Speeding up the AG proces by using hot tap water

[overseasbrewer]

Hi,

I am hoping to start soon to do my first all grain batch.

My question is: To speed up the process, is it a problem to use hot tap water so it takes less time to get your mash water to the right temperature?

 

[bionut]

If the water heater is made of food safe materials i don't see why not. If you can you should test the mineral profile of the tap hot water to see if something from the heater is getting in the water, just to be sure.

 

[Sbe2]

Add 1/2 a campden tab to help mitigate chlorine. Other wise brew on.

 

[waldoar15]

Water heaters have a sacrificial magnesium (or aluminum/zinc) anode rod in them. Not to mention there are certain types of bacteria that can thrive in them, depending on what temp it's set at and if you're using well water. Minerals tend to concentrate inside the tanks also.

I don't use hot tap water for anything food related, but YMMV.

 

[V-Fib]

It sounds like early in your brewing hobby but you'd be better off planning ahead, being organized and making sure you have enough time set to brew. The time that using water thats hot from the tap isn't going to make a big dent in your brew day and it might make it harder to stay consistent.

In a perfect world you could look into an electric set up and have it set on a timer so the water could start heating and be near ready when your ready to mash.

 

[jalc6927]

Try it once with it and once without and see if there’s any benefits either way then decide from there

 

[homebrewer_99]

I use Pur filtered tap water for everything.

 

[hopjuice_71]

Just stopped in to say that water from a hot water tank where the water has been heated and stored is typically not considered the best for brewing because of the reasons already stated above. However, water from a good quality on-demand water heater is perfectly fine, and can be very convenient, assuming of course you have already determined that your tap water is suitable for brewing.

 

[waldoar15]

You could just add a heat stick to your HLT if you want to speed it up. My burner is big enough that by the time I weigh and mill my grains it's got the water about ready to go. But I'm only doing 5 gallon brews.

 

[ProblemChild]

Water heaters have a sacrificial magnesium (or aluminum/zinc) anode rod in them. Not to mention there are certain types of bacteria that can thrive in them, depending on what temp it's set at and if you're using well water. Minerals tend to concentrate inside the tanks also.

I don't use hot tap water for anything food related, but YMMV.

Electric heaters - right? Not gas?

 

[waldoar15]

Electric heaters - right? Not gas?

Both usually, unless they have a plastic lining.

 

[r4dyce]

I do this. This time of year is I have very cold tap water, using hot water can speed up the process by 45-60 minutes. I do have an in demand heater.

 

[ProblemChild]

Both usually, unless they have a plastic lining.

Crazy - have to find out more. Have a tank-less water system and I like to prep my water two days out. Run hot water for mash and sparge into same container. Crack the lid to let the chlorine off-gas, then add half a tablet of campden to get rid of chloramines.

 

[waldoar15]

Crazy - have to find out more. Have a tank-less water system and I like to prep my water two days out. Run hot water for mash and sparge into same container. Crack the lid to let the chlorine off-gas, then add half a tablet of campden to get rid of chloramines.

You're probably fine with a tankless, on demand system. I'd use water from one (if I had one).

 

[overseasbrewer]

Thank you all! I think I got my answer. Going to stay safe and use just cold tab water .

 

[whovous]

For future reference, try this: Fill one container with hot water and another with cold water from the same tap. Cap both and set them aside overnight, or until they reach the same temp. Then taste both. Can you taste the difference? Then you don't want hot water in your brew.

Personally, I'd never use hot water, but I don't have a tankless heater.

 

[ProblemChild]

For future reference, try this: Fill one container with hot water and another with cold water from the same tap. Cap both and set them aside overnight, or until they reach the same temp. Then taste both. Can you taste the difference? Then you don't want hot water in your brew.

Personally, I'd never use hot water, but I don't have a tankless heater.

Keep in mind that dissolved O2 is in tap water and hot water does not hold dissolved gasses as well (they escape). That affects the taste of the water. there might - and I only say "might" be a benefit to drawing hot water and allowing it to cool as dissolved O2 is reduced.

 

[seatazzz]

I fill my HLT directly from the hot water heater in my garage, simply for convenience' sake. I do have a dedicated potable water hose that I can hook up in the kitchen to the sink there, but I've never had an issue with the water out of the heater (just your standard run-of-the-mill water heater, nothin fancy), and the dogs almost ripped the tap out of the sink last time I used that method by tripping over the hose. I use two campden tablets per 5 gallon batch also. YMMV.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

No, no, no, and no. Just no.

If you got a brand new water heater, I would sign off on using the water from it for consumption for up to a few months. Otherwise, the water in that tank has more than just water in it.

Edit: Re-read somewhere about tankless heater. This should be fine as long as there is no storage tank. That's just gross.

Fun fact: it's not a 'hot water heater' - it doesn't heat hot water. It's a 'water heater'.

 

[grampamark]

I've never brewed with anything other than hot tap water. My wife and I both cook with hot tap water, and have since we got married in 1971. I guess we just aren't as highly evolved as some.

 

[Lefou]

Drink the filtered city tap water? Mine has small amounts of chloramine.
Not a problem, but I have slightly higher standards for my brewing water. Cooking with tap water is no big deal because chloramines degrade over time in boiling water.

 

[azmark]

Fun fact: it's not a 'hot water heater' - it doesn't heat hot water. It's a 'water heater'.

Except for initial startup, most of the time it would be heating "pretty hot" water.

 

[kozer99]

I do it all the time. One could take two glasses and fill one them with cold water and the other with hot tap water. let both of them come to room temperature and give them a taste to see if you notice any difference.

 

[seatazzz]

Floppyknockers, mea culpa, you are correct. As to what may be in it, it hasn't yet made a difference in the taste of my beer, but is HAS made a HUGE difference in the length of my brew day and how much propane I use to get the HLT and boil kettle going. I've never minded a long brew day, but I DO mind having to get my propane tank exchanged every time I brew. Using the hot water from the heater gives me about 3 brews from every standard propane tank, with no weird off flavors from the water due to (possibly excessive) use of Campden. YMMV.

 

[AkTom]

I use my well water through my boiler all the time. No problems.

 

[estricklin]

No need to over think this. Use the hot tap water, it's faster. I've done it for years when I'm in a hurry or want to save some propane.

There are loads of other things that are going to impact the taste of your beer far greater than hot tap water vs. cold tap water.

 

[RPh_Guy]

Soooo there are plenty of people out there that will say it's a bad idea to consume tap water that went through the water heater.
It is a source of minerals. It is potentially a reservoir for bacteria (and potential toxins even if sterilized). Hot water flowing through your piping leaches lead or other dangerous chemicals even from plastic (so tankless systems are not safe either).

With my older hot water tank there was a noticeable difference in taste, so I can say these concerns are real and would have an effect on brewing, at least in my home.

Believe what you will and do whatever helps you brew. It won't kill you overnight. The minerals do have an effect on flavor but if you're making water adjustments, just use a water analysis of your hot tap water.

FYI alcohol is a known carcinogen so this really isn't a health forum. 3.5% of cancer deaths are attributable to drinking alcohol ... plus all the other health risks of course.

 

[Sbe2]

^^buzz killington^^

 

[RPh_Guy]

^^buzz killington^^

Sorry, I mean everything's perfectly safe and you will live forever.

 

[Sbe2]

Sorry, I mean everything's perfectly safe and you will live forever.

Ignorance is bliss