First time using IC

[pat3rol]

I just finished assembling my IC. I know I have to put it into the wort for the last 15 minutes, but is there anything else I should do to prepare it for its first use?

 

[kapbrew13]

I forgot to put it in boil with 5 minutes left, so I starsaned it and boiled it for 5 minutes. No off flavors or infections.

 

[Daybis]

I would rinse it off, but other than that, it's good to go.

 

[BendBrewer]

Yeah, I always did the star san treatment. Just didn't like the looks of that thing boiling away in my beer if I could avoid it and it did have some non-metal parts that you have to consider.

I would check for leaks before first use and tighten those clamps every now and then.

 

[FrewBrew]

Id give it a test run first to make sure there's no leaks.

 

[kapbrew13]

Id give it a test run first to make sure there's no leaks.

No leaking in your unfinished beer.

 

[DunklesWeissbier]

I did a test run with mine. Boiled in 2.5 gallons water with a cup of white vinegar (read the vinegar part on here someplace) for 15 min and then used the IC to cool it down. Cleaned the copper up nicely.

 

[pat3rol]

It's not pretty but it's clean and ready to go into some wort in about 30 minutes

 

[kapbrew13]

It's not pretty but it's clean and ready to go into some wort in about 30 minutes

All that matters is that it works. Good luck.

 

[Krrazy]

Id give it a test run first to make sure there's no leaks.

I'd second that -- I'd also reccomend you test it out in the same configuration you will use when brewing. I tested my IC by itself and found that it was fine but then on brew day I used a different garden hose and had a leak at the input to the IC. The test run will also let you make sure all of your hoses and and buckets and everything are long enough and going to the right places (if you're using them).

 

[gr8shandini]

I may be tempting fate, but I normally just put mine in at flameout so I can get a decent reading of what my end volume was. By the time I hook it up and it starts doing its thing, it probably spends at least 5 minutes above 180F. That should be hot enough to kill just about anything on it.

Not saying it's a bad idea to put it in early, but if you ever forget, I wouldn't panic.

 

[kapbrew13]

I may be tempting fate, but I normally just put mine in at flameout so I can get a decent reading of what my end volume was. By the time I hook it up and it starts doing its thing, it probably spends at least 5 minutes above 180F. That should be hot enough to kill just about anything on it.

Not saying it's a bad idea to put it in early, but if you ever forget, I wouldn't panic.

Starsan to the rescue!