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cnowlan
Joined: 23 Sep 2015 Posts: 9 Location: Calgary
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Link Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 2:34 pm Post subject: Exhaust fan dripping |
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So ran my first we test of my brewery last night. I really wanted to see how the exhaust system was going to perform so I boiled hard for 1.5 hours and boiled off 2.25 of 12 gallons. I installed a large stainless hood that I got for cheep and a vortex s-line fan (340 CFM if I recall correctly) (http://www.atmosphere.com/s-lineaaaaa) on a fan control speed switch as Kal recomends. As I was getting near the end of the boil water started dripping out of the box that I built to enclose the fan. I quickly shut everything down. Water was condensing inside the fan and duct work and was dripping out of the box, comming out of the fan control speed switch (installed on the underside of the box). I cut power off at the pannel and cleaned up the mess.
Any input would be appreaciated but I was thinking I would need to drill a small hole in the bottom of the fan attach a small lenght of hose so any condensation can escape in future and not build up the way it did. I know that in Kal's instructions he suggests leaving a drip hold but the S-line is fully enclosed (plastic) so though I may be ok.
Is this a common issue? Does it mean my fan is under powered? (There wasn't any inssues with moisture until this)
I'll see if I can post some pics..
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11121 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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cnowlan
Joined: 23 Sep 2015 Posts: 9 Location: Calgary
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Link Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Kal,
How did you deal with drips in your new build? It looks like in your new brewery your fan is enclosed. Is there some way for the water to come out?
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11121 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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cnowlan
Joined: 23 Sep 2015 Posts: 9 Location: Calgary
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Link Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 1:23 am Post subject: |
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Thank Kal,
I've spent most of the day working on this. I've moved the fan switch so its now on the verticle side of the box, it's a little more difficult to reach but works well. I also installed a GFCI recpticle in front of it in case I have water issues in the future. As for the drain I drilled a 3/16 hole in the bottom of the fan and pounded in a 3/16 by 3/16 brass barb. I also applied some clear silicone around it just in case. I then attached a a few feet of 3/16 beer line I had laying arouind and clamped it on. The hose is now sticking out of the bottom side of the box until I figgure out what I want to do with it. Tonight I'll do another boil test and see how this works.
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cnowlan
Joined: 23 Sep 2015 Posts: 9 Location: Calgary
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Link Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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So I tested the system again and I was still getting lots of water leakage. My contractor spoke with a HVAC guy and he's suggesting a few changes to the system:
1) Currently the duct work is metal, he's suggesting we go with a "grey pipe" (I think some kind of PVC rated for removing steam). The idea here as I understand it is that this new pipe will make less condensation than the metal.
2) vent the exhaust stright out the side of the house, currently it travles up 1.5 feet over about 2 feet to the wall. I'm not really sure what difference this is supposed to make.
3) Change out the vent for one that will allow water to drip out. I'm not sure that the one we've already installed wont allow for water to drip out, but it's somethign that we're going to look at.
I wanted to get the experts thoughts on these options. The second one concerns me as it will mean cutting a hole in the cement vs. the wood stuco vent we've already put in.
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11121 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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cnowlan
Joined: 23 Sep 2015 Posts: 9 Location: Calgary
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Link Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Kal, we'll be working on this through the week and I'll post results when I can do another boil test this weekend.
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11121 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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VaWineSnob
Joined: 14 Jun 2011 Posts: 89
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Link Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 12:05 am Post subject: |
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An alternative is to slope your vent pipe away from the fan and let it drain to the exterior. I'm not certain, but I think the standard is 1/4" slope per 12" length of pipe. So a 4' length of pipe would be an inch higher on the fan end. Of course if you don't want the condensate dripping down the exterior of your (house, brew shed, shelter, whatever) then this solution is not recommended.
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11121 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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Link Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2015 1:51 am Post subject: |
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Definitely! I should have mentioned that - if you can slop down to the outside that's much better. I would think that most basement breweries however have the exhaust above the fan because of how foundations are poured and you'd want to go out over that, but you never know.
The 1/4" slope per foot is for plumbing drainage (greywater pipes from your sink, etc). Given that this is not really going to handle that amount of water I wouldn't be too concerned about having that much slope.
Kal
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My basement/bar/brewery build 2.0
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blnickel
Joined: 22 Dec 2017 Posts: 1 Location: Red Deer, AB
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Link Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 1:12 am Post subject: |
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cnowlan wrote: | Thank Kal,
I've spent most of the day working on this. I've moved the fan switch so its now on the verticle side of the box, it's a little more difficult to reach but works well. I also installed a GFCI recpticle in front of it in case I have water issues in the future. As for the drain I drilled a 3/16 hole in the bottom of the fan and pounded in a 3/16 by 3/16 brass barb. I also applied some clear silicone around it just in case. I then attached a a few feet of 3/16 beer line I had laying arouind and clamped it on. The hose is now sticking out of the bottom side of the box until I figgure out what I want to do with it. Tonight I'll do another boil test and see how this works. |
Can you post pics of the hole you drilled and in what position on the fan? I have the s-line 6" and am having similar issues and don't want to drill into the electrical components. Thx!
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GrumpyWally
Joined: 06 Mar 2015 Posts: 66 Location: San Diego, CA
Drinking: Schwarzbier, Tripwire Tripel, 2 Czech Dark Lagers, Wee Heavy
Working on: Tripwire Tripel, Roggenbier
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Link Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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There's a picture of my brewery toward the end of: http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30943,
If you zoom into the picture you can see the drain plug I added to the fan housing as well as the tape I put around the seam in the fan. I also did the fan box sealing that Kal recommends with one added "feature": I drilled a few really tiny holes in the bottom corner of the plastic box to provide a drain in case there is any leakage. For the first few brew sessions I would periodically put a dry paper towel against the holes to check for moisture.
Wally
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dward4421
Joined: 21 Jan 2016 Posts: 35
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Link Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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Does the location of the fan change the amount of condensation drips through the fan ? Meaning placing the fan closer or farther away from the condensation hood? Would more steam get outside if it didn’t pass through the fan right from the hood? I just moved and have to start all over again with my electric brewery. The ventilation is my biggest concern.
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11121 Location: Ottawa, Canada
Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter
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Link Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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dward4421 wrote: | Does the location of the fan change the amount of condensation drips through the fan ? Meaning placing the fan closer or farther away from the condensation hood? Would more steam get outside if it didn’t pass through the fan right from the hood? I just moved and have to start all over again with my electric brewery. The ventilation is my biggest concern. |
Good questions - I'm not sure there's one simple answer.
The farther the fan is from the heat source, the more the steam will have cooled (and possibly condensed) so you'd likely have less water in the fan if the fan is far away from the heat source. But do you want that? That condensation is then forming in the vent pipe.
No matter where the fan is in the system, some condensation will always form. Insulating the duct will minimize condensation as it'll keep the steam hot, but it all depends on the run length, ambient temp, and so forth. You can use PVC too and use cement on any elbows and then the whole system will be sealed, but you still need to allow for condensation to escape somewhere.
I always run my fan on low for ~30 mins after the boil too to make sure that the inside of the vent line is completely dry.
Kal
_________________ Our new shop with over 150 new products: shop.TheElectricBrewery.com
We ship worldwide and support our products and customers for life.
Purchasing through our affiliate links helps support our site at no extra cost to you. We thank you!
My basement/bar/brewery build 2.0
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