EK Build - Does it matter if O-Rings are silicone?

[jrc]

I am putting together my parts list for a DIY electric kettle (weldless), and noticed that some people talk about using silicone o-rings on both sides of the heating element (inside and outside the kettle). Is there any benefit to using silicone over a regular o-ring (rubber, etc.) that you can pick up at any hardware store? We have a Grainger distribution center here in Indy where I could get silicone o-rings, but they are pretty pricey compared to what you can pick up at an ace or lowes, and getting to their store during business hours may be tough with my job. I was hoping to build (and use!) the EK this weekend, but would likely have to push it back a week to either make time to go to Grainger or order them online. However, I'd be willing to wait if silicone is going to drastically affect the quality of the seal, life of the rings, or ensure the o-ring does not impart any odd flavors to the beer (like rubber might?).

Any thoughts on this?

 

[android]

i THINK you can use the ring that is provided with the heating element and a 1" stainless nut, can you not? i don't think you have to use a silicone one for the heating element... not 100% sure tho.

 

[jrc]

That's the sense I get from other threads and posts, but I was hoping someone had a definitive "need them, don't need them" answer. My main concern is spending the money on brewing an IIPA, and then looking forward to it for weeks, only to find the flavor was tainted by using rubber o-rings.

 

[Cliff897]

i THINK you can use the ring that is provided with the heating element and a 1" stainless nut, can you not? i don't think you have to use a silicone one for the heating element... not 100% sure tho.

Yup. the factory seal is good where they intended it. It's rated for the element and not in contact with your food.

 

[david_42]

My biggest concern is that water-heaters don't normally run much over 140F, so rubber o-rings aren't a big deal.

I doubt the rubber will impact the flavor of your beer. My old kettle has a weldless fitting with rubber o-rings.

 

[sjlammer]

I was wondering the same thing. Buna-N rubber O-rings are rated for 250 degrees. why do we need silicone? needed to get my system up and running, so i used buna-N rings for the HLT and MLT, and just did not install the BK temp probe.

 

[Cliff897]

Buna-N rubber O-rings are rated for 250 degrees.

Yup and food safe too.
Old established technology that has a goziggazillion hours of proven duty hours.

why do we need silicone?

Because they look cool and feel like rocket science.

 

[jrc]

Any idea if buna-n rings are generally available locally (hardware store, lowes/HD/menards)? I see where I can order them online (and for less than the silicone o-rings), but that leaves me in the same wait-until-next-weekend-to-brew position. If others have not had problems with plain old rubber o-rings, maybe I could just make do for the weekend with those and switch them out with an online order when it comes in.

If the heat resistance/failure issue is the most important though, I guess I should check to see if regular o-rings in the store are rated to a certain temperature. Especially considering I was planning on using a 5500w element, which would subject the o-ring to higher levels of heat than smaller sizes when heating up.

Before I started working on this electric kettle, I never would have guessed I would spend this much time researching and agonizing over different kinds of o-rings!

 

[Cliff897]

Any idea if buna-n rings are generally available locally (hardware store, lowes/HD/menards)?

Yipper. Buna N is the standard carbon black O ring you see every-freakin-where. It's the only thing the Borgs sell because it is the standard go to material for nearly every non specialty application.

 

[addis29]

My heating elements only the use the o-ring that came with them on the outside of the kettle, no o-ring on inside of kettle just a half coupler to snug it tight.