Water

[KalvinKlein]

Is getting my water from the faucet from out side my house, the same as getting it from the inside. I have city water. The reason I ask is because I will be brewing in the garage and don't want to take water back and forth from the inside.

 

[Horseshoot]

I am going to assume this a serious question, and answer it. Yes, it is the same. Unless.... I once lived on a farm where I had 3 water sources. The house was supplied by a well, and city water. Because when the city water came, the previous owner could not give up the well. The 3rd source was a pond, that supplied the barn.

 

[Rev2010]

Yes, it's the same. If the faucet is exposed to the elements, meaning outside your garage, I would let the water run out for a bit then shut it off and spray it inside and out as best you can with sanitizer. Then just go ahead and fill after a few minutes. Just to be safe of course. Plenty of people drink right out of their garden hoses so I doubt you'd risk infection, but since the faucet's are usually exposed to some poor conditions it's better to be safe than sorry and won't take much effort.


Rev.

 

[KalvinKlein]

Ok thanks alot. Just didn't want to run a water line out to the garage yet if I didn't have too.

 

[pkeeler]

It is the same unless you have a conditioner or softener for the house. Usually, outside taps bypass the softener (no reason to soften the water used to spray the lawn). If you have a softener, I would only use the outside taps for brewing (and double check they bypass the softener).

Don't use water that has been sitting in a garden hose, let it run for awhile.

 

[Seven]

My house has a water softener that treats (softens) all of the indoor water. The outdoor water sources like hoses and sprinklers are untreated water because plants/grass/vegetation don't like softened water. So for me, the water inside the house is different from the outside water but ALL of my water comes from the city water supply.

If your home has a water softener you may want to check if it's softening the indoor and outdoor water or only the indoor water.

I haven't tried brewing with softened water yet but I think I remember seeing somewhere that it's not recommened.

 

[jiggs_casey]

My house has a water softener that treats (softens) all of the indoor water. The outdoor water sources like hoses and sprinklers are untreated water because plants/grass/vegetation don't like softened water. So for me, the water inside the house is different from the outside water but ALL of my water comes from the city water supply.

If your home has a water softener you may want to check if it's softening the indoor and outdoor water or only the indoor water.

I haven't tried brewing with softened water yet but I think I remember seeing somewhere that it's not recommened.

Don't the water softeners use a type of salt? I think that's the problem with brewing with softened water...

 

[jonmohno]

It seems crazy to me- that if its not good enough for plants or even fish(they will die) that its good enough for humans?

 

[OldAtHeart]

Don't the water softeners use a type of salt? I think that's the problem with brewing with softened water...

While softeners do use salt, that salt does not make it into your water. The simplest type of water softener, AFAIK, uses glass beads. The minerals in your water cling to the beads as the water is filtered through. That salt is used to clean the glass beads as the minerals build up. The salty water is then discarded.

I think the problem people have with brewing with soft water is that it has too few minerals in it, much like brewing with distilled water.

I'm obviously no expert though, so someone correct me if I've got it all backwards.

 

[davesrose]

I think the problem people have with brewing with soft water is that it has too few minerals in it, much like brewing with distilled water.

I'm obviously no expert though, so someone correct me if I've got it all backwards.

Well water salts are more important for AG. For extract, I'd say as long as your water is pretty clean tasting, then it's good to use. For AG, not all soft water is bad. I have soft water as a source, so I tend to harden it for stouts and IPAs.

 

[6midgets]

i've heard that if it tastes good than it's ok to use

 

[OldAtHeart]

It seems crazy to me- that if its not good enough for plants or even fish(they will die) that its good enough for humans?

Wait... are you talking about water or beer?

 

[Righlander]

The 3rd source was a pond, that supplied the barn.

Mmmmm pond water beer. tadpole IPA anyone?

 

[ratfarmer]

Don't use water that has been sitting in a garden hose, let it run for awhile.

You can do this or I would highly suggest picking up one of the white hoses that you see on campers. Can't remember the name off the top of my head.

 

[Horseshoot]

Mmmmm pond water beer. tadpole IPA anyone?

Depends how long you allow it to bottle condition. Could be Frog IPA.

 

[Horseshoot]

You can do this or I would highly suggest picking up one of the white hoses that you see on campers. Can't remember the name off the top of my head.

A potable water hose. We have one for our popup camper.

 

[pkeeler]

It seems crazy to me- that if its not good enough for plants or even fish(they will die) that its good enough for humans?

Softeners replace calcium and magnesium with sodium. Probably bad for aquariums. As for plants, it is more of an economical decision. You have to replace the salt, so why waste it on the lawn or filling the pool?

 

[azscoob]

I agree with a couple of the above posters, use a potable water hose, NOT a garden hose, ever drank from a hose? that odd flavor will not age out of your beer, so if you want hose-water flavored beer......

Regarding the salt being bad for plants, maybe thats why things have a tough time growing here in the AZ desert, or maybe its the 118°+ summers . The soil and groundwater here naturally has a lot of salts in it. I have a salt water pool, and I learned quickly that the salt level goes up rapidly just from the well water feeding the pool auto-fill. I have to start with a very low salt level every couple years to keep the salt level within acceptable levels before draining and refilling again.

 

[irunxcjm]

+1 on the potable water hose. Just to be on the safe side, I also use a RV water filter as well.