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KB
Joined: 06 Nov 2014 Posts: 334 Location: Virginia
Working on: Next brew
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Link Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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Based on having now done 3 brews my with EB, I recommend cleaning the boil kettle level gauge glass and the MLT kettle level gauge glass. Using the hex key simply remove the set screw at the top and bottom. Pour clean water from the top and then run the cleaning gauge brush thru the tube a few times.
More detailed instructions, including photos, are on page 8 of the Boiler Maker manual.
I was surprised how much gunk/debris came out of the gauge glass.
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11116 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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jphussey
Joined: 17 Oct 2012 Posts: 171
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Link Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 3:15 am Post subject: |
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I know that to clean the boil kettle element, many say they just use a sponge to wipe it down. This simply doesnt work for me. I scrub the **** out of this element with a soft sponge and it still gets white and brown crust on it. What gives?
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11116 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: Fri Nov 03, 2017 3:49 am Post subject: |
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jphussey wrote: | I know that to clean the boil kettle element, many say they just use a sponge to wipe it down. This simply doesnt work for me. I scrub the **** out of this element with a soft sponge and it still gets white and brown crust on it. What gives? |
Is it still wet when you go to clean it? What's the water like that you use? If it's not coming clean you may want to try a cleaner, though starting with something simple like PBW or Oxiclean. Commercial breweries will use something more caustic in their CIP setups (works fine on these elements).
Kal
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jphussey
Joined: 17 Oct 2012 Posts: 171
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Link Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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I wanted to follow up to this as I brewed recently and still have the same problem. I don't know that the element is still wet when I clean it, in fact I'd probably say not. The time it takes to pump the last bit of wort (the liquid level having dropped below the element at this point) is probably long enough for the element to dry.
I just use my tap water in my kitchen, about as hot as my hands can stand.
I haven't done a full Oxiclean recirc in about a year...so probably going to try that next.
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dp Brewing Company
Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 664 Location: Midwest
Drinking: Chocolate Taco, Raspberry Mango Cider, American X, Sandy Dunes
Working on: Nothing
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Link Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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I have always used Oxiclean Free to clean all my brewing equipment. I recently used PBW and don't think I'll go back to to Oxiclean. That PBW is amazing! It cleans so much better. Yes it is more expensive but with quality comes a price I guess. Acid #5 works well too.
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KB
Joined: 06 Nov 2014 Posts: 334 Location: Virginia
Working on: Next brew
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Link Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2018 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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To me cleaning up is similar to playing sports, especially baseball. I'm standing around, basically doing nothing, then all-of-a-sudden, I'm busy. Especially at the end of a long brew day. I know cleaning up is important and should not be put off. If I could only figure out a way to clean up at the beginning when I'm fresh... ha ha where's my time machine?
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Ozarks Mountain Brew
Joined: 22 May 2013 Posts: 737 Location: The Ozark Mountains of Missouri
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Link Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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I do a scrub with a spray hose and a pad on everything after brewing then a full PBW and star-sans clean out right before the start of brewing , it’s just amazing where it hides, I really go after it some days and still have dirty cleanout water on brewday
_________________ "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11116 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: Sat Apr 07, 2018 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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For what it's worth, I wouldn't bother with StarSan (a sanitizer) on the hot side as everything will be boiled. There's no need to sanitize. You're just going to dump in a bunch of unsanitary grain.
On the hot side I just make sure everything's reasonably clean but don't fret if it's not perfect as it just doesn't matter (and won't make a difference to the finished beer). The exception is the boil kettle element. It should look as close to new every time as you don't want to cook on anything. I use a kitchen scrub brush and/or a blue scrub sponge to make sure there's nothing on it. Usually there's a white residue that just wipes off.
Then about once a year I recirculate PBW or Oxiclean at ~170F for a couple of hours through everything to get rid of any caked on grime/hop oils/etc.
Kal
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My basement/bar/brewery build 2.0
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Ozarks Mountain Brew
Joined: 22 May 2013 Posts: 737 Location: The Ozark Mountains of Missouri
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Link Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2018 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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I started using star-sans not as a sanitizer on brew day at first, it was a problem for me with PBW leaving a white film everywhere, I researched this and they said use an acid to remove it and star-sans will work and it does so the problem was solved.
I also think it’s necessary because I brew outside I was worried about my hlt and mash tun after seeing a little mildew one day so it’s just a safeguard at that point
_________________ "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11116 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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dp Brewing Company
Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 664 Location: Midwest
Drinking: Chocolate Taco, Raspberry Mango Cider, American X, Sandy Dunes
Working on: Nothing
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Link Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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I tend to think I have plenty of time left in the brew day to cleanup. Next thing I know I'm cooling the wort thinking, "crap. Why didn't I do this earlier?".
_________________ Visit dp Brewing Company
Hangovers hurt....but good memories last forever!
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mtweeman
Joined: 10 Feb 2017 Posts: 29
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Link Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 4:18 am Post subject: |
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Just wondering, how much of PBW you pour into your kettle when making a throughout clean? As recommended on the package or some different amount?
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dp Brewing Company
Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 664 Location: Midwest
Drinking: Chocolate Taco, Raspberry Mango Cider, American X, Sandy Dunes
Working on: Nothing
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Link Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 11:50 am Post subject: |
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I don't remember off the top of my head but I would assume I just took a scoop and filled with water. With that said, I would recommend doing what the package says.
_________________ Visit dp Brewing Company
Hangovers hurt....but good memories last forever!
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11116 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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mtweeman
Joined: 10 Feb 2017 Posts: 29
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11116 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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KB
Joined: 06 Nov 2014 Posts: 334 Location: Virginia
Working on: Next brew
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Link Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2018 2:41 am Post subject: |
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I did the "Once a Year Cleaning" on Saturday, October 27, 2018. I clean everything, and I mean everything, after every brew. However, I was glad/saddened/surprised, etc by the murky, malty colored water when I did the 170F PBW recycle for 45 minutes.
Why saddened/surprised? Thought I cleaned everything really good after each brew. Didn't expect the murky/malty colored water after doing the cleaning cycle.
Why glad? Glad I did and got rid of the gunk I obviously missed when cleaning after brewing.
I highly recommend the yearly cleaning cycle! Yes, was a PITA, but worth the time and trouble.
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kal Forum Administrator
Joined: 12 Dec 2010 Posts: 11116 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: Sun Oct 28, 2018 3:08 am Post subject: |
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KB wrote: | Why saddened/surprised? Thought I cleaned everything really good after each brew. Didn't expect the murky/malty colored water after doing the cleaning cycle. Why glad? Glad I did and got rid of the gunk I obviously missed when cleaning after brewing. |
The important thing to remember however is that even though you likely had some build-up that got cleaned off, had you not cleaned it off it would do absolutely nothing to the quality of your beer.
I like to do a deep clean to my hot side brewing equipment too about once a year, but it does nothing to make my beer better. It's just to make things shiny again.
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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Dan Cook
Joined: 14 Jan 2015 Posts: 12 Location: Seattle
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Link Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2018 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="kal"] KB wrote: |
I like to do a deep clean to my hot side brewing equipment too about once a year, but it does nothing to make my beer better. It's just to make things shiny again.
Kal |
At the end of brew day yesterday I decided to pump hot water + PBW through a CIP ball in order to give my boil kettle that shine again (it's quite deep and almost impossible to clean the concave dish at the bottom other than by laying it on the ground and crawling into it). The pump was running and the elements were running and the water heating up. Then my Kal control panel's power supply shorted out and everything shut down. After resetting the panel and turning it back on, it shut down again as soon as I turned on the elements.
I've used my panel a dozen times and never had the breaker trip like this. Other than a possible short in my element wiring, the only other explanation I can come up with is that the ionic solution of water + PBW is causing arcs or similar from one element to the other, like static discharge.
Is there anything to that theory? It's not like I bumped the element housing or otherwise caused the wiring to suddenly go loose.
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