How/where do you store your Immersion Chiller?

[cubalz]

I clean and dry it after use and store it in a box. 15 minutes before flame out, I will put it in the boil to sanitize it.

 

[mongoose33]

I also store mine in the boil kettle, having a custom lid to accommodate the chiller makes this an ideal storage location.
I don't bother with the 15 minute boil of the chiller, its in the boil for less than 3 minutes before flameout.
I also don't boil my starter. I do pressure can it though, so I guess that counts.

So long as at least one end of the chiller is open to atmosphere to allow expansion of freezing liquid, is this necessary?

What happens if the initial freezing happens toward the open end, plugging it?

Unless you have very mild freezing temps, you're taking a risk with freezing it. If you don't plan on brewing during those months, invert it and run CO2 or compressed air through it to drive out the water, and then you're good to go.

 

[tll77]

Oh, I always empty my chiller before I store it, even though I'm not at all worried about freezing(I'm in LA).
I grew up not too far from where your at, so I know all too well the damage that can be done when pipes burst due to freezing.
Water expands approximately 9% at freezing temps.

What happens if the initial freezing happens toward the open end, plugging it?

I'm certainly not advocating that anyone living in a climate where temps drop below freezing leave their chiller full, but to this quote, I am picturing an ice cube tray in the freezer(or the bucket of water left outside) it tends to freeze on top first with liquid still underneath, but I've never seen it bust out of the bottom.

 

[mongoose33]

Oh, I always empty my chiller before I store it, even though I'm not at all worried about freezing(I'm in LA).
I grew up not too far from where your at, so I know all too well the damage that can be done when pipes burst due to freezing.
Water expands approximately 9% at freezing temps.

I'm certainly not advocating that anyone living in a climate where temps drop below freezing leave their chiller full, but to this quote, I am picturing an ice cube tray in the freezer(or the bucket of water left outside) it tends to freeze on top first with liquid still underneath, but I've never seen it bust out of the bottom.

An ice-cube tray is open to the top, so is a bucket. They're also tapered so any squeezing of the tray would relieve upward. By implication, if a chiller were full of water, it would have to expand all the length inside the chiller before at the last moment, freezing. Very unlikely that would happen.

There are enough stories about people with busted open chillers to know that it's an issue.

 

[brewcat]

In my HLT or mash tun.