Ice, cooler, sump pump +Immersion cooler=quick chilling

[rtracer]

Probably well known but as a tip to noobs like myself since this is the beginners forum...

After my first brew I reflected on the process. The one thing that was killing me was the time and amount of water I wasted chilling my wort.(full boil)
The immersion cooler was quite efficient bringing the temps down from the 200 range to the 100 range but took quite some time from 100 to about 74 where I eventually pitched. I knew this was higher than optimal, but I just couldn't see wasting any more water. California:smack:

For my second brew, I grabbed my cooler, borrowed my brothers cheap sump pump and made up a recirculating, chilled cooling method.

It worked fantastic and likely saved 75% water loss.

Basically I hooked my chiller up to my garden hose and started the process. Once my wort was around 120* and the output water was luke warm, i diverted the output water to my cooler and started filling it up.
Once i had around 7 inches water in the cooler I turned off the hose, attached the chiller input line to the sump pump, loaded the cooler with ice and as many of the frozen cooler things from the freezer and turned on the pump. I was easily able to get my wort down to 67* before pitching and saves A LOT of water.

ANyways, thought this was an opportunity to give some info vs. my standard taking

 

[Staticsouls]

I do the whole process recirculating by throwing frozen reusable water bags into a 40 gallon drum. The bags were purchased from the $1 store. Once im done i pull the bags of water out and refreeze them, and leave the water that is recirculated in the barrel.

 

[Murphys_Law]

I bought a cheap pond pump, a short roll of copper for a second IC in the cooler and old soda bottles frozen. Works ok as long as you don't start the recirc too soon!

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

I put my BK in my kitchen sink with some frozen milk jugs and bagged ice in the water. I put an old Rule bilge pump in the sink and circulate ice water through the IC (homemade with 3/8" copper) and back into the sink. As the ice melts, I siphon some water off and add more ice. With stirring, I go from 212 to 65 in 15-20 min and use about 5 gal of water.

 

[Joe61]

I do the whole process recirculating by throwing frozen reusable water bags into a 40 gallon drum. The bags were purchased from the $1 store. Once im done i pull the bags of water out and refreeze them, and leave the water that is recirculated in the barrel.

I like that idea. I have been using an even cheaper version.

We had a case of old cheap bottled water from some event. No one was ever going to drink it. I opened the bottles and emptied a few ounces. Then stuck the bottles in my freezer. I keep reusing them. I originally tried ziplock bags filled with water - that didn't work out too well.

Would probably be better off with the packs from the Dollar store. Thanks for the idea.

 

[PADave]

Exactly my method. I have access to all the free ice I want, so I usually use a full cooler of ice water. Made my own chiller from a roll of 3/8" copper tube, a small pond fountain pump and some tubing.

Another tip is to use the initial hot water that comes out of the chiller for equipment clean up.

 

[Murphys_Law]

Exactly my method. I have access to all the free ice I want, so I usually use a full cooler of ice water. Made my own chiller from a roll of 3/8" copper tube, a small pond fountain pump and some tubing.

Another tip is to use the initial hot water that comes out of the chiller for equipment clean up.

Good idea re hot water. I am going to fill a bucket for cleanup. I usually just water the roses.

 

[balrog]

The first hot water out of chiller is awesome cleanup water, I highly recommend it. When you try saving all your chiller water you'll be amazed at the QTY you actually use to chill so any recirc helps save water.

 

[Kampenken]

The first hot water out of chiller is awesome cleanup water, I highly recommend it. When you try saving all your chiller water you'll be amazed at the QTY you actually use to chill so any recirc helps save water.

Precisely! "Free" hot water for cleanup (good 5g) and rest for watering needs, or your washing machine. I bought the Grainfather so no longer an IC but now a CFC. I was surprised how the cooling out water is ~80 or less. No more hot "free" water for cleanup, damn!