Possible mold in my kegerator

[trapae]

I haven’t opened my kegerator in months and when I just opened it to take out some empty kegs to clean them, there was this Kind of powdery white residue on a lot of the surfaces, including the tubing in my ball locks. When I wipe it off, it looks a little reddish on the paper towel. Wondering if I somehow got a mold infestation. It is always a little moist in there. haven’t had any trouble with my beer. Any opinions? I’m thinking I need to turn it off dry it out. Change all of the tubings and spray it with something that will kill the mold? Has anyone had this happen? Thanks.

 

[day_trippr]

Well that ain't good

For a start at remediation, I'd remove everything from inside the kegerator, toss the tubing, dunk all the fittings in a 2000 ppm disinfecting bleach solution with the prescribed minimum contact time, and wet-wipe the interior surfaces and the keg exteriors with the same solution.

Leave it open (and turned off, obviously) to air dry completely, then don't turn it back on until you're ready to actually use it again...

Good luck!

 

[trapae]

I talked to the representative at beverage factory and he said he seen this before with kegerators that have aluminum internals. He said the aluminum corrodes into white powder and then gets recirculated. Probably that instead of mold. still not good.

 

[day_trippr]

Is there bare aluminum inside the fridge? All of mine have plastic liners in the food compartments...

Cheers!

 

[odie]

I would expect black if it was mold

 

[trapae]

Is there bare aluminum inside the fridge? All of mine have plastic liners in the food compartments...

Cheers!

Yep, the entire inside is aluminum

 

[day_trippr]

Ah, well, in that case, I suppose it could be aluminum oxide, but I have to say I'm quite surprised anyway.

As for "expectations", mold in domestic settings comes in nearly every color imaginable...

Cheers!

 

[Slim M]

You might add yourself a small Fan for air circulation like a muffin fan. Air circulation always seems to help with that kind of thing. Keep in mind if the interior is aluminum and you’re spraying a corrosive type cleaner around there it’s going to cause some oxidation issues on the aluminum that would be white.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

I keep one of these hanging in my kegerator and keezer:

 

[Slim M]

I keep one of these hanging in my kegerator and keezer:

View attachment 873347

Interesting. How long does it last you?

 

[Closet Fermenter]

Interesting. How long does it last you?

It really varies. I’m in the South, so lots of moisture in the summer. In the winter, when the cooler air carries less moisture, they can go about all season. I just started doing this last summer right after I got my kegerator, so I don’t have a long record yet.