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Introducing the Doulton and British Berkefeld Model SS (Stainless Steel).
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The main purpose of this filter is to remove bacteria from water, and it has been doing this since the year 1827. The Doulton/Berkefeld
filter is manufactured under both the British Berkefeld and Doulton labels. Aside from the labels and slightly different
spout, the units are identical. Each unit can be configured with either 2 or 4 ceramic candles. A four filter
unit simply produces water twice as fast as a two filter unit. The quality of the water is the same.
Doulton Berkefeld is a world-class filter. It costs more than some of the paper filter units, but
the filters last much longer. While a paper filter may only be good for a hundred gallons or so of filtered
water, Doulton Berkefeld filters are good for up to 2,800 gallons (with four 9" candles). Each 9" ceramic candle will filter 700 gallons. 7" candles
are good for 535 gallons each. If you use four gallons of water a day, your original set of four 9" ceramic candles would last about 2 years! A 2-filter unit would
be good for one year. Doulton recommends replacing the filters annually. The ceramic portions of the filter will continue to remove bacteria after the normal
lifespan of the filter, but the activated carbon centers will cease to remove bad tastes and chemicals, so the filters should be replaced at the recommended intervals.
The American Berkefeld uses the same ceramic filters (read about them below) as the stainless steel model above. The main difference
between the two filters is that the American Berkefeld's
container is made from food-grade plastic instead of stainless steel. The American Berkefeld will give you the same quality water as Doulton's stainless steel model,
but the plastic body costs much less.
Another difference is that the American Berkefeld has 5 holes in the upper chamber (the stainless steel model has 4 holes), so you can mount from 2 to 5 Doulton ceramic filters. More filters equates to faster water production.
For your ordering convenience, St. Paul Mercantile offers the American Berkefeld in three configurations - 2 filters, 4 filters and 5 filters. The
American Berkefeld comes with 3 rubber plugs for the unused holes.
Want to save some cash and make your own filter? St. Paul Mercantile now offers do-it-yourself kits. You can purchase 1, 2 or 4 Doulton Ceramic Candles plus a plastic
spigot and make your own filter. Just buy two buckets locally (2.5 gallon, 5 gallon, virtually any size), then use our kit and instructions to make your own filter.
Besides saving money, you will also get faster water production because our kits come with 10" Super Stearysyl filters. They are 3" longer than the standard 7"
candles, and 1-inch longer than the Big Berkey's 9" candles. More surface area means faster water production. Note that the 10" filters are too long to use in the
Doulton and Berkefeld filters, so do not order them for that application. But they work great in bucket filters.
The ceramic candles are impregnated with silver which
inhibits the growth of bacteria. After the ceramic candle traps the bacteria, the silver makes them unable to
reproduce. Ceramic candles can be cleaned and reused many times. As the candles get clogged up, the water production
slows. When it slows to the point that the water production rate no longer meets you family's needs, you simply
remove the candles, clean them with a brush or 3M pad, rinse and reinstall them. This process removes a tiny fraction of the
clogged ceramic particles, thereby exposing a new, clean ceramic surface. If you are filtering well water or municipal water, you may go
a many months between cleanings. If your water is murky and contains bacteria, you might need to clean the filter weekly.
Made of polished stainless steel, this filter is easy to clean and it will last a lifetime.
NEW - the American Berkefeld Plastic Water Filter with genuine Doulton/Berkefeld Ceramic Candles
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Make Your Own Filter with Plastic Buckets and genuine Doulton/Berkefeld Ceramic Filters
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Click Here to Download Bucket Filter Instructions
Why use Ceramic Filters?
Each ceramic filter, or candle, is made of diatomaceous earth (crushed fossils) that has been ground, then liquified, then baked in a ceramic kiln. They are called
"candles" because they resemble a fat, wax candle.
Water molecules are small enough to work their way through the ceramic candles, but water-bourn organisms and bacteria are too large, so they get trapped on the
outside of the filter. Only clean, filtered water drips into the freshwater holding tank at the bottom of the filter.
A Note about Candle Sizes - 7" or 9"
The ceramic candles are available in 7" and 9" lengths. All Doulton and Berkefeld gravity filters can be equipped with 7", 9" or even a combination
of 7" and 9" candles. The 9" candles filter the water a little bit faster, but cost more. The 7" candles are usually the better choice because the cost is lower and the
water production rate is only about 15% slower than with the 9" candles.
There is no difference in the quality of the filtered water - only the speed at which the water is filtered.
Stainless Steel Body with 9" Ceramic Filters
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Stainless Steel Filter with 2 9-inch Ceramic Candles
about 2.5 Quarts per Hour
$245
$12
.
Stainless Steel Filter with 4 9-inch Ceramic Candles
about 5 Quarts per Hour
$299
$12
Stainless Steel Body with 7" Ceramic Filters
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Stainless Steel Filter with 2 7-inch Ceramic Candles - "Best Buy!"
about 2 Quarts per Hour
$199
$12
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Stainless Steel Filter with 4 7-inch Ceramic Candles - "Best Buy!"
about 4 Quarts per Hour
$249
$12
.
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Stainless Steel Filter with 4 7-inch Ceramic Candles plus 4 7" Replacement Ceramic Candles
about 4 Quarts per Hour
$339
$12
American Berkefeld Plastic Body with 7" Ceramic Filters
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American Berkefeld Plastic Filter with 2 7-inch Ceramic Candles NEW - Plastic Housing - Lower Price!
about 2 Quarts per Hour
$149
12
.
American Berkefeld Plastic Filter with 4 7-inch Ceramic Candles NEW - Plastic Housing - Lower Price!
about 4 Quarts per Hour
$199
12
.
American Berkefeld Plastic Filter with 5 7-inch Ceramic Candles NEW - Plastic Housing - Lower Price!
about 5 Quarts per Hour
$224
12
.
.
American Berkefeld Plastic Filter with 5 7-inch Ceramic Candles plus 5 7" Replacement Ceramic Candles
about 5 Quarts per Hour
$345
12
Build-Your-Own Bucket Filter Kit with 10" Ceramic Filters . Buckets Not Included
. 
Two 10" Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles and One Spigot
2.75 quarts per hour
$99
Free
. Four 10" Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles and One Spigot
5.5 quarts per hour
$179
Free
Replacement Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles . Stainless Steel Body uses 7" or 9"; American Berkefeld uses 7"; Bucket Filter uses any size
Replacement 10" Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles
Pack of Two
$89
$8
Replacement 10" Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles
Pack of Four
$169
$8
Replacement 9" Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles
Pack of Two
$89
$8
Replacement 9" Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles
Pack of Four
$169
$8
. Replacement 9" Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles
Pack of Eight
$319
$10
Replacement 7" Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles
Pack of Two
$59
$7
Replacement 7" Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles
Pack of Four
$110
$8
. Replacement 7" Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles
Pack of Eight
$209
$10
9" Imperial Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles
Pack of Two
$100
$8
9" Imperial Super Sterasyl Ceramic Candles
Pack of Four
$190
$10
CLICK HERE for TRAVEL Filter from St. Paul Mercantile!
Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)