DIY Beer Line Cleaner

[kelvarnsen]

So I filled my first keg last night and I am already thinking of how to clean my lines before I fill it again.

I saw this post and I really want to build one of these. Just not sure the right size of keg posts. Does anyone know the exact size?

There are some pretty cheap ball lock posts on ebay I see. Probably not something I would actually use for a keg, but maybe good enough for a cleaner thing, as long as I got the correct size. Any input?

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=ball+lock+post&_sop=15

 

[atli126]

I would like to know also

 

[Hello]

So I filled my first keg last night and I am already thinking of how to clean my lines before I fill it again.



I saw this post and I really want to build one of these. Just not sure the right size of keg posts. Does anyone know the exact size?



There are some pretty cheap ball lock posts on ebay I see. Probably not something I would actually use for a keg, but maybe good enough for a cleaner thing, as long as I got the correct size. Any input?



http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=ball+lock+post&_sop=15

It all depends on your keg. What type is your keg?

 

[kelvarnsen]

It all depends on your keg. What type is your keg?

Ball lock, but looking at the different options for posts, it seems there are a number of different sizes with respect to the threads (see the link above I posted). Anyone know which size is the right one for those pump bottles?

 

[Peruvian802]

I didn't read all 55 pages, but I have to admit that I don't understand the point. Your keg goes empty. Give it a good rinse. Wash it out with whatever your fave cleaner is, hook it back up to the kegerator and run cleaner through the lines and taps. Unhook the keg. Rinse the keg and leave some clear water in there. Hook the keg back up and rinse the lines & taps with the water. Done.

 

[SuckaMooHudda]

I have six lines and don't like to waste co2, so if for no other reason it at least saves on co2. Having a dedicated system just for cleaning lines is a lot easier and this is a cost-effective way to have that.

 

[day_trippr]

If you want to fit the cleaner together as originally described, you'd want something compatible with the A-176/LFA-176 fitting, and the closest liquid tank post thread is the Firestone at 5/8"-18...

Cheers!

 

[Hello]

I didn't read all 55 pages, but I have to admit that I don't understand the point. Your keg goes empty. Give it a good rinse. Wash it out with whatever your fave cleaner is, hook it back up to the kegerator and run cleaner through the lines and taps. Unhook the keg. Rinse the keg and leave some clear water in there. Hook the keg back up and rinse the lines & taps with the water. Done.

That is good and if you see no point in this contraption then I would never expect you to read past the first post. However, I assure you that this thing has been wonderful for me. I don't have to fill up my keg with water and run liquid through it. My kegs aren't exactly easy to get in and out of the keezer, so once I kick one, I throw this thing on the line, run my liquid through it and leave star san in the line until I put another keg on. It just works well and it was less than $21 for me to construct. They charge much more for these things at my LHBS.

Ball lock, but looking at the different options for posts, it seems there are a number of different sizes with respect to the threads (see the link above I posted). Anyone know which size is the right one for those pump bottles?

I see. I purchased Keg Post Assembly Liquid Type A from Northern Brewer for $13.99. I ordered other stuff and they were doing free shipping when I ordered, so it worked. That's what I am using today.

 

[NickG]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned. (huge thread)

Carbonation/line cleaning caps are well worth checking out. They are basically just carbonator caps but with a barb on the inside for adding a dip tube.

To use it you just fill the bottle halfway with cleaning solution, pressurise it like you would with a carbonator cap, then switch it over to the beer line connector and run it through the line. They are compatible with both grey and black type ball lock disconnects.

On a side note, they also work really well for filling growlers under counter pressure. You just pressurise the bottle, hook up a line from the keg and gradually unscrew the cap to let gas out and beer in, with practically zero foam.

Probably the most useful $15 I've ever spent on equipment.

 

[geniz]

This was the original ball lock liquid post I got at Brewmasters Warehouse. Apparently it's out of stock.

http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/product/0102273/ball-lock-liquid-post-assembly-firestone

 

[63belair]

That is good and if you see no point in this contraption then I would never expect you to read past the first post. However, I assure you that this thing has been wonderful for me. I don't have to fill up my keg with water and run liquid through it. My kegs aren't exactly easy to get in and out of the keezer, so once I kick one, I throw this thing on the line, run my liquid through it and leave star san in the line until I put another keg on. It just works well and it was less than $21 for me to construct. They charge much more for these things at my LHBS.

To add on, I find this device easier to use for these reasons and the fact that I don't have to worry about sealing my keg up perfectly to push cleaner through. Some of my keg lids don't sit as well as others, so they require a little playing to seal tight. If I used one of those to pump cleaner through, I'd either have to spend a lot longer cleaning the line, or blow a bunch of C02 out through the gap between the lid and the lip.

Filling C02 is a PITA in my area (damn welding shops have worse hours than banks! M-F 9-4) so anything simple I can do to make a tank last longer is worth it in my book.

 

[glutarded-chris]

NickG is correct! Missed this when I made a line cleaner with plastic carb caps and a special DIY line to switch from gas connector to liquid line connector. This is awesome, simple, inexpensive and negates all the previous discussion on this thread in my opinion.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Stai...ft-drink-PET-bottles-Homebrew/1773876108.html

Demonstration (beer line cleaning at the end of the video):
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQg8Qb3OS7U[/ame]

 

[kelvarnsen]

NickG is correct! Missed this when I made a line cleaner with plastic carb caps and a special DIY line to switch from gas connector to liquid line connector. This is awesome, simple, inexpensive and negates all the previous discussion on this thread in my opinion.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Stai...ft-drink-PET-bottles-Homebrew/1773876108.html

That thing looks cool, although my system as it stands is a picnic tap to a ball lock keg with all barbed connections. So I am not sure this would work. That is why I thought the pump thing in this thread with a ball lock connector on it would be idea. Unless anyone else has any other ideas?

 

[helibrewer]

NickG is correct! Missed this when I made a line cleaner with plastic carb caps and a special DIY line to switch from gas connector to liquid line connector. This is awesome, simple, inexpensive and negates all the previous discussion on this thread in my opinion.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Stai...ft-drink-PET-bottles-Homebrew/1773876108.html

Demonstration (beer line cleaning at the end of the video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQg8Qb3OS7U

Genius piece of gear for just $13, ordered one today

 

[A50SNAKE]

here is another seller....just wanted to give options:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Ball...rb-fit-soft-drink-PET-bottles/1774215362.html

 

[glutarded-chris]

Another option but essentially the same price as the other one has free shipping.

 

[A50SNAKE]

Another option but essentially the same price as the other one has free shipping.

ah yes, I didn't notice that at first as I just glanced while at work...I should learn...

 

[jbb3]

This was the original ball lock liquid post I got at Brewmasters Warehouse. Apparently it's out of stock.

http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/product/0102273/ball-lock-liquid-post-assembly-firestone

No surprise for Brewmasters Warehouse...

 

[Yambor44]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned. (huge thread)

Carbonation/line cleaning caps are well worth checking out. They are basically just carbonator caps but with a barb on the inside for adding a dip tube.

To use it you just fill the bottle halfway with cleaning solution, pressurise it like you would with a carbonator cap, then switch it over to the beer line connector and run it through the line. They are compatible with both grey and black type ball lock disconnects.

On a side note, they also work really well for filling growlers under counter pressure. You just pressurise the bottle, hook up a line from the keg and gradually unscrew the cap to let gas out and beer in, with practically zero foam.

Probably the most useful $15 I've ever spent on equipment.

Thanks for the heads up! Just watched the video glutarded-chris posted and ordered 3. So the thing fits a growler?

 

[J2W2]

I've been running a two tap kegerator for a couple of years, using an empty keg to flush hot water and then sanitizer through my lines. But like many others, I hate to waste the CO2 to do that. I'm working on a five tap keezer build, and was looking for a way to initially clean the lines when I came across this post. Great idea- just what I was looking for!

I thought I'd add my two cents worth - I only browsed through the 56 pages of this post, so apologies if this has been covered. I have pin lock kegs, which from the posts I'd read seem to be harder to get the right fittings for. All my liquid lines have FFL fittings on them, so I thought I'd go to Home Depot and see what I could find.

First off, it's great that they still sell the same sprayer ($6.87), almost four years after this post began! I took a FFL fitting with me, and talked to a guy in the plumbing department. He set me up two fittings - a 3/8 FIP x 1/4 FIP coupling ($2.98) and a 1/4 MIP x 1/4 MFL union ($3.40). So for just $13.25 (plus tax), one trip to Home Depot, and just three pieces, I have a sprayer that will attach to any FFL connection.

Thanks to geniz and everyone else that helped out with this post!

 

[geniz]

I've been running a two tap kegerator for a couple of years, using an empty keg to flush hot water and then sanitizer through my lines. But like many others, I hate to waste the CO2 to do that. I'm working on a five tap keezer build, and was looking for a way to initially clean the lines when I came across this post. Great idea- just what I was looking for!



I thought I'd add my two cents worth - I only browsed through the 56 pages of this post, so apologies if this has been covered. I have pin lock kegs, which from the posts I'd read seem to be harder to get the right fittings for. All my liquid lines have FFL fittings on them, so I thought I'd go to Home Depot and see what I could find.



First off, it's great that they still sell the same sprayer ($6.87), almost four years after this post began! I took a FFL fitting with me, and talked to a guy in the plumbing department. He set me up two fittings - a 3/8 FIP x 1/4 FIP coupling ($2.98) and a 1/4 MIP x 1/4 MFL union ($3.40). So for just $13.25 (plus tax), one trip to Home Depot, and just three pieces, I have a sprayer that will attach to any FFL connection.



Thanks to geniz and everyone else that helped out with this post!

That's an excellent variation to the original! I like the fact that you can screw the 1/4 FFL directly to the sprayer without any adapters. This can be used with either ball or pin lock systems with flare fittings.

 

[geniz]

Ive kind of been out of the loop for a while but I want to provide an update to this thread.
I was able to track down the manufacturer of my original liquid post.
Its an Eaton Hansen 2-KL-F fitting which has a 5/8-18 UNF thread.

You can get them on AmazonSupply:
http://www.amazonsupply.com/dp/B00F4L0MUI?ref_=sr_1_2_txt


Also it looks like you can get this with 1/4" FPT threads too!

Female:
http://www.amazonsupply.com/dp/B00F4L0PJ6?ref_=sr_1_5_txt

Male:
http://www.amazonsupply.com/dp/B00F4L0OFG?ref_=sr_1_4_txt

This opens up a whole new world of mounting gas and liquid lines to a bunch of stuff.

 

[phyllobeddo]

I finally completed this project today. Works great! I bought the sprayer and the adapter at Lowe's and ordered the Firestone ball lock post online. Great idea. Thanks.

 

[day_trippr]

[...]This opens up a whole new world of mounting gas and liquid lines to a bunch of stuff.

Handy looking fittings, but ss post adapters have been around for a long time. I have posts sprouting from all kinds of things in my brewery

Cheers!

 

[BlurryEyed]

What a fantastic thread, I read all 57 pages of it and people here sure are crafty!

I would like a better solution to line cleaning. I've got two ideas:

1) DIY Sprayer from this thread

2) Pond pump for recirculation from a bucket

The pond pumps are about $20 alone, so a little more dough, but I like the idea of just hooking it up, plugging it in, and letting the pump do all the work.

Anyone think of any pros/cons to these ideas?

 

[jbb3]

What a fantastic thread, I read all 57 pages of it ....

Hence your screen name??

 

[BlurryEyed]

Hence your screen name??

HA! That's too funny...

Anyone have experience with a pond pump for beer line cleaning?

 

[day_trippr]

Scrolling is hard...

Oh - there's one right there!

There's a bunch more for the finding...

Cheers!

 

[BlurryEyed]

Scrolling is hard...

Oh - there's one right there!

There's a bunch more for the finding...

Cheers!

Oh I didn't even look at harbor freight! Makes my decision a little bit easier now - pond pump!

You da man. Thanks-

 

[63belair]

Just thought of/experienced another benefit of this system over using a spare keg. Right now all my kegs are spoken for (either on tap or filled and ready to go). One of my lines was experiencing some residual watermelon flavor from the previous keg (which is now filled and carbonating with something else). Thanks to this handy little pump I was able to disconnect the line, fill it with cleaner, and then reconnect it and let it sit with the cleaner in the line. (all in about 5 minutes) If I used a spare keg to clean my lines, I would never have been able to do this so easily.

Not saying this is the only way, but it sure is a great way.