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Author Topic: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?  (Read 7722 times)

Offline cbiddy

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anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« on: April 21, 2010, 12:49:21 pm »
Hi All....  Been AG brewer for about a year now.  I am moving soon and the faucets in the condo are all fancy and cannot be rigged up to my wort chiller (no hose hookups either)...I am thinking my only hope will be the bathtub faucet.  Anyone have any experience with how to do this?

thanks

Offline theDarkSide

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2010, 01:07:55 pm »
The faucets won't support the threaded couplers, like the kind you get with the bottle jet washers?

If not, maybe you could put water in the tub and circulate it through the wort chiller with an aquarium pump.
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Offline cbiddy

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2010, 01:18:51 pm »
I should probably explain my intention a bit more...    I'm talking about the lower/larger faucet at the botton of the tub.  If I can secure some king of flexible material around the faucet opening, then clamp it to the tube on the wort chiller....I may have something.

Offline glitterbug

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2010, 02:10:26 pm »
Have you considered using the Australian "nochill" method? They put the hot wort into a "jerry" can and let it cool overnight. You can google for more info.
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Offline a10t2

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2010, 02:23:08 pm »
If not, maybe you could put water in the tub and circulate it through the wort chiller with an aquarium pump.

That was my thought too. You can get a submersible pump with garden hose fittings at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc. It might be the cheaper/easier/safer option.
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Offline cbiddy

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2010, 02:29:45 pm »
Thanks....do aquarium pumps have that much power?

Offline tygo

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2010, 04:15:11 pm »
Thanks....do aquarium pumps have that much power?

Not all of them do.  Make sure you get something with a decent gallons per hour rating.  I bought a little aquarium pump for much the same reason that pumped around 150 gph and it didn't cut the mustard.  Then I upgraded to a 1470 gph sump pump and that gets the job done.  Overkill really but in a pinch I could also pump out my basement.  ;)
« Last Edit: April 21, 2010, 06:56:08 pm by tygo »
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Offline makemehoppy

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2010, 05:11:46 pm »
Is there also a sink in this bathroom?  Maybe you'll have better luck finding an adapter for that faucet.

Offline saintpierre

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2010, 05:27:27 pm »
I had this problem in an apartment I rented.  You should be able to remove the faucet tip and screen and screw in an adapter that has male threads to the female threads used for a hose adapter.  I would remove that part and bring it to Home Depot or Lowes whatever you favorite shop is and find the right part.

If all else fails, I would replace the faucet.  I would sacrifice some decor for a good homebrew anyday!
« Last Edit: April 21, 2010, 05:29:56 pm by saintsbrew »
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Offline cbiddy

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2010, 05:48:05 pm »
No can do....they are all fancy-pants faucets where the water comes out like a waterfall etc....   

Offline weithman5

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2010, 06:02:40 pm »
couple ideas.  first, most shower heads are just threaded on and can be taken off. put a T valve in that would normally couple to a hand held nozzle. then connect to this.

the second is to use an "intercooler"  which is what i am planning on building.  this gets the cooling water colder than the faucet water.  use a resevoir (cooler, tub, etc,) filled with ice or ice packs.  then pump water from this through the wart cooler and back over the ice.  this has the effect of using colder cooling water and you need to use less water overall.  you then don't need to have constant supply from the faucets
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Offline tubercle

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2010, 06:18:35 pm »
Thanks....do aquarium pumps have that much power?

Not all of them do.  Make sure you get something with a decent gallons per minute rating.  I bought a little aquarium pump for much the same reason that pumped around 150 gpm and it didn't cut the mustard.  Then I upgraded to a 1470 gpm sump pump and that gets the job done.  Overkill really but in a pinch I could also pump out my basement.  ;)


 A pump to recirculate is my vote. Simple and easy to put in service and store when finished.

Not the aquarium pump for the indoor 20 gallon glass aquariums but for the outside fish ponds. All the big box stores carry them.


 Tygo..don't you mean GPH? Most fire trucks only pump 1200 GPM ::)

« Last Edit: April 21, 2010, 06:21:41 pm by tubercle »
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Offline tygo

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #12 on: April 21, 2010, 06:57:25 pm »

 Tygo..don't you mean GPH? Most fire trucks only pump 1200 GPM ::)

Oops. Corrected.  Thanks  :)
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Offline a10t2

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #13 on: April 21, 2010, 10:16:21 pm »
Tygo..don't you mean GPH? Most fire trucks only pump 1200 GPM ::)

Maybe he could just use one of those then?
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Offline euge

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Re: anyway to hook wort chiller up to bathtub faucet?
« Reply #14 on: April 22, 2010, 01:29:21 am »
How much are you looking to cool? Five gallons? Ten? Harbor Freight has cheap pumps.

Why not solder on some hose fittings? Maybe something like this? Not for a bath tub but just to get those creative juices flowing.



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