Propylene glycol smells

[shoengine]

I opened my chiller to remove a thermocouple and the glycol smells like butterscotch.

Well, I think it smells. Like butterscotch. As the resident brewer I grabbed a glass and then asked the family individually what it smelled like and I got: sourdough, algae, cream cheese.

The real question is, I need to flush the lines and the jacket. Any tights? I was thinking water. Will that work?

 

[bailey mountain brewer]

I'd use hot water, the hotter the better. Assuming you're using some type of food grade glycol? Do you keep your glycol cold? I've had mine for a couple years without swapping it or flushing any lines, I keep my glycol chiller set at 26-28f whether it's in use or not. In any case I'd just use hot water to flush it and see if that fixes you up. I know they make flushes for glycol in the automotive world but that wouldn't be a food safe chemical.

 

[shoengine]

I'll give that a shot. I turn off my chiller when not in use, so it'll get up into the 60s or 70s in temp depending on the outside temperature.

 

[bailey mountain brewer]

Gotcha, I figure it can't pull to much energy keeping it cold and I think that keeps anything from growing in it as well. Mine is also stored in the basement, which is typically under 60f except the dead of summer when it might hit 70f

 

[shoengine]

I finished flushing. I emptied out as much as I could without running the pump dry pushing through the vessel out the return hose to the drain. After two five gallon flushes the smell was still significant so my second to last flush (number 3) was with Starsan, which immediately killed the scent off. Pushed it thru the vessel as before. Flushed again and now am using straight water until I van get some more glycol.