Siphon from main level to basement?

[rslashuser]

This isn't really much of a DIY project, but I'm curious for any advice...

My novice homebrew setup has me carrying my wort down the stairs to my basement after I boil in the kitchen. Where I'm going in the basement is directly below the stove in the kitchen.

Is it reasonable for me to drill a hole in the floor behind the stove and drop 10 feet of hose and auto-siphon the wort from the stove directly to the carboy in the basement?

Thanks and cheers!

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

It would work. Can't really say it's reasonable tho'.

 

[Rivenin]

^^^^ what he said
however, carrying wort that far sucks lol.
could drill a hole and install a nipple on each side of the floor, that way you can just hook up the tubes when you're ready to transfer and call it good.

 

[gx1400]

Any concern with over aerating the wort in the process? I guess fermentation should push the O2 out.

 

[rslashuser]

I was kind of thinking it might be a bonus that I wouldn't need to shake the carboy to aerate anymore

Is over aerating a concern? I have no idea.

 

[IrregularPulse]

You want aeration at this stage. Yeast need oxygen.

 

[cheezydemon3]

You can't over aerate. Sounds like a good plan. A small PITA to sanitize it, but not that bad.

 

[Raenon]

Prevailing wisdom, best I've seen, is that yeast will use basically all oxygen they can get their hands on from initial aeration in building new healthy yeast cells. They will deplete any and all sources.
Oxidation is only a concern after they're stopped growing their numbers, or while the wort is still HOT, because the yeast can't break off those oxygen atoms (for a reason that I don't fully understand, but it appears reproducible)

I've seen several other threads where folks have installed lines to help move wort back and forth, including permanent fixtures that can be mounted and protected.
If I was in your situation and wanted something more permanent, I'd drop a small pipe through the floor, then run a hose through that (which could be removed for cleaning or replacement, and would certainly be more protected) protecting both the hose from the floor/subfloor and vice versa.
Bonus, you could also put caps on both ends of the pipe in between brew-days to keep it clear of obstructions (read, creepy crawlies) and dust, and make it a little neater.

 

[BBL_Brewer]

It could definitely be done. Have you considered setting up your brewery in the basement? I agree, lugging wort up and down stairs is no fun.

 

[Revvy]

Someone within the last year posted a modification to their house which is a tube running from somewhere outside to the basement. It had caps on both ends to seal it when not in use.

I helped do a 30 gallon brew day for Terrapinchef's wedding last year where we used an autosiphon and 30 feet of hose to rack from outside, through the basement window into a conical. I thought I posted pictures when we did it, but I can't find them.

 

[rslashuser]

Have you considered setting up your brewery in the basement?

Yeah, that would be the most ideal way to go long term, but that requires quite a few more purchases ($$$). In the meantime I can afford some hose

 

[rekoob]

Back about 12 years ago I brewed in the kitchen and carried to basement just like you are doing. Huge PITA. NOW, I would do the pipe in the floor like you are thinking. Not that I couldn't carry it now, but that I don't want to... do what you need to do to make your brew day easier on you and it will be more enjoyable for you.
Good luck and let us know what you do.

 

[cheezydemon3]

Back about 12 years ago I brewed in the kitchen and carried to basement just like you are doing. Huge PITA. NOW, I would do the pipe in the floor like you are thinking. Not that I couldn't carry it now, but that I don't want to... do what you need to do to make your brew day easier on you and it will be more enjoyable for you.
Good luck and let us know what you do.

Make it a heavy metal pipe, and it might cool the wort and aerate it

 

[kgalle]

It's all good.

 

[JoshuaW]

You could probably use a pond pump to pump sanitizer through your rig. If you put a ball valve on your kettle, you would probably get a better flow. If I were to do this, I would probably use copper piping, have a HUGE coil of it, then run it to the fermentor, maybe use 5ft hoses to go from the kettle to the pipe, and the pipe to the carboy. That coil could hopefully cool it, so you would just open up your ball valve, the wort would flow through the coil, cool, then on to the fermentor. It's not a bad idea, I almost wish I had a basement to build something like that!

 

[BBL_Brewer]

You could probably use a pond pump to pump sanitizer through your rig. If you put a ball valve on your kettle, you would probably get a better flow. If I were to do this, I would probably use copper piping, have a HUGE coil of it, then run it to the fermentor, maybe use 5ft hoses to go from the kettle to the pipe, and the pipe to the carboy. That coil could hopefully cool it, so you would just open up your ball valve, the wort would flow through the coil, cool, then on to the fermentor. It's not a bad idea, I almost wish I had a basement to build something like that!

Hmmm.....a counterflow chiller without the counterflow. Very revolutionary

 

[cheezydemon3]

You could probably use a pond pump to pump sanitizer through your rig. If you put a ball valve on your kettle, you would probably get a better flow. If I were to do this, I would probably use copper piping, have a HUGE coil of it, then run it to the fermentor, maybe use 5ft hoses to go from the kettle to the pipe, and the pipe to the carboy. That coil could hopefully cool it, so you would just open up your ball valve, the wort would flow through the coil, cool, then on to the fermentor. It's not a bad idea, I almost wish I had a basement to build something like that!

Make it a heavy metal pipe, and it might cool the wort and aerate it

My idea first!

 

[BBL_Brewer]

My idea first!

Sorry cheezy, I didn't mean to steal your thunder

 

[conpewter]

I used to have that set up and it works great. I now brew in the basement with an electric rig, but I do miss brewing outside on the nice days.

 

[rslashuser]

Thanks for the input. You've helped to convince the wife that I'm not totally off my rocker and she said drill away.

Now to find a good Oktoberfest recipe to use with my new setup.

Cheers