Hardware Store Vinyl Tubing for Boiling Wort

[ryandlf]

I have done some research on using hardware store tubing as opposed to the $2 per foot high grade stuff from the LHBS. Lowes states that their Watts vinyl tubing is food grade and Watts states the tubing can accept temps up to 175. I plan on using this tubing at the end of the boil to whirlpool while my submersion chiller does its thing. So the temps will be above 175 for maybe...2 minutes give or take. Is this going to cause any problems?

Here is a PDF from Watts on their vinyl tubing:
http://media.wattswater.com/ES-ClearVinyltubing.pdf

Is braided tubing different? Because I know the hardware store sells that stuff too.

 

[kpr121]

Why not wait 5 minutes before starting the whirlpool? I don't think anyone can guarantee that the vinyl wont melt or leach nasties into the beer.

 

[hamiltont]

IMO I'd go with tubing rated for the job. We're only talking a couple bucks here. Cheers!!!

 

[ryandlf]

I know I know...honestly its more because I want to use my new system right away rather than wait another week for a shipment with brewers tubing to come in.

 

[shortyjacobs]

When I made soda water for SWMBO during her pregnancy, I decided to boil first to make sure all nasties were gone. Then I figured, "I'll just transfer the hot water to the keg, and let it cool there...". I tried this with cheapo lowes vinyl tubing first. There was a STRONG plastic smell as the water transferred, and once cooled the water had a real bad taste and smell, very plastic like.

Do yourself a favor and use real high temp rated silicone tubing.

 

[PaulTheGhost]

I got 3 feet of food/high heat-grade silicone tubing from mcmaster-carr (online) for 9 bucks with 3 day ups shipping.

I don't regret it at all.

 

[kanzimonson]

Yeah, I HIGHLY recommend the silicone tubing or something similar for all the reasons listed above, plus these two reasons:

-It always seems you want to move your tubes around when there's boiling wort flowing through them. The silicone won't burn your hand.
-The silicone is less likely to kink.

On that last note, make sure your whirlpool system is set up so that hoses can easily drape downwards without kinking.

 

[joety]

If you do let your silicone tubing accidentally kink for periods of time, does it have a memory issue?

 

[PaulTheGhost]

Not from my experience.
Also they advertise no memory issues i.e. being able to stretch it three times its length and have it always return to normal (for instance, using it as a tourniquet).