Large plastic water bottles as carboys?

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mike_folse

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I see 5 gallon and smaller plastic jugs of water for sale at various grocery stores. Some allow you to return the empty bottle for a full one later. Can these bottles be used as fermenters? I do smaller batches and like to use these as secondaries, etc. SAMs Club had a 4 gallon bottle made of PET#1 for $4. I was hoping to use water for brewing and then use the jug for a secondary. Is this safe?
 
It is safe, just be sure that when you clean it without using an abrasive brush, as scratched can harbor bacteria, wild yeast, etc.

:cheers:
 
"SAMs Club had a 4 gallon bottle made of PET#1 for $4."

and the `better bottle` bung for an airlock fits right in it.

I've a small batch of cider going in one now in my mini-fridge fermentor.

Why spend 25 for a BB when you can get these locally for 4
 
Was the sam's club price including the water? I have been tricked before where there's another 10 for the bottle, but refills or swaps are cheaper.

I use those bottles all the time. I just had my 3 gal crack. You have to inspect them after each brew to see if there are any hairline cracks. Like someone said, don't use a brush to clean. And I think really hot water is bad for them and might lead to cracks.
 

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