My first go with my DIY immersion chiller went great, but got stuck around the 80 degree mark. Is using a prechiller worth the extra 30-40 bucks or are there better methods of getting down to 60 or 70 degrees. I'm afraid a standard 15ft pre-chiller isn't going to sufficiently cool down the water before it passes through.
Immersion Chiller Users - Do You Use a Pre-Chiller?
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50ft 3/8" Copper
Fountain Pump in 5 gallon pail.
Run water into pail and pump through chiller until wort hits 100 degrees
Then add frozen water bottles and contents of fridge ice tray to bucket.
Fountain Pump in 5 gallon pail.
Run water into pail and pump through chiller until wort hits 100 degrees
Then add frozen water bottles and contents of fridge ice tray to bucket.
I'm thinking I need to come up with something to help things along. My tap water is warm most of the year so it cools down great to a point then slows down. I usually add a cold water bath toward the end to help things along.
arturo7
Well-Known Member
I put my copper in coil in the mash tun and use a pump to circulate the wort through it. The tun is filled with water that is exchanged at regular intervals to remove the heat. When it gets below 90, I start adding ice to the tun. Theoretically, this set up could take the temp well below 40F.
My tap water is roughly 65 during the summer and 50-ish during the winter
I do not use a pre-chiller
I do not use a pre-chiller
SamuraiSquirrel
Well-Known Member
I use 50' 1/2 inch immersion chiller. Using illinois tap water no pre chiller.
I get down to 80 in about five minutes. Takes another 7-10 to get down to 70.
I get down to 80 in about five minutes. Takes another 7-10 to get down to 70.
I found my prechiller was as a better ice melter. Now I use both as ICs. I need a pump too.
Harbor Freight has very cheap submersible pumps. Thats where I got mine. If you dont live near one and dont want to wait for shipping you can always go to HD or Lowes garden center and pick up a fountain/pond pump.
I use a 20 ft 1/2" copper coil pre-chiller that I put into a cooler full of ice water. For 5 gallon batches, I'm down to 64 F in 10 - 12 minutes and for 10 gallon batches, its about 20 - 25 minutes to get to the same temp.
I think its worth it.
I think its worth it.
bovineblitz
Well-Known Member
I get it down to 80 degrees with tap water, then place it in a rubbermaid type container full of cold water and a little ice, start a swamp cooler, and pitch about an hour later. No pre chiller... I don't really have a way to make/store that much ice anyways.
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