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Author Topic: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.  (Read 4823 times)

Offline gmac

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Two weeks ago I brewed several batches of beer outside.  Weather was awesome.  I left all my equipment outside on the deck because I knew I'd be brewing again.

Today I did a big 10 gal batch to split between two different yeast but when I put my immersion chiller in and turned on the water, my wort erupted.  Turned out that it got cold enough in the last week to freeze and split my chiller in 3 spots.  I'm gonna assume that the wort was warm enough to kill any bacteria in the water (and I'm sure that there wasn't much in my tap water).  But, I have to leave my wort outside all night to let it cool down.  Hope the lid is on tight enough or we'll see what sort of yeast is floating around my back yard.

Offline ccfoo242

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #1 on: April 02, 2012, 09:11:56 pm »
Damn! Pictures please! I try to document all of my disasters!  ;D
Intra cervisiam est deus.

Offline gmac

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2012, 09:51:13 am »
Damn! Pictures please! I try to document all of my disasters!  ;D

Here you go.  This is what happens when you have a bag of elbows and some time on your hands.


And here's a close up of the blown out corners.  1 is really bad.  I need a bigger one anyway, just annoyed that this happened when I had 10 gals all set to cool.


Here's a picture of my son with a nice bass.  It just makes me happy.

Offline bo

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2012, 09:55:14 am »
That thing looks like it really needs to be cleaned.

Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2012, 09:57:15 am »
That thing looks like it really needs to be cleaned.

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Offline ccfoo242

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2012, 11:22:06 am »
A little duct tape and caulk should fix that.

Nice fish!
Intra cervisiam est deus.

Offline a10t2

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2012, 11:25:15 am »
Is the chiller painted red for some reason?
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Offline bo

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2012, 11:29:16 am »
Is the chiller painted red for some reason?


When I first looked at it, I thought it was painted PVC. ;)

Offline gmac

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2012, 11:46:17 am »
It's plain old copper.  Since it's pipe and not soft copper tubing, I'm assuming it oxidizes differently.  Either way it's shot.

Offline hoser

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #9 on: April 03, 2012, 02:01:45 pm »
Is it soddered?  It looks like all you would have to do is just replace the elbows?  But, always an excuse to go bigger and better with a new chiller purchase! ;D

Offline gmac

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2012, 03:29:49 pm »
Is it soddered?  It looks like all you would have to do is just replace the elbows?  But, always an excuse to go bigger and better with a new chiller purchase! ;D
Yes I could fix it but I need a bigger one anyway and soldering it the first time was a pain in the butt so doubling it, or bigger, doesn't appeal to me.  My wife thinks it's busted so let's let her keep thinking that.

Offline FirstStateBrewer

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2012, 11:54:21 am »
My wife thinks it's busted so let's let her keep thinking that.
You'd be surprised how much brewing equipment you can buy/build without tipping off the wife if you buy in bits and pieces at multiple stores while paying with cash once in a while.   ;)
Scott B

Offline euge

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2012, 12:25:44 pm »
It's frustrating I know and a batch of beer was compromised (maybe), but obviously this is a blessing in disguise. Build/buy that dream chiller. Plan it well... ;)
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

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Offline dak0415

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #13 on: April 06, 2012, 12:36:49 pm »
My wife thinks it's busted so let's let her keep thinking that.
You'd be surprised how much brewing equipment you can buy/build without tipping off the wife if you buy in bits and pieces at multiple stores while paying with cash once in a while.   ;)
Not any more, if she reads the forum ;)
Dave Koenig
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Offline FirstStateBrewer

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Re: Immersion chiller disaster - well, maybe not disaster but annoyance.
« Reply #14 on: April 06, 2012, 12:59:20 pm »
My wife thinks it's busted so let's let her keep thinking that.
You'd be surprised how much brewing equipment you can buy/build without tipping off the wife if you buy in bits and pieces at multiple stores while paying with cash once in a while.   ;)
Not any more, if she reads the forum ;)
Not a chance!  LOL!   ;D
Scott B