How do you clean your element?

[Garrett]

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Try this:
Line the bottom of the pot with plastic or plastic wrap. Liberally spray the
element with extra stong oven cleaner (might want to wear a respirator).

Fold the plastic wrap up over and tight against the element. Let sit for 24-hours. Remove plastic wrap, scrub while remaining oven cleaner is still coating element. Rinse, repeat as necessary.

I will give that a whirl, just to see what happens even though i bought a new element.

Okay, here's my BK element after a scotch brite/BKF post-boil scrub. It's shiny copper with about 1 minute scrubbing. This is a 4500W element usually run wide open for a 10gallon batch:

crazy i have definitely tried that and not even close to getting clean!

 

[lschiavo]

I will give that a whirl, just to see what happens even though i bought a new element.



crazy i have definitely tried that and not even close to getting clean!

That was todays brew...so there is something different between our systems. I wish I knew what it was. It seems I got the better end of this stick. I'm happy for me but sad for you. There is a reason...I'm racking(damaging) my brain trying to figure it out...someone out there will solve this...I hope...

 

[DustBow]

Could it have anything to do with him running the element and boiling during the Pbw soak? Just thinking out loud here...anyone else do that?

 

[lschiavo]

Could it have anything to do with him running the element and boiling during the Pbw soak? Just thinking out loud here...anyone else do that?

Well, I never soak my BK in anything. After the boil, I just scrub it clean...no heat applied to the element..after the boil. Maybe he's baking it on before scrubbing it off????

 

[Vebra]

I use a magic eraser to clean mine right after brewing. Any gunk comes right off and cleans it perfectly. I have never had any negative effects on the element from it and have used the same element for 3 years now.

 

[DustBow]

Well, I never soak my BK in anything. After the boil, I just scrub it clean...no heat applied to the element..after the boil. Maybe he's baking it on before scrubbing it off????

Yeah, with all the bubbles created from the boiling combined with the pbw/oxy "reaction bubbles", I wonder if it does more harm than good to actually run the element once the cleaning agent is added...

 

[Garrett]

Well, I tried everything and still could not clean the element fully. I bought the camco element kal suggests on his site. Installed yesterday and did a full 5 gallon brew. Went very smooth and the element cleaned so easily just wiped everything off.

 

[stevehaun]

Did you have problems with your other element right away or did it take several batches?

 

[Garrett]

Did you have problems with your other element right away or did it take several batches?

it took a couple batches and it was actually the 2nd element of its kind that i was on. number one problem i discovered was that if you did not use a bag for hops, whole spices or any other large additions it caked on much quicker.

 

[stevehaun]

Reason I ask is that I have been using incoloy elements but have purchased two of the stainless elements that you have had trouble with. I have had problems with incoloy elements but only if I do not completely clean them off between batches. Thinking about returning the stainless elements...

 

[Garrett]

Reason I ask is that I have been using incoloy elements but have purchased two of the stainless elements that you have had trouble with. I have had problems with incoloy elements but only if I do not completely clean them off between batches. Thinking about returning the stainless elements...

Id clean before and after every brew and would still have the issue.

this is the element i have had many issues with:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_26367-135-6910474_4294856716__?productId=3133511&Ns=p_product_price%7C0&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_price%7C0&facetInfo=


i bought this and had a great session:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BPG4LI?ie=UTF8&tag=theelectricbrewery-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000BPG4LI

 

[stevehaun]

I have two of the whirlpool elements as back up. I have used the Camco elements and have had problems with baked on build up if they are not cleaned well between each batch.