Cleaning an old Counterflow Chiller

[Physics202]

So a neighbor of mine handed me his old homemade counterflow wort chiller. He said it's been sitting in his attic for a number of years now. I've had possession of it for quite a few brews, and didn't use it because I didn't know the how clean it was or how cleanable it was. I've recently had a desire to bring it back to life and I'm wondering what steps I should take to clean it. I have PBW, Starsan, and boiling water on hand, but I'm willing to pick up other supplies as needed.

 

[IslandLizard]

I'd recirculate boiling PBW water through the inner (beer) tube for a few hours to dislodge/dissolve any built up crud in there. Then rinse out and Starsan it.

 

[Queequeg]

Yeah islandlizard says. Should be pretty easy with a counterflow its plate chillers that are the most difficult. I would suggest placing the return of the recirc in nylon bag to catch all the dislodged bits

 

[RaHarmakis]

if you have a good craft brewery close to you, pop by and ask the brewer if they would sell (or give) you a small amount of their Caustic Cleaner. PBW is great... but the stuff the breweries use makes PBW look like store brand dish soap!!

If your worried about whats in there, circulating hot caustic through it will do the trick!

Another trick is to flow what ever cleaning product you use backwards through the chiller. Buildups can be deposited facing on direction, and flow the opposite direction can greatly aid in the cleaning.

Good Look!