I've never had an infection, plz help confirm. TIA

[WesBrew]

leak in the fermenter coil perhaps? Maybe worth checking the level and condition of the fluid, since you’ve pretty much gone through everything else.

 

[rizziot]

leak in the fermenter coil perhaps?

that's an interesting thought, i will have to look at that. Thanks!

 

[WesBrew]

that's an interesting thought, i will have to look at that. Thanks!

I was just thinking, I’d dropped something in my chiller reservoir last year , checked it months later and found a bunch of rust and gunge in there. If there had been a pin hole leak in the coil….

 

[ncbrewer]

what do you think about the dehumidifier, is that reaching too far?

I made a blind for the heat register near my brewing in case it's bringing any microbes where they shouldn't be. I blind it when brewing, then remove it later. Probably anything like that could be suspect.

 

[BrewZer]

what do you think about the dehumidifier, is that reaching too far?

That's actually a very viable source... dehumidifiers condense moisture on the chiller coils, which stay wet for long periods. If the condensate drains into a tank, that could be a virtual scum factory, even if you have it draining thru a hose to a floor drain. Open that case and look around for mold/mildew in the coils, the condenser, the catch bin or the box around them.

I'd try unplugging it during your next brew so even the fan can't kick in.

 

[mashdar]

My $0.02

1. I'm super willing to throw out any plastic/rubber I think may be harboring baddies. With a confirmed stubborn repeat infection, I would probably replace all of the gaskets. (I'd consider autoclaving if they're silicone.)
2. You can do a deep clean, and then do a no-boil extract batch* to see if the fermenter is a source. (Note that an established bug could be in more than one spot.) But slowly adding gear would help narrow it down. You can skip the chiller and let it cool under light CO2 pressure in the fermenter. Try a carboy one time. Etc.
3. How fast does flavor come on? If innoculant is a few spores, it would probably take a while to set in. But if it's direct contact with infected gear, it could be a day or two.

*Morebeer just started selling no-boil "flash brewing" kits. If this gunk wrecks one, at least you didn't work too hard on it.