nostalgia
Well-Known Member
Since there are a lot of questions about CIP in the Brewhemoth Conicals thread, I thought I'd start one with my current solution, and invite others to share theirs.
First I had the cap on the chiller drilled to accept a 1/2" NPT long nipple.
Then I soldered in the nipple with Harris Stay-Brite 8 solder and Stay-Clean flux. I added a rotating spray ball from McMaster-Carr, and an elbow and tri-clamp fitting on top.
For the pump, I grabbed a Flowtech utility pump from Home Depot.
I used a garden hose to 1/2" female NPT adapter and a close nipple to attach the hose to the tri-clamp fitting.
Then it's cleaning time! First, put an empty bucket under the Brewhemoth and run 5 gallons of hot tap water through to get all the loose solids. The pump is in a bucket in the sink.
Then I switched to a hot Oxiclean solution, but this time the bucket with the pump is under the Brewhemoth so it recirculates the cleaner. I think I recirc'd for about 10 minutes. I'll probably switch to PBW in the future, since it's supposed to be lower-foaming.
Then another clean water rinse, and done! Everything came out shiny and crispy clean. And this was after having 12 gallons of a very dark red IPA in there for 3 weeks.
I like having the sprayball in with the chiller because not only can I clean everything at once, in place, but I can also use it to sanitize everything at once on brewday.
-Joe
First I had the cap on the chiller drilled to accept a 1/2" NPT long nipple.
Then I soldered in the nipple with Harris Stay-Brite 8 solder and Stay-Clean flux. I added a rotating spray ball from McMaster-Carr, and an elbow and tri-clamp fitting on top.
For the pump, I grabbed a Flowtech utility pump from Home Depot.
I used a garden hose to 1/2" female NPT adapter and a close nipple to attach the hose to the tri-clamp fitting.
Then it's cleaning time! First, put an empty bucket under the Brewhemoth and run 5 gallons of hot tap water through to get all the loose solids. The pump is in a bucket in the sink.
Then I switched to a hot Oxiclean solution, but this time the bucket with the pump is under the Brewhemoth so it recirculates the cleaner. I think I recirc'd for about 10 minutes. I'll probably switch to PBW in the future, since it's supposed to be lower-foaming.
Then another clean water rinse, and done! Everything came out shiny and crispy clean. And this was after having 12 gallons of a very dark red IPA in there for 3 weeks.
I like having the sprayball in with the chiller because not only can I clean everything at once, in place, but I can also use it to sanitize everything at once on brewday.
-Joe