French EU

What is the red food colouring test and how do I do it?

The Black Berkey™ Purification elements are powerful enough to remove red food colouring from water. Performing a red food coloring test on your Black Berkey™ Purification elements allows you to ensure that your system is operating properly..

The red food coloring must be artificial food coloring.   See here a Link to Original Red Food colouring from USA in our shop  https://berkey-waterfilters.co.uk/collections/special-filters/products/artificial-usa-red-food-colouring-10ml-glass-bottle

use artificial red food coloring such as McCormick  (can be bought here in our store)  Find the Red Food USA 10ml bottle in our shop under ''Special Filters''  or similar non-name brand (do not use natural or organic red food dye; as they will not work and give a false fail to this test even through the filters may be working 100%).

  

If the food colouring is organic or has mineral based ingredients, the Black Berkey Elements will read that as minerals and allow that color to come down.

GUIDELINES

  • The red food colouring test is only designed for the Black Berkey™ Purification elements and NOT for the ceramic or other filter elements that do not filter out food color. This test is also not recommended for the Sport Berkey® water bottle.
  • Please make sure the food coloring is RED. Red food coloring (unlike the other colours) doesn't have any minerals, so the element recognizes it as contaminant.
  • The red food colouring test should be done after priming your Black Berkey™ elements.

PERFORMING THE TEST 

  1. Start with an empty system (upper and lower chamber) and remove any PF-2 Fluoride Reduction filters (if installed).
  2. Place the upper chamber only (with the elements installed) on similar- sized cups directly underneath each Black Berkey™ element. This will help isolate which filter may be exhausted and which is still purifying effectively.
  3. Fill the upper chamber with water and add up to 1 teaspoon of red food coloring for every gallon of water.   3 drops is perfect and enough for Big Berkey test. 
  4. Allow the water to run through to the bottom chamber.
  5. If the red food coloring is removed entirely, your purification system is working properly.
  6. If the water in any of the cups is red or has a pinkish tinge, then that particular black filter is defective or exhausted.

IF RED FOOD COLORING IS DETECTED, PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING:

  1. Are the wing nuts on securely? Please do not tighten the wing nuts using any tools; they should be hand tightened to a snug fit, but not more. If the wing nuts are on too tight, this could cause stripping on the threads of the stem, preventing a correct seal. If you have inadvertently stripped the threads on your element, please contact our Customer Service Center for assistance at 0044 333 011 6488.
  2. Are you using actual “red food coloring” or another color or type of color? Red food coloring is the only type recommended for this test.
  3. Is the washer for the stem inside the upper chamber and is the wing nut secured at the bottom? If the washer is on the outside of the chamber with the wing nut, you will not have a proper seal, which will cause your system to fail the test. Place the washer on the inside of the upper chamber and re-run the test.
  4. Are the blocking plugs properly sealing the unused holes without elements? Are the plugs installed tight with a washer on each side? If the plugs are leaking, this will cause the system to fail the test. Tighten the plugs more securely and re run the test.
  5. Are you re-testing an element that you think may have failed the test? If so, rinse off and re-prime the element first. It's really important to Prime the filters correctly...  Additionally, make sure you pour any excess water out of the bottom tank. Also, if you are using the lower chamber to catch water, run clean water through the spigot to clean it out as well. Now you are ready to repeat the test.