Any reason not to use a garden hose for the exit side of the water on a counterflow chiller? I see some people are sticking with silicon for this and others using hoses. Is the heat really that big of an issue?
Garden hose works great. Temps never are so hot to cause problems. I use silicone tubing on the hot and cold side of the wort in and out. The water in and out is all garden hoses.