If you’ve upgraded your Berkey system with a metal spigot, you’ll want to get the fit right the first time. Installing a Berkey stainless steel spigot correctly comes down to one thing more than any other: washer placement. The stainless steel spigot is a hand-tightened upgrade that replaces the standard plastic spigot on Berkey’s gravity-fed stainless steel systems, and it’s a popular swap for people who want an all-metal water dispenser with no plastic touching their filtered water. Because the spigot seals the lower chamber with a pair of washers rather than a threaded pipe fitting, putting a washer in the wrong spot — or the wrong way around is the single most common reason for a slow drip or a leak. Get the order right, and the install takes just a few minutes.

Quick Answer: How to Install a Berkey Stainless Steel Spigot

Installing a Berkey stainless steel spigot involves washing the components in warm soapy water, placing a washer and washer cover onto the threaded stem in the correct order, inserting the stem through the opening in the lower chamber, adding the second washer and washer cover on the inside of the chamber, threading the nut on and hand-tightening it, and then rotating the assembly so the spigot sits upright before closing it and filling the system.

What is a Berkey Stainless Steel Spigot?

The Berkey stainless steel spigot is a metal water filter faucet that replaces the standard spigot supplied with Berkey’s stainless steel systems, including the Travel Berkey, Big Berkey, Royal Berkey, Imperial Berkey, and Crown Berkey. It threads through a hole in the wall of the lower chamber, where it draws filtered water out of the system for dispensing. Because the connection point is a hole in a stainless steel wall rather than a molded plastic fitting, the seal depends entirely on the silicone washers and washer covers sandwiched on either side of the chamber wall, with a nut holding the whole assembly together.

Berkey uses stainless steel for this spigot as an alternative to the plastic spigot that ships standard with the system, giving users a full metal water dispenser option. The main functional difference between the two is material and assembly hardware — the stainless version relies on silicone washers paired with stainless steel washer covers, while the standard plastic spigot uses its own washer set. Proper sealing matters with either style, since the spigot is one of only two points on an assembled Berkey system (the other being the upper-to-lower chamber seal) where a poor connection can lead to water escaping the system.

What Comes With a Berkey Stainless Steel Spigot?

A stainless steel spigot kit typically includes:

• Stainless steel spigot body with threaded stem
• Silicone washers (used to create a watertight seal against the chamber wall)
• Stainless steel washer covers (positioned over the silicone washers)
• A securing nut

Component counts and exact washer styles can vary slightly depending on the specific version or supplier of the spigot, so it’s worth laying your parts out and comparing them to the instructions included in your box before you start. If anything looks different from what’s described here, follow the printed instructions that came with your particular spigot.

Tools and Supplies You Need

One of the more convenient things about this project is that the standard stainless steel spigot installation generally doesn’t call for any specialized tools. You’ll want to gather:

• The stainless steel spigot
• The washers and washer covers supplied with it
• The nut supplied with it
• Warm, soapy water
• Clean rinse water
• A clean cloth

The spigot is designed to be tightened by hand rather than with a wrench, so you won’t need pliers or other hardware to get a secure fit.

How to Install a Berkey Filter Stainless Steel Spigot

Step 1: Wash the Spigot Components

Before assembly, wash the spigot, washers, and nut in warm soapy water and rinse them thoroughly. Wash your hands as well, since you’ll be handling parts that will sit in contact with your drinking water. If your stainless steel washer covers came with a thin protective film or blue plastic covering, peel that off before washing so it doesn’t interfere with the seal.

Step 2: Prepare the First Washer and Washer Cover

Place the first silicone washer and its stainless steel washer cover onto the threaded stem of the spigot, working from the spigot body outward. Washer covers with a domed or beveled side should generally face toward the spigot valve, with the flat side facing the chamber wall — but because washer designs can differ slightly between spigot versions, double-check the orientation shown in the instructions included with your specific spigot before threading the chamber. Getting this first washer backwards is a common cause of a leak that shows up the first time the system is filled.

Step 3: Insert the Spigot Through the Lower Chamber

Locate the spigot opening on the outside wall of the lower stainless steel chamber. Feed the threaded stem through the opening from the outside, keeping the washer and washer cover you just installed snug against the outer wall as you push the stem through.

Step 4: Install the Inside Washer and Washer Cover

From inside the lower chamber, slide the second silicone washer onto the exposed threaded stem, followed by the second stainless steel washer cover. Press them down so they sit flush against the interior wall of the chamber, matching up with the washer set on the outside.

Step 5: Secure the Spigot With the Nut

Thread the nut onto the end of the stem and tighten it by hand. Hand-tight is enough to create a secure seal — there’s no need to reach for pliers or a wrench, and doing so risks overtightening, which can distort the washers or put unnecessary stress on the chamber wall.

Step 6: Position the Spigot Upright

For the final turn, hold the nut steady with one hand so it doesn’t spin, then gently rotate the spigot body itself until the handle faces the correct upright position. This lets you snug the nut down fully while still landing the handle where you want it, rather than fighting the nut and spigot against each other.

Step 7: Close the Spigot Before Filling

Make sure the spigot is switched to the closed position before you add water to the upper chamber. Filling the system with the spigot open just means water runs straight through and out onto your counter instead of collecting in the lower chamber where you can test the seal.

Berkey Stainless Steel Spigot Installation Diagram

Here’s the component order from the outside of the chamber to the inside:

Spigot Handle → Exterior Washer Cover → Silicone Washer → Lower Chamber Wall → Silicone Washer → Interior Washer Cover → Nut

Use this as a general reference, but confirm the exact orientation and stacking order against the instructions that shipped with your spigot, since minor variations exist between product versions.

How to Check a Berkey Spigot for Leaks

Once the spigot is installed, it’s worth testing the seal before you rely on the system day to day:

1. Make sure the spigot is fully closed.
2. Add a small amount of water to the lower chamber (or let a little water filter down from the upper chamber).
3. Inspect the connection point where the spigot meets the chamber wall.
4. Check both the outside and inside of the chamber for moisture.
5. Look closely for drops forming around the washers or nut.
6. If you spot a leak, empty the system, remove the spigot, and re-check that both washers and washer covers are seated correctly and in the right order.
7. Reassemble and retest before filling the system fully.

Don’t continue using a system that’s actively leaking. Berkey’s own documentation notes that while a properly assembled system shouldn’t have leakage problems, there’s always some risk from improper assembly or a defective part which is why the company recommends keeping a freshly filled system on a waterproof surface for the first 24 hours as a precaution.

Common Berkey Stainless Steel Spigot Installation Problems

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting a washer entirely
• Installing a washer in the wrong position
• Installing washer covers backwards
• Using a washer from a different spigot kit
• Overtightening the nut
• Reaching for a wrench when hand-tightening is all that’s needed
• Filling the system before closing the spigot
• Skipping the leak test after installation
• Mixing components from a standard plastic spigot with stainless steel spigot parts
• Using replacement parts that aren’t compatible with your specific spigot version

Standard Berkey Stainless Steel Spigot vs. Water View Spigot

It’s worth knowing that Berkey offers more than one metal spigot design. Alongside the standard stainless steel spigot covered in this guide, Berkey also makes a Stainless Steel Water View spigot, which adds a viewing window so you can see how much water is left in the lower chamber. The Water View spigot includes extra parts not found in the standard kit, a stainless steel sleeve, a glass viewing tube, its own set of silicone and stainless steel washers, a nut, and in some versions a float ball that rises and falls with the water level. Because of these additional components, the Water View spigot has its own separate installation process. Don’t combine instructions for the two spigots, and if you’re installing a Water View spigot, follow the guide written specifically for that product.

How to Maintain a Berkey Stainless Steel Spigot

• Clean the spigot periodically along with the rest of the lower chamber.
• Periodically inspect the washers for wear, cracking, or flattening.
• Check for leaks any time you disassemble and reassemble the system.
• Keep the spigot itself free of mineral buildup with regular wiping.
• Replace washers or other worn components rather than continuing to use a system with a slow leak.
• Avoid overtightening the nut during routine maintenance, just as you would during the initial install.

When Should You Replace a Berkey Spigot?

Consider replacing your stainless steel spigot if you notice:

• A leak that persists even after reseating the washers
• Damaged or stripped threads
• Cracked stainless steel or washer components
• Washers that are torn, flattened, or no longer sealing properly
• Visible corrosion or damage to the spigot body
• A handle that’s become difficult to turn
• Seals that have hardened or worn out with age

If replacement is necessary, use components designed for your specific spigot version to make sure everything seats and seals the way it’s supposed to.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do you install a Berkey stainless steel spigot?

Wash the parts, place a silicone washer and washer cover on the threaded stem, feed the stem through the lower chamber wall, add the second washer and washer cover inside the chamber, thread on the nut, hand-tighten, and rotate the spigot upright.

2. Which way does the Berkey spigot washer go?

Washer orientation can vary slightly by spigot version, so check the instructions included with your kit. In general, the domed or beveled side of a washer cover faces the spigot, with the flat side facing the chamber wall.

3. How tight should a Berkey stainless steel spigot be?

Hand-tight is the standard for this spigot. It’s designed to seal without tools.

4. Can you use tools to tighten a Berkey spigot?

Tools generally aren’t necessary and aren’t recommended for the standard stainless steel spigot, since overtightening with a wrench can put stress on the chamber wall or distort the washers.

5. Why is my Berkey spigot leaking?

Leaks are most often caused by a missing washer, a washer installed in the wrong position or orientation, or a nut that hasn’t been tightened enough.

6. How do you replace a Berkey spigot?

Remove the old spigot from the chamber, then follow the same washer-and-nut installation process used for a new spigot, making sure to use washers compatible with the replacement spigot.

7. Can a stainless steel spigot fit all Berkey stainless steel systems?

The stainless steel spigot is designed for Berkey’s stainless steel systems, but exact fit and compatibility can vary by spigot version, so check compatibility with your specific system before installing.

8. How do you clean a Berkey stainless steel spigot?

Wash it periodically in warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly, along with the rest of the lower chamber.

9. What parts are needed to install a Berkey spigot?

A standard kit includes the spigot, silicone washers, stainless steel washer covers, and a nut.

10. How do you stop a Berkey spigot from leaking?

Empty the chamber, remove the spigot, recheck that both washers and washer covers are in the correct position and order, then reassemble, hand-tighten the nut, and retest before refilling.

Conclusion

Installing a Berkey stainless steel spigot is a straightforward job once you understand the washer order: clean every component first, place the correct washer and washer cover on the threaded stem, feed the stem through the lower chamber, add the matching washer and washer cover on the inside, secure everything with a hand-tightened nut, and rotate the spigot into an upright position. Close the spigot before filling the system, and run a quick leak check before putting it into regular use. Taking the extra few minutes to confirm washer placement now will save you a far more frustrating leak later.

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