Need cleaning tips for 50' SS IC

[rizziot]

why not just recirculate: kettle ball valve - pump - top of kettle - repeat?

 

[ILMSTMF]

why not just recirculate: kettle ball valve - pump - top of kettle - repeat?

I guess I didn't overthink that one yet... Let's do it! lol

• IC in BK
• warm water to get above top IC coil
• add Oxi (my preference)
• 1/3 HP pump in BK?
• I need to figure out a hose and connection to run from the outlet at top of pump, over the BK rim, back down to connect to the exterior of ball valve
• open ball valve
• turn on pump

Really, only the ball valve is getting cleaned. Would be nice to incorporate a CIP but... I don't know how. My BK lid doesn't have a port.

 

[IslandLizard]

Would be nice to incorporate a CIP

Yes, drop your keg washer into the kettle. Can it fit inside the stainless coil?

If you can stick that spray ball on a short tube so it reaches up to about 2/3 of the kettle height, you got yourself a CIP. Stick the lid on and pull a bungee over it.
Use one of the washer's side ports to clean the exit valve.

Not sure what to do with the power cord though. Maybe through one of the chiller cutouts in the lid if you have those?

 

[ILMSTMF]

Yes, drop your keg washer into the kettle. Can it fit inside the stainless coil?

Not sure, haven't built it yet! lol Hoping for the best, we'll see.

If you can stick that spray ball on a short tube so it reaches up to about 2/3 of the kettle height, you got yourself a CIP. Stick the lid on and pull a bungee over it.
Use one of the washer's side ports to clean the exit valve.

That'll be a small center riser; we'll have enough pipe to make that. Easily.
About that ball valve though... that'll require some more thought.

Not sure what to do with the power cord though. Maybe through one of the chiller cutouts in the lid if you have those?

I had the same thought about the power cord ugh. The BK lid is solid, no ports. But that's not stopping me from getting some other kind of lid to put on top of the BK! Not really sure how that solves any of the issues we're talking about though...

 

[day_trippr]

The problem with the spray ball concept is unlike the inside of a kettle an IC has both inside and outside surfaces to clean.
I don't see that being a reliable solution...

Cheers!

 

[ILMSTMF]

The problem with the spray ball concept is unlike the inside of a kettle an IC has both inside and outside surfaces to clean.
I don't see that being a reliable solution...

Cheers!

With respect... I have never thought to clean the interior of my IC coils as I don't see how that's even necessary.
Mold growth you say? Perhaps. I give a pretty good effort to drain her after each cleaning. But the important point to my position on this - the wort doesn't come in contact with the interior coil walls.
Am I missing something? Thanks.

 

[day_trippr]

Yeah, I knew that could be confusing. My bad. Let me try to fix it

So, spray balls are great for blasting away at a "flat surface" like a kettle wall, or a keg interior, or a carboy or a bucket.
But, an IC is a three dimensional thing. It has thickness - an "inside" and an "outside" that both need to be cleaned.
A spray ball placed at the inside of the coil stack may well scour debris that the spray can strike, but it isn't going to lay any force down on the outside of the coil stack...

Cheers!

 

[Deadalus]

Yeah, I knew that could be confusing. My bad. Let me try to fix it

So, spray balls are great for blasting away at a "flat surface" like a kettle wall, or a keg interior, or a carboy or a bucket.
But, an IC is a three dimensional thing. It has thickness - an "inside" and an "outside" that both need to be cleaned.
A spray ball placed at the inside of the coil stack may well scour debris that the spray can strike, but it isn't going to lay any force down on the outside of the coil stack...

Cheers!

Rainshadow.

 

[rizziot]

back to the brush & some elbow grease!

 

[ILMSTMF]

Finally got around to improving my process. Between this from @Deadalus and the recommendation from my dude The @IslandLizard , I employed a toilet brush. I had been using it to scrub out the initial grit in a keg. WOW did she do a good job on the hot break caked on to the BK wall! Then I used it on the IC, of course. Scrubbing around the coils, down & up. Much better than using the scrubby side of a small sponge.

For folks that are going to use this magical cleaning brush, please make sure you buy a new one for brew parts cleaning use only. LOL