Your Cart is Empty
How to Prime Your Clearbrook Water Filter (Step-by-Step)
Skip priming on a new Clearbrook filter and, per Clearbrook's own manual, your gravity system simply won't work. Here's exactly how it's done, straight from the instructions that ship with every filter.
Shop CB9 and CB5 replacement elements in our Clearbrook water filters collection.
Key Takeaways
- Priming is required. Without it, Clearbrook gravity systems will not work, per the manufacturer's own manual.
- There are two official methods: the priming pump (submerge and pump the bulb) and the priming button (hold against the faucet and run water through).
- You'll know it's primed when the entire outer surface is covered in beads of water, not when water runs clear.
- After installing primed filters, you still need to flush the assembled system before regular use.
- Maximum flow rate isn't reached until 12 to 24 hours of normal use.
Why Priming Matters
Clearbrook's own manual is direct about this: without primed filters, gravity systems will not work. A new element needs to be fully saturated before it can pass water at a normal rate. There are two official ways to get there, and which one you use depends on whether you have the priming pump on hand.
Method 1: Priming Pump
If you have the Clearbrook priming pump, this is the primary method. Attach the pump to the filter's threaded stem, then submerge the body of the filter in clean tap water. Pump the priming bulb until water begins to flow from the priming pump's nozzle. That flow is your sign the element is saturating.
Method 2: Priming Button
No pump on hand? Use the priming button that ships with your filter instead.
Step 1: Hold the Button Against Your Faucet
Hold the tan priming button firmly against your faucet outlet, then press the filter's nozzle up against the button's opening.
Step 2: Turn On the Faucet
Turn on the faucet and keep the connection tight, so the water is forced into the filter instead of leaking around the seal.
Step 3: Watch for Beads of Water
Keep running water until the entire outer surface of the filter is covered in beads of water. That's Clearbrook's own indicator of a fully saturated, properly primed filter, not water running clear.
Step 4: Repeat for Each Element
Every element gets primed on its own. A system running two filters means doing this twice before anything gets installed.
After Priming: Flush the Assembled System
Priming the elements isn't the last step. Once they're primed and installed, fill the upper chamber with water and put the lid on. Let it filter through into the lower chamber, then open the spigot and discard that first batch entirely. If the water still looks discolored, repeat the fill-and-discard cycle until it runs clear. At that point, refill the upper chamber and your system is ready for normal use.
A couple of things to expect during this stage, straight from Clearbrook's manual: it can take up to 15 minutes for a freshly primed element to start dripping into the lower chamber, and the system won't hit its maximum flow rate until after the first 12 to 24 hours of regular use. Neither of those is a sign something's wrong.
Common Priming Mistakes
- Stopping before the surface is fully beaded. Partial saturation means uneven flow once the filter is installed. Keep going until the whole surface shows beads of water.
- Priming only one element in a two-filter system. An unprimed second filter drags down your system's overall performance next to a properly primed one.
- Skipping the post-install flush. Primed filters still need that first fill-and-discard cycle before the water coming out is what you actually want to drink.
How Often to Re-Prime
Priming is a first-use step, not a recurring one, for a filter that's already installed and running. You'll prime again after removing an element for cleaning, per Clearbrook's maintenance instructions, or any time you install a brand-new replacement.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a new Clearbrook filter need priming?
New filter elements are dry, and Clearbrook's own manual states that gravity systems will not work without primed filters. Priming forces water into the element so it's fully saturated before installation, which is what allows proper flow once it's in your system.
What are the two ways to prime a Clearbrook filter?
Clearbrook's manual describes two methods. The priming pump method: attach the pump to the filter's threaded stem, submerge the filter body in clean tap water, and pump the bulb until water flows from the nozzle. The priming button method, for when you don't have the pump: hold the tan priming button against a faucet outlet, press the filter's nozzle into the button's opening, and turn on the faucet until the filter's surface is covered in beads of water.
How do I know priming is finished?
According to Clearbrook's manual, the entire outer surface of the filter should be covered in beads of water. That's the indicator of full saturation, not water running clear through the element, which is a separate step that happens after installation.
Do I still need to do anything after priming and installing the filters?
Yes. After installing primed elements, fill the upper chamber, let it filter into the lower chamber, then open the spigot and discard that water. If it's still discolored, repeat until it runs clear. Clearbrook's manual notes it can take up to 15 minutes for elements to start dripping, and that maximum flow rate isn't reached until after the first 12 to 24 hours of use.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.