Storing Plate Chiller

[gusterminator]

Hi guys,

I was curious if after I have my plate chiller cleaned and sanitized if I could just disconnect it while it is still hot and connect my lines into each other so it's a closed sanitized loop? Has anybody tried this? I'v read where guys try and get all the water out after each use if it is sanitized and sealed does it have to be stored dry?....just curious!

Thanks,

Gus

 

[6Tap]

I have always cleaned and sanitized mine immediately after using then I tip it in the direction of the lowest port to get as mush water out as possible prior to storing.

Prior to using, I clean and sanitize it again. [emoji482]

 

[IslandLizard]

I have a Duda Diesel 30-plate chiller. I store it dry now.

I drain, then backwash the wort side, back and forth until clear water comes out. Drain again, shake as much water out as I can and let air dry until next use.

If there's a lot of trub left in there, I fill it with PBW and let it soak in for a day and repeat the backwashing until I'm confident most or all was purged. Or connect to my outdoor spigot (more pressure).

From time to time I put it in a hot (boiling) PBW pump/circulation loop (my kettle) for a few hours. Reversing flow every now and then. I have a hop bag tied over the return to trap hop flakes and what not.

While heating strike water on the next brew I again recirculate it through the plate chiller loop.

When I think it needs it, I bake it in the oven at 450F for a few hours, usually together with bread or pizza.

But... most importantly, the past 2 years I prevent most hop matter from going into the chiller. Hops are bagged in large roomy bags that get massaged and drained repeatedly during the boil/whirlpool. Only the fine hop dust that makes it out the bags, and the break goes through.

 

[augiedoggy]

I always store mine empty as well... I run pbw through from time to time and rinse as well as rinse immediately after use and sanitze with boiling wort. At the pub we rinse and run pbw through after every use for 20 mins as well as rinse again... sometimes we run a mild acid through too.(backflushing as well) Then we disassemble every handful of brews and hand clean all the buildup off the plates (yes the inside still gets a buildup regardless of all this)

 

[IslandLizard]

At the pub we rinse and run pbw through after every use for 20 mins as well as rinse again... sometimes we run a mild acid through too.(backflushing as well) Then we disassemble every handful of brews and hand clean all the buildup off the plates (yes the inside still gets a buildup regardless of all this)

Not sure if it's common practice but I know a few craft breweries that keep them filled with a lye solution while idle. They dump or recover, and rinse before use.

Mind, the plate chillers we homebrewers have are brazed with copper, so storing them with an acid (even Starsan) may eventually eat its way through, although it may take many years.

 

[augiedoggy]

Not sure if it's common practice but I know a few craft breweries that keep them filled with a lye solution while idle. They dump or recover, and rinse before use.

Mind, the plate chillers we homebrewers have are brazed with copper, so storing them with an acid (even Starsan) may eventually eat its way through, although it may take many years.

yeah I should look into doing this because cleaning them manually is a pain.

im aware of the copper/acid limitations with my duda.