Guilt free enviromentally friendly beer chilling

[Photopilot]

As people were talking about no-chill brewing and me being the tree hugger that I am, I though about a better way to use resources during brewing. I came up with a way to use my chiller water.

Currently I brew stove top and chill with an immersion chiller back into the sink. The washing machine is in our kitchen. So I piped the outflow of the IC into the washing machine. Our tap water is extremely cold nowadays and it cooled the wort down very quickly but it still provided a half load of water for laundry.

I also made a few alterations to my IC here as well. Before I had cheap plastic hose going into the Kettle under the lid. The hose got very soft in the hot environment.

In this photo, I had brought up the IC to exit under the lid. I still need to fine tune the bend for a tighter seal. Clamped a short section of silicone tube onto the copper. Then used a hose connector to attach cheap plastic hose to the hose barbs for whatever lengths I need after the boil.

 

[lknbigfish]

great idea

 

[Airborneguy]

I use an aquarium pump to recirculate the water in a bucket with a few blocks of ice in it. The first two buckets get dumped into my washer (too hot for ice), the third gets the ice and then I use that water for my temp-control set-up when I am done chilling.

From boiling to 70f = less than 20 minutes.

 

[IceFisherChris]

Awesome idea! I saved my hot water, but for my last batch all I did was use the water for a warm foot bath... haha.
You could also use this idea to preheat water for a second brew.
Use it for sanitization or washing dishes.

 

[Hermit]

I use an aquarium pump to recirculate the water in a bucket with a few blocks of ice in it. The first two buckets get dumped into my washer (too hot for ice), the third gets the ice and then I use that water for my temp-control set-up when I am done chilling.

From boiling to 70f = less than 20 minutes.

My first five gallons of hot water go into a bucket that I carry to the laundry tub for equipment cleaning and recirculate over the ice after that.

 

[skidkid267]

My first five gallons of hot water go into a bucket that I carry to the laundry tub for equipment cleaning and recirculate over the ice after that.

Gents, I am thinking of doing this same thing. How many Gallons per minute are the pumps that you use? I have seen a couple of them at Lowes and need to know how big to go.

Thanks, B.

 

[Hermit]

The only rating I see on mine is 1.7 Amps

 

[Photopilot]

Check out my post here on how I use a pump in conjunction with my IC

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/water-pump-chilling-using-immersion-cooler-160216/#post1849392

 

[Sawdustguy]

Wait a minute, you are a self proclaimed tree hugger and in the picture I see no less than 3 large appliances.

 

[dwarven_stout]

Wait a minute, you are a self proclaimed tree hugger and in the picture I see no less than 3 large appliances.

I know, and I see both a dryer and a dishwasher!
It's ok, though... I think going any more treehugger than recycling chiller water is actually illegal in Utah.

 

[ScubaSteve]

That's a great idea. I like to use the hot exhaust water for cleaning up brewing equipment when I'm done...

 

[Photopilot]

Wait a minute, you are a self proclaimed tree hugger and in the picture I see no less than 3 large appliances.

What you see is brewing equipment. The dishwasher is only used for bottle sanitizing and the washer dryer are used as my brew stand. The water I drained into the washer is going to be pumped to the creek where I do my laundry by hand.

In reality I have carbon footprint the size of Utah, but am at least conscious of it, and do what I can. It just doesn't make sense to use 30 gallons of water to brew 5 or pour hot water down the drain, especially when my tap water is in the 40s.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

How can you be a tree hugger? I've been to Utah. There aren't any trees to hug.

 

[MrHipster]

How do you know how much water to put in the washing machine? What setting do you run the washing machine on?

 

[Photopilot]

How can you be a tree hugger? I've been to Utah. There aren't any trees to hug.

You must have been to Southern Utah, known as Dixie around here. The North of Utah is a little different.