Boil kettle condenser - no overhead ventilation needed
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I definitely get a smell from my condensate. Smells like a gross corn smell to me. I just assumed it was DMS precursors being condensed. The smell was strong enough to me that I went from draining into a five gallon bucket on my first use, to draining outside ever since.
I smell DMS in the condensate for about 60-70 minutes into the boil and then it disappears. I run my drain hose into a sink.
Above the p-trap; here's a pic showing the drain line entering the PVC drain pipe. You can't see the p-trap below. The thing that looks like a horizontal pipe coming off that is actually one of the filters for the RO filter and not part of the drain pipe.
jahlinux
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I allow my condensate to drain into a 5 gallon bucket. I get the same strong smell in the bucket and really smell it when dumping the bucket into the sink. I brew in a basement and turn on a window fan to help reduce the smell. I don’t find it overwhelming but would love to come up with a way to reduce or eliminate it. Unfortunately it can’t be drained directly outside. Can someone tell me if the smell is reduced if draining directly into a drain pipe vs a bucket?
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Glad to hear others are experiencing the same odor issue. I felt like a outcast when I reported how bad it was.
I will sell my steam slayer to anyone that wants one. Only used once and based on how bad the odor was I’m not going to bother trying again because I can’t risk that again because of you-know-who.
I will sell my steam slayer to anyone that wants one. Only used once and based on how bad the odor was I’m not going to bother trying again because I can’t risk that again because of you-know-who.
Looking for the same answer. I took my crappy hood down but still have it. I was thinking of having a combo of a small portable fan blowing out the window and having the drain trickle through a bag of activated carbon to see if that helps. Really interested in anyone's solution to the odor...other than running the drain outside as that is not an option. I love the system but man it stunk up the house.
jahlinux
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Sorry to hear you are disappointed with the steam condenser. I love mine and will continue to use it. The odor issue isn’t a major problem for me, just something I’d like to reduce if a simple solution can be found. I’ll deal with a little odor over having to deal with a ventilation system.
ancientmariner52
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I suggest you hang on to it, at least for a while. The combined brain power of this bunch will likely find three or four viable solutions very soon.
jahlinux
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Like I said earlier I use a small window fan and have it exhaust out one of the basement windows. I crack open another window that is over the brew kettle. Helps a lot, just not ideal when it’s really cold out. Using the window fan the odor is just a minor issue, certainly not a show stopper.
Odor is #1 concern of mine doing this in the house. Wife absolutely hates the smell. To complicate matters, my brew area is in same area as the HVAC. All aromas are quickly dispersed to the entire house. There is little margin for error in my situation.
The ventilation hood wasn’t a perfect solution for me but overall worked well. Low oxygen brewing was actually the best odor reducing method of anything. Until I boil the only smell is a little grain dust. I probably need to lower my hood about 8” and that’ll help capture the little wisps of steam that escape around the edges.
The ventilation hood wasn’t a perfect solution for me but overall worked well. Low oxygen brewing was actually the best odor reducing method of anything. Until I boil the only smell is a little grain dust. I probably need to lower my hood about 8” and that’ll help capture the little wisps of steam that escape around the edges.
I think I'd try adapting that riser to your condensate tube so it's tight. Looks like your RO effluent tube is there as well so that would need a saddle tap or equivalent into the same riser to make that work...
Cheers!
Has anyone tried adding activated carbon to the waste bucket. It's fairly cheap stuff and can be bought in bulk. Of course the waste water would then have to be strained from carbon.
Wikipedia says mercuric chloride makes the smell more bearable. Maybe some has and old bottle of Mercuro-Chrome lying around?
Wikipedia says mercuric chloride makes the smell more bearable. Maybe some has and old bottle of Mercuro-Chrome lying around?
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I thought about stuffing some foam rubber into the top to see if that would reduce the odor. On my list. Fermenter is full so it may be a couple weeks before I get another chance to brew.
I need a second fermenter....
Paulaner
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I'm kind of on the fence about getting one of these, how much you selling it for?
I’m going to get some aquarium filter socks and throw in some activated carbon in one to run my drain line through it. I’m not sure if there will be enough contact time to work but figure it will be a cheap experiment. I’m also looking at the hydroponic carbon air filters to hook my hood fan to and just set it nearby to filter the room air. Might be a couple weeks before I can get another brew in though.
PM me and we can discuss.
Gravitysucks
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For anyone out there with a Stout 15 gallon BK that might want to try the steam condenser but is concerned that there might be issues with condensation leaking around the edges of the loose fitting domed lid the Stout comes with (or would prefer not to cut holes in the lid) I found a recessed style pot lid made by Vigor (16 5/8 Stainless Steel Replacement Lid for 40 Qt Stock Pot) at a place called WebstaurantStore that fits my pot perfectly/ nice and tight. It was relatively inexpensive @ 18.99 and is made of heavy stainless.
RidleyRumpus
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I would be interested if it is still available.
Gameface
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Since I got the steamslayer for steam control and not odor control I'm perfectly happy with it. Odor wasn't crazy bad like some of you are indicating, it just didn't completely eliminate the odor and since I had all the doors to my garage closed the odor didn't have anywhere to go.
I installed the SteamSlayer and brewed a Velvet Hammer clone. The SteamSlayer performed perfectly. I didn't notice any oder other than malt and hops. My evaporation rate was not as high as I first thought. I'll have to adjust my efficientcy. I almost forgot, I had to turn the power output from 96% to 63% to avoid a boil over.
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Still following along with that odor conversation as I'll be brewing in the basement right next to the furnace as well. However, what are you guys doing to your recipes/mash/sparge water to account for the boil off rates? Larger grain bill? Just less water? Any examples you can provide that provided success getting to your OG using this beautiful device?
OP
OP
Less water here.
Warren Boese
Member
I'm using less water, my evaporative rate is around 1/2 gallon/hour, still dialing that in. Certainly has a strong smell but was able to reduce it by draining into a sealed stand pipe I built for my floor drain while brewing.
I'll try more grain. Less sparge water could work too as well as a longer boil
2 brews in, I'm a follower. @BrunDog, this is really huge, as adding ventilation to a basement was my tipping point. I think a very good eBIAB basement system is now in reach $$ for most homebrewers. My notes:
1. Using @Bobby_M system with 6gph. Collecting about 7 gph, it's perfect for my typical 6 gal batch size.
2. Condensate smells like beer bong water/DMS when collected. I preloaded bucket w/PBW, still stinky. Trying to go to drain on batch 3 to reduce. Or, I'll drain the start, collect last 20 minutes for washing.
3. Running a 5500W in a 15 gal kettle, boil sweet spot is 34% at start, then lowered to 32%.
4. Boiloff rate about 0.8gph, I'm measuring the condensate stream at about 160F. This is great for my needs, but if you want more rigorous, then get 9gph. Also, at this temp, the bucket is not steaming.
5. There is no steam leakage with normal lids. While this is counterintuitive to many, you have a Venturi effect + temp differential at the spray source that drives steamflow out of the port. The steam "wants" to escape there. You will see the condensate steam.
6. I'm happy with side mount, lid mount seems a pain....you still want to pop the lid during the brew.
7. I have bayou kettle with the "ridge" so this has reduced my max mash volume WITH the slayer installed, tougher now to force out 9 gallon split batches....but if BIAB, I can simply install mt TC blank, problem solved.....and my preboil volume is generally lower now anyways....I mention because for those considering unique bulkheads, just stick with 1.5" TC and have a blank on hand so this is a non issue.
8. I have my sink right next to my kettle, so I dropped my submersible kegwasher pump in the bucket transferred it back to my kettle (after initial trub rinse), and cleaned my recirc/kettle this way. It rinses just fine.
Overall, I am absolutely thrilled to have dodged the massive sawzall massacre my basement would have endured to put in an exhaust hood!
1. Using @Bobby_M system with 6gph. Collecting about 7 gph, it's perfect for my typical 6 gal batch size.
2. Condensate smells like beer bong water/DMS when collected. I preloaded bucket w/PBW, still stinky. Trying to go to drain on batch 3 to reduce. Or, I'll drain the start, collect last 20 minutes for washing.
3. Running a 5500W in a 15 gal kettle, boil sweet spot is 34% at start, then lowered to 32%.
4. Boiloff rate about 0.8gph, I'm measuring the condensate stream at about 160F. This is great for my needs, but if you want more rigorous, then get 9gph. Also, at this temp, the bucket is not steaming.
5. There is no steam leakage with normal lids. While this is counterintuitive to many, you have a Venturi effect + temp differential at the spray source that drives steamflow out of the port. The steam "wants" to escape there. You will see the condensate steam.
6. I'm happy with side mount, lid mount seems a pain....you still want to pop the lid during the brew.
7. I have bayou kettle with the "ridge" so this has reduced my max mash volume WITH the slayer installed, tougher now to force out 9 gallon split batches....but if BIAB, I can simply install mt TC blank, problem solved.....and my preboil volume is generally lower now anyways....I mention because for those considering unique bulkheads, just stick with 1.5" TC and have a blank on hand so this is a non issue.
8. I have my sink right next to my kettle, so I dropped my submersible kegwasher pump in the bucket transferred it back to my kettle (after initial trub rinse), and cleaned my recirc/kettle this way. It rinses just fine.
Overall, I am absolutely thrilled to have dodged the massive sawzall massacre my basement would have endured to put in an exhaust hood!
@Brewbuzzard where did you find your secondary smaller glass lid from (orange handle)? Is this something you prefabbed or was it part of the original kettle/lid from the manufacturer? Nice idea to observe boil activity and for adding hops without removing the larger lid.
Love the steamslayer idea and am preparing to rig one up, but having hesitation about the smell. Any of you folks who are operating one: how about putting a little oxyclean powder into the collection bucket periodically, like a pinch every 15 minutes? The hot water should easily dissolve it, and I wonder whether the oxidation will kill the odors.
Thanks,
Mike
Thanks,
Mike
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