Purging/flushing pumps and lines with C02

Does anyone ever purge their transfer pumps and lines with C02 before running beer through?

I have a diaphragm pump (like the one that comes with the Blichmann quick carb) that I use for various things - transferring beer, pushing beer through a filter, running my DIY quick carb.

I typically run starsan through everything then empty the lines before running beer through. But it occurred to me that the pump and lines are going to be full of air.

Is there any risk of oxidation? Should I be trying to purge the system with C02 first? And if so how???

 

I don't use a pump post-fermentation but when I rack to a keg or on the rare occasion to a fresh carboy I always purge the receiving vessel and all plumbing between.

The receiver gets filled with a standard Star San mix which is then pushed out using CO2. The dip tube in the fermentor and tubing to the receiver get flushed with CO2 before connection to the reciever.

It's a bit of a process but it preserves the best characters of the beer for far longer than less careful treatment...

[edit] I'd think you could use a similar process, filling the pump and in/out lines with Star San, then chasing that with CO2...

Cheers!

 

I have never purged anything... Including my kegs. After filling I do "burp" the pressure relief valve. I have never had any oxidation issues that I could detect as such. Also never had a negative comment from any of my friends.

 

Hey day_trippr, do you think I could run CO2 through the in-line to the pump and it would flow all the through? Were you suggesting I turn the pump on while doing this or actually use CO2 pressure to push through the lines/pump? Don't know whether the latter would damage the diaphragm...

 

The diaphragm pump is a curve ball - most people use centrifugal brew pumps which have no problems "passing gas".

Without knowing what the internals look like I would indeed be cautious.
That said, I expect it could be done by simply using very low pressure with the pump running to encourage the remaining sanitizer to push through...

Cheers!

 

I would just fill the lines with starsan, then connect the beer and dump the line output until beer starts to come out. Stop the flow, then hook it up to your transfer vessel.

 

This is exactly my preferred methodology. I lose a bit of beer, but half the people using my taps lose more just attempting to pour a beer.

 

I thought of doing this but wonder if the starsan is going to get all mixed in the with the beer (because of the filter) rather than just being pushed out first followed by the beer?