We strongly advise against freezing your elements as a general rule of caution. We also advise against storing the elements (even unused) in sub-freezing climates. The concern with freezing the elements is that any cold or freezing water will expand inside in the element, thereby increasing the pore size and ruining the element. Whether the elements are unused or used and fully dried out, a small amount of moisture could still exist inside the element, especially in predominately humid climates. This moisture could expand inside the element and render them unusable. Please note that this recommendation applies to ALL our Berkey® elements, including the Sport Berkey® water filter bottle element. Freezing your element and rendering it unusable will also void your warranty coverage.
The Sport Berkey® Portable Water Filter has a shelf life of 50 years. When the filter system will not be used for an extended period, remove filter and fill the unit with either chlorinated bleach of 1/4 tsp. per one half gallon of water, or a 50/50 mix of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. Rinse. Allow parts to dry thoroughly with cap removed. Re-assemble and seal in an air tight container if possible. Do not allow filter to freeze, do not place in microwave oven and do not run hot water through the filter.
We recommend that the bleach used, not be scented or in any other way enhanced. If you are not aware, many bleaches today come with “other things” in them to provide a nice smell, etc. We don’t recommend these types of bleaches.
This can occur on occasion. Typically, it means that the top & straw (and bottle) are in need of a good soapy cleaning. Follow standard cleaning procedures which are on the instructions that come with each bottle. In some cases, it may be necessary to soak the top/straw for a bit before cleaning, or use a fine brush in the straw. Typically soaking in soapy water or vinegar water takes care of any build-up inside the top/straw. Rinse thoroughly. Again, it is important to periodically clean the bottle, top & straw to help keep this from occurring in the future.
The Bottle is FDA LDPE
The Cap is FDA HDPE
The Straw is FDA PolyPro
Please note that the number imprinted on the bottom of the Sport Berkey® refers to a lot number and is not a recycle code.
The maximum amount of heat the Sport Berkey® can withstand is 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hot water can break down the element and compromise its efficiency, so we recommend that you first filter the source water through the Sport Berkey® then afterward boil the filtered water for your tea.
On occasion, the straw in the cap becomes pinched. Many times you can actually see where the straw has become stuck together internally. You can fix this very simply by doing the following:
This should open the straw up, allowing you to use your new Sport Berkey®.
Yes you can refrigerate the Sport Berkey®, but don’t let it freeze as freezing could expand the pores within the filter element and could compromise the integrity of the filter element.
The capacity of the Sport Berkey® is 22 oz. and the bottle will efficiently filter 160 refills of raw untreated water and 640 refills of municipally treated water. Always use the cleanest source water possible as the dirtier the water, the quicker the filter element will become clogged.
Yes, both bottles function identically; the only difference is the generic version has no silk-screening on the exterior of the bottle. The generic versions of the Sport Berkey® filters have been designed for relief organizations, where it is critical to keep costs to a minimum.
Unfortunately the Sport Berkey® filter is not cleanable. Replacement filters however, are available.