I've thought about crosscutting mine with an angle grinder. I think that would make a nice clean cut. I'm pretty interested, but I might still use it so maybe not that interested
You do it !
Cleaning a Plate Chiller
- Thread starter Figgy15
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I've thought about crosscutting mine with an angle grinder. I think that would make a nice clean cut. I'm pretty interested, but I might still use it so maybe not that interested
You do it !I've thought about crosscutting mine with an angle grinder. I think that would make a nice clean cut. I'm pretty interested, but I might still use it so maybe not that interested
I'd have a picture posted within an hour if i had a way to do it
The Therminator is the absolute worst piece of home brewing equipment I've ever bought. It has caused me more problems than its great performance could ever cancel out. The only thing i'd trust it to do anymore is chill water, but even then i'd just use the immersion chiller for simplicity. It's such a damn hassle to use and an even bigger hassle to clean.
I'd have a picture posted within an hour if i had a way to do it
The Therminator is the absolute worst piece of home brewing equipment I've ever bought. It has caused me more problems than its great performance could ever cancel out. The only thing i'd trust it to do anymore is chill water, but even then i'd just use the immersion chiller for simplicity. It's such a damn hassle to use and an even bigger hassle to clean.
I just replaced mine with a coaxial CFC. Works great.
I'll probably end up giving my Therminator away. It's worked well for me, but it has clogged a few times, and it's impossible to clean out like you said.
using the therminator i had to switch to using hop nylon bags otherwise it would get clogged. but on the plus side i did chill down 10 gallons of beer with 5-6 gallons of ND winter water, then used that nice hot water for clean up.
I may end up going to cfc and whirl pool more to drop out more trub.
oh yeah may have missed it in the thread but i wouldn't soak for any duration of time if there is copper with acids etc.
I may end up going to cfc and whirl pool more to drop out more trub.
oh yeah may have missed it in the thread but i wouldn't soak for any duration of time if there is copper with acids etc.
I must be a lucky SOB because I have never had problems with mine. I never use pellet hops and I also use a large stainless hose braid to filter out the whole hops which in turn filter trub. The therminator was much more efficient than a chillzilla and allowed me to cool 30 gallon batches much more quickly with less water. The chillzilla was a breeze to clean.
PBW is safe for stainless steel...acid based solutions are not. They will eat into the stainless steel grain structure. You could run some through...but don't store any such solutions in it for periods of time.
There is a photo of someone who cut his therminator open somewhere on the net (maybe this site). It was clean. Proper cleaning procedures will keep them clean...it is not hard. I have been using one for over ten years now...well over a hundred batches. I will say, I started with a brand new one and have taken care of it since day one. If you skip cleaning it at the end of your brew day...you may have screwed it up. Here is what I do:
I clean mine within 15 minutes of every use. I use the Blichmann backflush hose hooked up to my sink and flush it with hot water for 2-3 minutes in each direction...I do this for a total of six times...three times in the forward flow and three times in the backward flow directions, alternating between each. I then submerge the therminator in a kettle of water and keep it at a boil for 30 minutes. I then drain it in the sink and tip it back and forth on and off over the period of three days until no water is coming out upon tipping it. Then it goes back on the shelf until the next brew day.
There is a photo of someone who cut his therminator open somewhere on the net (maybe this site). It was clean. Proper cleaning procedures will keep them clean...it is not hard. I have been using one for over ten years now...well over a hundred batches. I will say, I started with a brand new one and have taken care of it since day one. If you skip cleaning it at the end of your brew day...you may have screwed it up. Here is what I do:
I clean mine within 15 minutes of every use. I use the Blichmann backflush hose hooked up to my sink and flush it with hot water for 2-3 minutes in each direction...I do this for a total of six times...three times in the forward flow and three times in the backward flow directions, alternating between each. I then submerge the therminator in a kettle of water and keep it at a boil for 30 minutes. I then drain it in the sink and tip it back and forth on and off over the period of three days until no water is coming out upon tipping it. Then it goes back on the shelf until the next brew day.
ITV
Well-Known Member
I had sucess with soaking my plate chiller by filling it with the recommended ratio of beer line cleaner to water and let it soak overnight. The following day rinse well with water (water pressure or pump).
