Immersion Chiller users...

[Stevorino]

When do you put in your Immersion Chiller?

I usually put mine in around 15 minutes left...but the problem is that the boil will stop when I drop it in and take about 3-4 minutes to kick up again. Any solutions?

 

[Irie5447]

I drop mine in with 20 min. left just to be safe. I have heard both 15 and 20 but feel safer with 20 min. left. I don't think it really matters that it drops the temp for a few minutes, no big deal. Nothing to worry about.

 

[TerapinChef]

I leave mine in for the whole boil. I use a dip tube in my keggle, and I just slide it between coils and adjust the tube from there. It stays in for the whole time.

 

[Q2XL]

15 minutes for me.

 

[Beerrific]

Any solutions?

Extend your boil for 3-4 minutes. I have also found that turning the flame up a bit like 5 minutes before adding the chiller will cut that 'lag' down to practically nothing.

 

[Jersh]

I don't know if this would make a noticeable difference, but might it help to run HOT water through the chiller before you drop it in? Obviously won't get it anywhere close to boiling temp, but it will raise the temp of the copper somewhat... Surely couldn't hurt anything.

 

[nostalgia]

Mine goes in at flameout. At anyhwere from 15-5 minutes I put the chiller in my Starsan bucket. At flameout I drop it in the kettle. As a bonus, the Starsan cleans up any oxidation on the copper and makes it shiny

-Joe

 

[JMG680]

Mine goes in at flameout. At anyhwere from 15-5 minutes I put the chiller in my Starsan bucket. At flameout I drop it in the kettle. As a bonus, the Starsan cleans up any oxidation on the copper and makes it shiny

-Joe

+1

This is what I do, I am also looking into a pump so I can put ice water through the chiller, Any good places y'all would get it from.

 

[Benjibbad]

you can get a cheap pond pump from lowes or home despot for about 20 dollars, or if you are suport cheap you can get a drill pump for about 6.

 

[Jersh]

you can get a cheap pond pump from lowes or home despot for about 20 dollars, or if you are suport cheap you can get a drill pump for about 6.

SWAMPer!

I saw your username and recognized it from my days on the SWAMP forums, I don't make it on there very often anymore now that I live in the DC area, but I still rock the sticker on my car.

And thanks for the info, I was wondering where I could get a pump, I need to pick one up before I brew my next batch.

 

[Benjibbad]

damn right SWAMPer!! Nothing beats beer and bikes. I am going to try and make something for the fat tire you going to be down??

 

[DeafSmith]

When do you put in your Immersion Chiller?

I usually put mine in around 15 minutes left...but the problem is that the boil will stop when I drop it in and take about 3-4 minutes to kick up again. Any solutions?

It sounds to me like you might have water in your chiller when you drop it in. If you can make sure it is completely dry beforehand, I'll bet it doesn't stop the boil for that long. If you are hooking up all the hoses before dropping it in, be sure that the tap isn't leaking.

 

[Scut_Monkey]

I don't know if this would make a noticeable difference, but might it help to run HOT water through the chiller before you drop it in? Obviously won't get it anywhere close to boiling temp, but it will raise the temp of the copper somewhat... Surely couldn't hurt anything.

I don't think this would necessarily help as I would think most of us put our IC in containing air and not water. To preheat the copper with hot water might raise the temp of the copper but it takes a much shorter time to heat air within an IC than to heat say 130F Hot tap water you just put in it.

I add mine at 15 minutes. I don't worry too much about the loss of a rolling boil for 3 minutes or so because the hop isomerization is still taking place even at these high temps even though not boiling.

 

[Irie5447]

seriously RDWHAHB! You are being way to critical about nothing! People boil their wort with all different burners that have all differnt BTU outputs! Some people think a boil is a light simmer while others have huge rolling boils. So u will never be able to notice anything different in taste in a slightly lower temperature difference in the boil for a few minutes!

 

[rsmith179]

I personally throw my IC in with 15 minutes to go in the boil. There may be some loss of heat due to the cooler IC, but nothing I worry about. Sometimes I bump up the heat, sometimes I don't.

I have also added the IC at flameout a few times as well. Although I don't think that is optimal, my batches turned out just fine.

 

[Yankeehillbrewer]

I fill mine with cold water and drop it in at Flame out. Any nasties on there are gonna get zapped immediately.

 

[martinworswick]

leave it sat in your hot water kettle until you need it, then transfer it, that should keep it warm, if it really matters that is

 

[Killer_Robot]

Last time I just soaked mine in sanitizer for a few minutes then dropped it in at flameout.

 

[AirRageous]

+1

This is what I do, I am also looking into a pump so I can put ice water through the chiller, Any good places y'all would get it from.

Harbor Freight rocks. You can get twice the pump for the money at HF than at HD or Lowe's.

 

[BA_from_GA]

I fill mine with cold water and drop it in at Flame out. Any nasties on there are gonna get zapped immediately.

me too... never had any problems.

 

[menschmaschine]

They can be put in at flame-out. The whole purpose is to sanitize it. At 200+°F, that happens within seconds.

 

[sharpstick]

Harbor Freight rocks. You can get twice the pump for the money at HF than at HD or Lowe's.

and half the quality. i shop HF, but am careful what i get there.
if the chinese junk pump dies during your brew, you end up trying desperately to salvage your beer, and then paying more for a pump that works.
so what is the total cost of that bargain?