Why Buy Doulton/Berkefeld Water Filters?
First, let me clear something up. Doulton and Berkefeld water filters are made by the same company - the Doulton-Berkefeld company. They were two companies many decades ago, but today they are one company. They continue to sell under two names due to name recognition in different countries. All of their ceramic candles are manufactured by Fairy Industrial Ceramics in England, so it doesn't matter which brand name is stamped on the bottom of the filter - they are the same.Why use Ceramic Filters?
Ceramic filters cost a little more than paper/carbon filters, but they last much longer, so the cost per gallon of water will be cheaper in the long run with ceramic filters. They have other benefits as well.
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.
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.
What bacteria and chemicals do they remove from water?
For these, and many other answers, please click here to read our Frequently Asked Questions DocumentHow to Choose the Filter that is Right for Me
There are many ways to configure Doulton and Berkefeld water filters and it can be confusing. Let me help explain.First, all of the ceramic candles remove bacteria and chemicals from water equally well. Read the FAQ document (see link above) for more information on that. Some candles are longer, or fatter, and you can configure your water filter with different numbers of candles. Longer candles, or more candles, means more surface area, which equates to faster water production. One 7" candle will produce up to about 1 quart per hour. If your filter houses two 7" candles, you'll get up to 2 quarts per hour.
To house the ceramic candles, you can buy the stainless steel body, or the plastic body, or you can just buy the candles and then purchase two plastic buckets from a hardware store and use them to make your own filter, while saving yourself some money.
The stainless steel bodies can be equipped with 2, 3 or 4 ceramic candles, in either 7" or 9" lengths. The stainless steel bodies have four holes in the bottom, so if you install two candles, the other two holes are plugged with rubber plugs that come with the body.
The American Berkefeld food-grade plastic filter can hold 1 to 5 ceramic candles, in either 7", 9" or 10" lengths. Rubber plugs are placed in the unused holes.
When shopping, below, click on the type of filter body you want to investigate (American Berkefeld Plastic, Doulton Stainless Steel, or Bucket Filter) and you will be directed to a page that gives you more options on how to order that filter body. If you want a combination that is not listed, just email me and I will quote you a price.
Click on Pictures to see More Options for Each Product
