Can't find a pump that doesn't hide bacteria

[bigsipper]

All the march pumps and chugger pumps I've seen look like they will hold a small reservoir of liquid that can not be drained after use.

I am designing my all grain system - so correct me if I am wrong... but I have not seen a pump that lets all the liquid drain completely after use. They all appear to be missing a drain screw on the bottom of the impeller housing... without one, won't these pumps hide a nice puddle of water for bacteria to grow in until the next brew day?

I've read about people flushing and rinsing to clean them... but it doesn't seem sanitary to me to put it in storage without completely draining and drying the entire system.

I guess if nobody else is worried about it, it is not an issue. And a lot of beer has been made using these pumps, but it doesn't seem safe to me.

-bigsipper

 

[Yooper]

They drain very well, if you just put the tubing into a vessel or something lower than the pump. If you're not happy about the tiny bit of water that could be left, you could blow it out with an air compressor.

When I traveled with a used pump in -20F degree water (kid you not!), I blew out my pump with pure old lung power. It worked ok, as shown by not freezing, so that was good enough for me.

 

[HDIr0n]

They have them, the pumps are just not cheap enough to make sense for a home brewer. You can look into peristaltic pumps.

 

[Ravenshead]

I assume since you're worried about bacteria you're thinking about using one to pump wort through a chiller. If that's the case, you're going to pump boiling wort through the pump for a good ten minutes before flameout, so any bacteria is going to be well cooked. Given that, the pump drains and cleans easily as Yooper said. It's the plate chiller that can be hard to get clean and dry.

 

[mattd2]

I made both my pump mount and Plate HEx removable so that at the end of brew day I can hang the pump/HEx up so the inlets are facing down to drain them (centre inlet pump)

Not so clear in the photo but the HEx just sits in the frame (needs to be lifted up then left to remove) and the pump steel base is not connected to the main frame

 

[BigFloyd]

I assume since you're worried about bacteria you're thinking about using one to pump wort through a chiller. If that's the case, you're going to pump boiling wort through the pump for a good ten minutes before flameout, so any bacteria is going to be well cooked. Given that, the pump drains and cleans easily as Yooper said. It's the plate chiller that can be hard to get clean and dry.

This^^^^^^^.

My Chugger pump is recirculating wort into the top of my E-BIAB bag during the whole mash process, so there's no issue of a tiny bit of residual water left over from my last cleaning/rinsing. Later, 10 minutes of running boiling wort through my pump and my plate chiller should sanitize them both just fine.

You can also put the plate chiller in a 300*F oven 30 min if you want to be sure to kill off the nasties deep within.

 

[bigsipper]

...you could blow it out with an air compressor.

<Loud smack on forehead> That's an idea! Why didn't I think of that....

 

[Indian_villager]

I just make it a point to flush out my pump with water and then a mild star san or pbw solution at the end of brew day.

 

[kickflip_mj]

just turn the pump head inlet vertical?

 

[bigsipper]

just turn the pump head inlet vertical?

That'll get out some, but not all the liquid.

 

[Trillium]

You could take it apart and sanitize and dry it if it concerns you that much.

 

[kickflip_mj]

I guess the next question is.. Are you planning on going will all tri clovers? I wouldn't be so concerned about a tiny bit of liquid holding bacteria over threaded fittings. At least you know the sanitizer had reached the pump.

 

[smakudwn]

I take my pump head off and store inside after brew day.

 

[bigsipper]

I will be using quick disconnects (haven't decided which ones yet, but I'm leaning towards the polysulfone plastic ones)... but they connect to the pump via 1/2 npt threads.

 

[bob352]

You could take it apart and sanitize and dry it if it concerns you that much.

This is what I do.
Only takes a couple of minutes.