I've gone back and forth on this so many times my head hurts, so I'm reaching out to the community for guidance. Having read 50+ threads on the subject, I'm still not convinced which way to go, so here goes:
Currently, I'm an all-grain brewer, 5 gallon batches, using a 8-gallon SS kettle and a 25-foot SS immersion chiller. Even though I've got pretty cold water supply, I still use a ton of water bringing down the temperature of my wort (easily fills up my large washing machine and then some).
So I've basically got 3 choices:
1. status quo,
2. Get a new 50-foot IC that's going to cool the wort down somewhat faster and waste less water, or
3. Drill a hole in my kettle, install a weldless valve kit, and get a Therminator.
Number one isn't what I want. Number two is viable only if I can chill my beer significantly quicker with 50' of tubing rather than 25'. Number three is *expensive*, especially when I have to add on the weldless kit, the drill bits, the extra tubing, etc. Not to mention cleaning.
I know I'm not the first homebrewer who's been in my position.
Thanks in advance!
Currently, I'm an all-grain brewer, 5 gallon batches, using a 8-gallon SS kettle and a 25-foot SS immersion chiller. Even though I've got pretty cold water supply, I still use a ton of water bringing down the temperature of my wort (easily fills up my large washing machine and then some).
So I've basically got 3 choices:
1. status quo,
2. Get a new 50-foot IC that's going to cool the wort down somewhat faster and waste less water, or
3. Drill a hole in my kettle, install a weldless valve kit, and get a Therminator.
Number one isn't what I want. Number two is viable only if I can chill my beer significantly quicker with 50' of tubing rather than 25'. Number three is *expensive*, especially when I have to add on the weldless kit, the drill bits, the extra tubing, etc. Not to mention cleaning.
I know I'm not the first homebrewer who's been in my position.
Thanks in advance!