Cleaning and Sanitizing Brew Systems

[harley03]

Hello Fellow Brewers,

I just about to finish a single tier system I have been working on and have a question about cleaning and sanitation.

With all the copper lines, pumps etc how do you go about cleaning and sanitizing those components.

My thought for cleaning was to use PBW mix according to instructions and actually run it through the system for awhile making sure that every hose, pipe, pump and kettle gets in contact with the cleaner. Then after flushing the cleaner through the system follow up with hot water. This seems like it could take some time to do. And possibly might be an easier way. Any thoughts or suggestions?

For sanitation I would use StarSan and perform a similar process.

Thanks

 

[dleonard]

I've brewed 4 times on mine, and thats exactly what I do.

 

[klyph]

The only other consideration I would have for clean-in-place setups is whether you have dead space in your vessels. I found it makes cleaning more work when your diptubes always leave a few cups in your vessels. I try to minimize plumbing and use silicone hose that is easily and cheaply replaceable. Some of these systems with 15 valves and a half mile of solid tube plumbing, I'd be paranoid about what builds up in there.

 

[lamarguy]

There is no need to sanitize the brewstand plumbing with Starsan. Just make sure the lines are clean and dry.

I recommend recirculating hot (160F) PBW through all of the lines for about 15 minutes, rinsing with hot (160F) water, and blowing out the lines with compressed air.

If you are unable to clear the lines after rinsing, you may need to rinse with a sanitization solution. However, the lines can still develop mold if left with standing water for a long period of time.

 

[dleonard]

The only other consideration I would have for clean-in-place setups is whether you have dead space in your vessels. I found it makes cleaning more work when your diptubes always leave a few cups in your vessels. I try to minimize plumbing and use silicone hose that is easily and cheaply replaceable. Some of these systems with 15 valves and a half mile of solid tube plumbing, I'd be paranoid about what builds up in there.

You mean something like this?
<a href="http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l2/casfacto/Beer%20Stuff/?action=view&current=IMAG0044.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2/casfacto/Beer%20Stuff/IMAG0044.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I really went for a setup that wouldn't require moving allot of hoses all around...
After doing all of this, I'm not so excited about it. I'm very afraid of clogs, and mold. I wash with PWB, and then on brew day, rinse again with that, and then again with hot water...

 

[klyph]

Exactly, considering those are all pipe thread connections, and you're pumping sticky wort through it, how can you guarantee it's clean unless you take it all apart? Swapping hoses may be little more work, and you get a little dribblage, but after taking apart my HERMS coil with just 3 brews on it, I'm now averse to solid plumbing with NPT fittings. I'm sure with sanitary fittings, it's great, but for me CIP with pipe threads isn't cutting it.

IMHO, YMMV, WTFBBQ, ETC

 

[dleonard]

You mean something like this?
<a href="http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l2/casfacto/Beer%20Stuff/?action=view&current=IMAG0044.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l2/casfacto/Beer%20Stuff/IMAG0044.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I really went for a setup that wouldn't require moving allot of hoses all around...
After doing all of this, I'm not so excited about it. I'm very afraid of clogs, and mold. I wash with PWB, and then on brew day, rinse again with that, and then again with hot water...

thats better....

 

[harley03]

Thanks for the reply guys. I thinkthat I will clean the system after a brew session by running PBW through it. The only thing is it will add some additional time to brew day but O'well tht's the way it goes if you want to keep things clean.

Also after a brew session if you clean right away there should not be that much build up or crud inside the components especially flushing with hot water.