Pumping Wort Long Distances

[TAK]

Anyone have experience pumping wort over long distances?

I don't have a pump (yet), though I would like to get one for recirc mashing. In any case, I've been pondering what it would take to pump wort from outside where I brew to inside where I ferment.

I ferment in the basement, so I have gravity on my side. I've started doing a lot of 10 gal batches. So, while I used to be able to just carry my kettle downstairs, now I need to solicit help from my wife to carry it. That boat isn't likely to sail forever. Left on my own, I suppose I could drain half into the fermenter, and then do two trips to the basement, 5-6 gal in the fermenter and 5-6 gal in the kettle. But, if I could just pump it all to the basement, that'd be easier on me all around.

The thing is, I brew in my garage, which is a couple dozen paces from my house, so maybe 50+ ft. Add in maybe 15 ft for the drop to the basement down my back stairs.

Is this possible? Worth it? Crazy?

 

[IslandLizard]

As long as you can keep that hose (and pump) sanitized to wort transfer standards, you'd be OK.

It all hinges on: Is it worth the effort?

Why not transfer the wort into a sanitized bucket and carry it downstairs? Or use a keg so you can push the wort out into your fermentor if that helps. Much easier to keep a bucket or keg sanitized than 50' of hose, IMO.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

I would use the smallest diameter hose that you can get to flow well. You don't want to end up with a gallon of wort left in the hose. I pump about 10-15 feet. It works great.

 

[oceanic_brew]

Buy two kegs a drain off to them I would say. I considered the pump and small diameter hose over 20 ft to get from back deck to brew room. I don't trust plastic anymore.

I can carry twice the weight in a keg as I can in a bucket. Those handles are nice.

You can also do a real safe No - Chill in them as well.

 

[Phunhog]

If you are looking at high temp silicone tubing it is like 2.00 bucks a foot. So it will cost you over 100 dollars. At that price I would just buy an extra keg or two and manually transfer the wort.

 

[Pantherjon]

Wouldn't CPVC pipe work? It's like $4 for 1/2"x10' sections at Lowes

Then the task would be to pump sanitizing solution thru the pipe after transferring the wort..Seems doable to me, really..

 

[Phunhog]

That could work but sanitizing it would be a PITA. Plus you have store 50 ft of pipe when not brewing.

 

[Pantherjon]

Yeah, that could be a problem..I was imagining it more of a permanent fixture setup..

 

[mongoose33]

Any way to easily move the brew kettle over to the house so you could just use gravity from that point? If you have to go through grass large diameter tires (such as you see on yard carts) would make it go "cross country" easily.

 

[TAK]

Buy two kegs a drain off to them I would say. I considered the pump and small diameter hose over 20 ft to get from back deck to brew room. I don't trust plastic anymore.

I can carry twice the weight in a keg as I can in a bucket. Those handles are nice.

You can also do a real safe No - Chill in them as well.

I've got the kegs to spare, but at the same time, I can just put half in my fermentor (which is a 15 gal keg). Ideally, I'm looking to just avoid hauling stuff down the stairs all together.

Any way to easily move the brew kettle over to the house so you could just use gravity from that point? If you have to go through grass large diameter tires (such as you see on yard carts) would make it go "cross country" easily.

I have been seriously considering this. I have a Blichmann burner with the leg extensions. I've been thinking about building a base for it with some casters so I can roll it around. My driveway isn't exactly in great shape, so I figure I may need some larger rubber wheels on it. But ya, then I could basically get it from my garage to my back door, and use gravity to go down the back steps into the basement. My only concern is how well it'd actually roll over cracks and stuff without tipping the kettle or sloshing too much.