TANSTAAFB
Well-Known Member
they use the little pumps a lot in england and australia and have been for quite awhile and i haven't heard of anyone getting sick, or complaints of bad tasting beer. What exactly is "food safe"? In brewing forums that term is like "healthy" and "low fat" elsewhere in discussions. Are the big name pumps we use for brewing made for home brewing? Not actually, they are adaptations of chemicals pumps hence why they can withstand high temp and being magnetically coupled keeps high temps and chemicals away from motor seals.
Many homes have galvanized water pipes but we won't use them in brewing. Most of frown on aluminum but go into any commercial kitchen and they are used for everything including acidic foods. Most brass contains some lead but we use it in home brewing without saying a word. Pvc pipe has chemicals that can leach into water/beer at higher than rated temps but we use it in mash tun manifolds without a huge debate. The last time you ordered a beer did you ask if the tap and faucet shank were stainless or chrome plated brass? Our food comes in coated tin cans but god we won't use anything like that in brewing. There is silicone sealant that is "fda approved" but don't think i'd put it on my breakfast cereal. How safe is styrofoam? We drink hot coffee out of cups made of it. It's a debate that will go on forever but is stupid if you ask me. How many home brewers use nothing but 304 or 316 stainless throughout the brewing process including hard piped with no hoses? Food safe means it won't make you sick under normal use and or contact plain and simple. Does it mean it won't add off flavors? Nope. Does it mean it won't cause cancer at some point, who knows. Only true pump that is truly food safe, high temp resistant is a lab style peristaltic pump. Wort never touches anything but inside the silicone or tygon hose.
March and chugger pumps are great, i use one myself but they can be out of reach for some financially and if these 12v pumps work and don't affect the taste of your beer then why not? Just recirculating from drain to top of kettle then do you really need a $160 pump plus fittings? One thing these little 12v pumps do have over any other pump is they are actually quiet!!! I'm considering trying one just for that reason as i brew in an apartment and i'm sure my neighbors would appreciate a quieter wort recirculating pump during a 90 minute mash.
Prost!