hydrometer broken in sanatizer...did realize

[TravisF]

Hi Everyone,

I had a bucket of StarSan that I had a hydrometer in (the glass kind that looks like it has leadshot and wax at the bottom)

It appears that I sat my wort chiller on top of it and broke it with out noticing.

When it came time to chill the wort I grabbed the chiller and put it into the wort.

After it was chilled, I pored the wort through a strainer into an Ale Pale.

Went to grab the hydrometer and realized what I had done.

Questions:
1. Did I contaminant my wort with something nasty by using the sanitizer with a broken hydrometer in it?
2. What do you suspect the odds are that I carried some form of contaminate (glass or goo) on the chiller and then into the wort?

Most importantly, Is there a safety concern here or am I worrying about nothing?

Do I need to dump it or is it safe to drink?

Thanks for your thoughts!

T.

 

[day_trippr]

I've never seen a hydrometer that used mercury for the thermometer within (if it had a thermometer within in the first place) - they all seem to use alcohol. Unless yours was the exception to that belief, I don't think there's anything chemical to worry about.

As for the rest, if any glass bits or some of the shot made it into the fermenter they'll all end up on the bottom, which careful racking should easily avoid.

Bottom line, I think you're going to be ok...

Cheers!

 

[peter78]

I know you might not like this but what's more important, your health or a batch of beer? Would you have a peace of mind drinking it or sharing with friends?

 

[kilted_brews]

Well, at least you broke yours in the sanitizer rather than in your freshly chilled wort (which seems to be a popular place to break hydrometers). I'd say that your risk of infection from the broken hydrometer is pretty low. As for glass, since you poured your wort into the fermentation vessel through a strainer, that should have caught any large shards. IF you accidentally got some small piece of glass past the strainer and into the ale pale, it should settle to the bottom once fermentation has calmed down. Think about using a secondary with this batch and take care when while racking so that you don't disturb the sediment at the bottom of the bucket. You and your beer should be fine.

 

[SledgeH]

Several people break theirs IN the primary fermentor. You've got nothing to worry about. They are not made of lead or mercury, the glass settles to the bottom. Do not dump this. My parents live in Fishers. If you are going to get rid of this I'll have them pick it up! I'd have no problem drinking it!

 

[TravisF]

I appreciate everyone weighing in. Thank you.

I'm going to let it ferment out. It's my first allgrain batch, so I want to see how it turns out.

If people are breaking their hydrometers IN the primary and they are okay, I suspect that I'll be okay since any contamination would pale in comparison.

I've got a few weeks to go back and forth before it's done to decide if it's worth trying to kill myself

 

[jcaudill]

Some do have mercury. But it would have to be an older one - early-mid 2000's I think everything converted over? Easy way to tell is what color is the temperature liquid - if it's red it's alcohol, if it's silver it's mercury. And yes - I have used a hydrometer with mercury so I know they exist

 

[AnOldUR]

hydrometer broken in sanatizer...did realize.

But I have to ask, why was your hydrometer in sanitizer?

Only two things I could think of. Your pouring you sample back into the wort or your putting your hydrometer directly in the fermenter. Niether of which is a great idea.

 

[henrybeggs]

But I have to ask, why was your hydrometer in sanitizer?

Only two things I could think of. Your pouring you sample back into the wort or your putting your hydrometer directly in the fermenter. Niether of which is a great idea.

I'm sure he was sanitizing it of course
Before I use anything I sanitize it in my bucket, tubing, thermometer. Hydrometer, spoon, etc.

 

[PKLehmer]

I'm sure he was sanitizing it of course
Before I use anything I sanitize it in my bucket, tubing, thermometer. Hydrometer, spoon, etc.

Yeah but I think the question is "why" was the hydrometer being sanitized? I think most people measure gravity in a non sanitized container with a non sanitized hydrometer. Personally I usually taste my sample after measuring so I would never put the wort back in the fermenter, therefore, no reason why any of it needs to be sanitized. I agree, putting hydrometer in the wort, or putting sample back in the wort, neither is a good idea.

 

[jcaudill]

I didn't even think about that but ya your right! No need to sanitize a hydrometer because you shouldn't be dropping it
directly into wort. You should always use a sample jar.

I put pre-boil readings back because it's going to be boiled but never a post-boil.

 

[TravisF]

But I have to ask, why was your hydrometer in sanitizer?

Only two things I could think of. Your pouring you sample back into the wort or your putting your hydrometer directly in the fermenter. Niether of which is a great idea.

Third thing you didn't think of: I sanitize everything except the boil pot.

You're right though...I guess there really isn't any reason to. I pull samples with a sanitized thief and then dump the sample, so the hydro really wouldn't need to be sanitized.

 

[TravisF]

Some do have mercury. But it would have to be an older one - early-mid 2000's I think everything converted over? Easy way to tell is what color is the temperature liquid - if it's red it's alcohol, if it's silver it's mercury. And yes - I have used a hydrometer with mercury so I know they exist

Mine didn't have a thermometer in it. Just the waxy stuff and the lead shot looking stuff.

 

[jcaudill]

Ya - no need to sanitize either. Brew days are already hard enough don't make them harder on yourself!!