Vinyl tubing oily

[beernut70]

I have been using 1/4" vinyl tubing from the hardware store for gas line. The last length I got has developed a white residue and feels kind of oily. It seems to come out when the tubing gets cold in the fridge. Anyone know why this is happening or how to get rid of it? The previous line I have are fine.

 

[raysmithtx]

Are you cleaning them with starsan? Starsan leave an oily feel on the vinyl lines I buy from lowes. I use water to rinse the starsan off ( yes, I know it's designed for no rinse).


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[beernut70]

No starsan. Doesn't seem to affect the beer yet but I am still a bit skeptical.

 

[mcotter]

I've experienced this as well. Happened to a piece of vinyl tubing I was using as a blow off tube. I cold crashed the beer for several days and when I took it out the tubing was covered in an oily/milky residue.

I just ended up tossing it, not sure of the exact cause unfortunately.

Edit: I should also note that whatever it was, it didn't have any effect on the beer.

 

[nyer]

I had the same problem and the lines caused a bad taste in the beer. They were very slimy when cold and nothing would clean it off. I switched to the white plastic water line for a fridge watermaker and the problem is gone.

 

[beernut70]

It's funny cause I have two lines that are good and and only the third line is bad. Does the white waterline fit over a hose barb?

 

[nyer]

I had to heat it in boiling water then it fit with a little persuasion.

 

[frettfreak]

Morebeer sells this antimicrobial beer and co2 lines now and they are GREAT! fell like a silicone type material. I dont get the slime (mostly got it from starsan on the vinyl though)

http://morebeer.com/products/ultra-...crobial-pvc-free-beer-tubing-316-id-foot.html

Very decently priced too IMO

 

[jamsomito]

Does anyone have any pictures of the lines? I'm wondering if it's plasticizer leaching from the tubes.

This is from my PC water cooling loop - not the same thing - but this happened after about 9 months of constant exposure to water. It started as just a slight film / cloudiness, and turned into a chalky white appearance. I never touched it to see if it was slimy though. But I would fear any beer that went through those lines...

 

[beernut70]

Looks similar I only use it for gas line. Seems to come out when the tubing gets cold.

 

[beernut70]

Replaced the lines with polyurethane tubing. It's good for low temps.



Here is the line I replaced.