empty lower

To assure a proper seal, place one washer on stem of spigot.

system chamber onto base. Press lower chamber down onto

Insert spigot into system and turn spigot counterclockwise to

the base until parts are secured together.

the 9 o’clock position. Then, place the other washer on stem

inside of the system, then the nut, and hand-turn nut until it is

tight while holding spigot at the 9 o’clock position. Then, hold

nut in place and rotate spigot clockwise until spigot is upright.

Berkey Light® System upper
chamber (A)

Blocking plug (I)

This action should apply the right amount of pressure to complete the seal.

(inside chamber)

3. Insert Blocking Plugs

Use blocking plugs to fill the remaining open holes in the upper chamber

where you will not be installing Black Berkey® Elements. Press plugs into

holes from inside the upper chamber, smaller end first.

4. Prime the Black Berkey® Elements
Priming uses water to displace air out of the elements’ pores, ensuring that water can flow freely. Elements will not operate properly if they are not primed. We recommend setting up your system on a countertop or other waterproof surface. If process dust is present, wipe it off with a Scotch-Brite® pad under cold running water.

Priming Method 1: Using the Included Prime RiteTM Universal Primer

1. Attach blue Prime RiteTM

3. Keep one hand on element

5. Allow element to sweat

Universal Primer (M) to

and use other hand to slowly

beads of water for 1 minute.

faucet, with end of primer

turn on faucet. Use only cold

Water may be discolored at

pulled up as close to

water. Do not allow element

first, as excess media exits

(M) (M) (M)

end of faucet’s spout as possible.
2. Hold Black Berkey® Element (H) in one

to dangle unsecured.
4. Gradually increase water pressure until a moderate flow is reached. If primer

element. Continue running water until it runs clear, and the entire element appears to be saturated.

The Prime RiteTM Universal Primer (M)
fits both smaller and larger water

hand, and gently push element’s stem into primer. (H)

inflates like a bulb, immediately reduce
water pressure.

Element is now primed and ready for installation. Repeat steps 1-5 for remaining elements.

faucet styles.

Tip: Your Black Berkey® Elements will be wet after priming them. We recommend placing your primed elements in a clean bowl

or sink while priming and installing your other remaining Black Berkey® Elements.

(A)

Priming Method 2: Traditional Method Using Tan Priming Button

1/8″

(L)

(J) (L)

(K)

(H)

((HK)

1. Loosen wing nut (L) on Black Berkey® Element (H) stem until the top of wing nut (L) reaches the top of stem’s threads (about 1/8″ from top end of stem).

2. Place tan priming button (J) on top of wing nut. Top of tan priming button should be slightly higher than the top of the stem.

3. Place the

threaded stem

of element

between

fingers,

(K)

and press tan

priming button

up against

faucet.

4. Slowly turn on cold

water (gradually

increasing water

pressure) while

holding element

(K)

and tan priming

button firmly

against faucet

to create a seal,

allowing water to

saturate element.

5. As water pushes air out of element, allow element to sweat beads of water for 1 minute. Water may be discolored at first, as excess media exits element. Continue running water until it runs clear, and the entire element appears to be saturated.
Element is now primed and ready for installation. Repeat steps 1-5 for remaining elements.

Tip: Your Black Berkey® Elements will be wet after priming them–we recommend placing your elements in a clean bowl or sink while assembling the rest of your system.

Priming Method 3: Without Pressurized Faucet / Alternative Priming Options
We strongly recommend using the Berkey PrimerTM (sold separately), a handheld priming pump that makes the elements easy to prime without the need for faucets or hose connections. Berkey PrimersTM are available from Authorized Berkey® Dealers worldwide. Black Berkey® Elements may also be primed using a bottle of filtered water. Have one person hold the element, with the priming button attached and facing upward. Have a second person press the mouth of the bottled water against the priming button and squeeze until water is forced through entire exterior wall of element and it begins to sweat beads of water.
Assembly Instructions – Berkey Light System – V3 2023 © Copyright 2002-2023 – New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

5. Install Primed Elements and Place Upper Chamber on Lower Chamber
1. Remove wing nut from threaded stem while leaving sealing washer on Black Berkey® Element.
2. Place threaded stem, with sealing washer attached, into the hole in the interior base of upper chamber. 3. Secure element in the base of the chamber by screwing wing nut onto threaded mount until hand-tight. Caution:
hand tighten only. Over-tightening wing nut can strip the nut’s threads, which could cause the system to leak. Repeat these 3 steps for remaining elements.
4. Please remember to plug unused holes in the upper chamber with included blocking plugs. 5. Carefully place upper chamber with primed elements on lower chamber, and press into place. 6. System is now assembled and ready to use.

Black Berkey® Element (H)

Sealing washer
(K)

Wing nut (L)

Berkey Light® System upper chamber (A)

Using Your Berkey Light® System

Use of softened water or salt water can clog the filter’s pores and will void your warranty. Avoid placing your system in direct sunlight or near a heat source such as a stove, indoor heater, etc.
1. Fill upper chamber with cold or room temperature water. DO NOT use hot or boiling water. Only fill upper chamber with as much water as the lower chamber can hold. Overfilling system could cause lower chamber to overflow.
2. Place lid on system. Allow water to filter into lower chamber.
3. Open the spigot to completely empty the lower chamber, and discard water. If water is slightly discolored due to any remaining particulate, do not be concerned–simply repeat steps 1-3 in this section as many times as needed until dispensed water is clear.
4. Your system is now ready to use. Refill upper chamber with water.

Notes:
· Water may begin to drip immediately when upper chamber is filled, but could take as long as 15 minutes based on how well elements are primed and the quality of influent water used.
· Maximum flow rate will be achieved after the initial 12-24 hours of use as micro air pockets within the elements are replaced with water.
· It is normal to have a few inches of water left in the upper chamber when using the system, as it is gravity fed and the water cannot process through the bottom of the element.

Assembly Verification* (Red Food Coloring Test)

· Air hole on rim of lower chamber prevents vapor lock.

This simple test verifies that your system has been assembled correctly, and that there are no internal leaks in your system. We recommend this test be done after the first assembly

of this system, after removal or replacement of Black Berkey® Elements, or the first use after drying and storing the elements for an extended period of time. Ensure that you do

not have Berkey PF-2TM Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements installed in the system when performing this test.

1. Add up to 1/8 teaspoon (10 drops) of artificial red food coloring (must be red) for every gallon that your Berkey® System can hold into the upper chamber. We recommend McCormick’s red food coloring or any artificial food coloring. Acceptable food color ingredients include water, propylene glycol, FD&C Red 40 and FD&C Red 3, and propylparaben. Avoid using food coloring that is not red, or contains citric acid, sodium benzoate or natural ingredients such beet juice, turmeric, etc. Using organic food colorings will result in a false failed test (stating that your system is not sealed correctly).

2. Place a cup under spigot and drain water. If dispensed water does not have a red or pink hue, this indicates that the elements are sealed and system has been assembled correctly.

*Note: This test is meant to confirm that the system was assembled as intended.

If water drained from system has a red or

pink hue during the assembly verification test, repeat the procedure again in this manner to determine the source of the leak:
1. Place the upper system chamber only (with Black Berkey® Elements installed) on top of same-sized cups or jars, each positioned so that an element can drip water into it. This will help you identify which blocking plug or element may be leaking.
2. Fill upper chamber with water and red food coloring as directed above.

Berkey Light®

Berkey Light® System upper chamber
Water with red food coloring

3. Allow system to filter water. Check the color of water expelled from the elements. If water color is clear, your system is ready to use. If red dye is

Cups or jars (same size)

still present, reinstall the element(s) or blocking plug(s) where leaking occurs and re-run test.
4. If system continues to fail the test, contact our

Clear water

ü

Red or pinkhued water

Customer Service department for assistance.

Table or countertop

Maintaining Your System

We recommend performing maintenance every 30 days as needed:
Clean the lower chamber and spigot 1. Remove upper chamber (be sure to drain any water and remove optional
Berkey PF-2TM Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements, if attached).
2. With the Black Berkey® Elements remaining installed in the upper chamber, place upper chamber upside down or securely on its side to ensure it will not roll off of your counter or other work surface. Caution: breaking an element’s stem will void its warranty.
3. Clean lower chamber with mild dish soap or a 1:1 mixture of water and vinegar, and rinse thoroughly.
4. Remove spigot and soak it in a 1:1 mixture of clean water and vinegar for 5-10 minutes to help remove any mineral deposits. Rinse spigot thoroughly.
5. Reattach spigot. Reinstall any optional Berkey PF-2TM Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements to the stems of the system’s Black Berkey® Elements. With elements in place, carefully place upper chamber onto lower chamber.

Precautions
· Avoid placing your system in direct sunlight or near a heat source such as a stove, indoor heater, etc. Excessive heat creates conditions that facilitate microbiological growth inside the upper chamber.
· When lower chamber is partially filled, be cautious not to overfill upper chamber, as this could cause lower chamber to overflow. For example: if the lower chamber is 1/3 full, the upper chamber can be refilled by 2/3. If the lower chamber is 1/2 full, the upper chamber can be refilled by 1/2, etc.
· Never allow wet Black Berkey® Elements to freeze–exposure to freezing temperatures can expand the water into ice, which may damage the elements and cause them to crack or break. Allowing elements to freeze will void your warranty.
Black Berkey® Element Storage
If you are going to be leaving the system unattended for 4-15 days and want to reduce the necessity of re-priming the elements, remove the elements from your system and place them in a sealable plastic bag (gallon-size or larger) while elements are still damp (this allows the elements to stay wet, making priming unnecessary). Then, place the elements in your refrigerator where they will not freeze. When ready, thoroughly rinse elements under cold water, then reinstall them in your system.
For longer-term storage, we recommend completely drying the elements first. Ensure they are bone-dry (zero moisture) before storing them long-term. Shake excess water from elements, then air-dry by leaving them on a windowsill or other sunny location for 1-3 days until completely dry.
Once elements are bone-dry (zero moisture), store them in a sealable plastic bag (gallon-size or larger)–this prevents elements from absorbing odors. When you are ready to re-use your elements, clean them by scrubbing the outside with a stiff brush or a Scotch-Brite® pad under cold running water. Then re-prime the elements before putting them back in your system.
Alternatively, you can use a Berkey PrimerTM (sold separately) which assists in both priming and purging. Purging speeds up the drying process by pushing water out of the element before you place them in the sun or air dry to complete the process. Note: when purging, valves on the Berkey PrimerTM must be reversed.

System Troubleshooting

After prolonged use, flow rate may decrease significantly. To improve flow rate: 1. Carefully remove the elements from the upper chamber and gently scrub them with a stiff brush or Scotch-Brite® pad under cold running water (never apply soap or other
cleaning agents to your Black Berkey® Elements). Re-prime elements, and reinstall them inside the upper chamber.
2. Place upper chamber back onto lower chamber, then perform the Assembly Verification process (Red Food Coloring Test). Your system is ready to use.

New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. Limited Warranty
New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. warrants their product against defects in materials or workmanship during ordinary consumer use. This Limited Warranty does not cover product issues caused by any other reason, for the time periods and conditions set forth below when purchased directly from an Authorized Berkey® Dealer. New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. shall not be held liable for incidental or consequential damage to personal property from, but not limited to, a defective unit, improper use, abuse, accident, or neglect, etc. It is the customer’s responsibility to prevent misuse of the system and to replace parts, when, due to the natural course of wear and tear, they must be replaced. To obtain warranty service, you must
provide a dated receipt for the product and may be responsible to pay for any shipping charges incurred to return the product to New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. when required. This warranty will not apply to units which have been used for purposes not intended, which have been altered so as, in the manufacturer’s judgment, to adversely affect its performance. This warranty is for the original retail purchaser only, and cannot be transferred. For a period not to exceed the specified warranty coverage from the date of receipt of the product by the original purchaser on the original invoice, New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. will, solely at its discretion, replace said product or component that New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. deems is not functioning properly during the stated warranty period. The laws of the state of Texas, USA will govern any disputes regarding this warranty or claim made. This warranty, which is given expressly in lieu of all warranties, expressed or implied, or merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, constitutes the only warranty made by New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. This warranty applies only to products manufactured or exclusively distributed by New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. and its Authorized Berkey® Dealers, and does not apply to extended warranties offered by some Authorized Berkey® Dealers. Berkey® System Housing: Berkey® System upper and lower chambers including lids, excluding orders for factory-blemished systems, are covered under a one-year warranty. The warranty period begins from the date of receipt of the product by the original purchaser on the original invoice. Black Berkey® Elements: Black Berkey® Elements are covered under a two year limited prorated warranty, calculated in sixmonth intervals. Warranty period begins from the date of receipt of the product by the original purchaser on the original invoice. Included spigot and accessories that are sold separately are covered under a six-month warranty. The warranty period begins from the date of receipt of the product by the original purchaser on the original invoice.

Questions About Using or Assembling Your Berkey Light® System?
Phone: (888) 803-4438 Monday – Friday 9AM – 5PM CST Holiday hours may vary.
Assembly Instructions – Berkey Light System – V3 2023 © Copyright 2002-2023 – New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Prime RiteTM is a third-party trademark and Berkey® makes no claim to ownership of such trademark.