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Author Topic: Ball Valve Cleaning  (Read 1408 times)

Offline flbrewer

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Ball Valve Cleaning
« on: April 24, 2015, 02:03:29 pm »
I know it's not a necessity but I wanted to take apart the ball valve on my Rubbermaid mash tun and re-Teflon tape it before my next batch.

Soap and water work? PBW?

Offline Slowbrew

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Re: Ball Valve Cleaning
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2015, 02:58:35 pm »
I don't ever completely remove my valve from the cooler.  I'll take it apart now and then just to wash it out and run a brush through it to knock down the big uglies.  I have never gone as far as soaking it in anything.

Not saying I do it correctly but light cleaning seems to work for me.

Paul
Where the heck are we going?  And what's with this hand basket?

Offline euge

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Re: Ball Valve Cleaning
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2015, 05:12:43 am »
+1

IMO this is the one piece of equipment that doesn't require typical homebrewer obsessiveness. A thorough rinsing to free the cooler of grain debri and stickiness is all that is needed. A brush up the valve if it suits you.

Dry open, preferably in the sun and it won't get smelly.
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Offline dzlater

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Re: Ball Valve Cleaning
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2015, 05:26:55 am »
What about ball valves on boil kettles?
I recently installed a weldless valve, and it's given me a bit of sanitation anxiety.
After brewing I run hot water through it and hit it with a brush as best I can.
When I get close to the and of the boil I run a few cups of wort through it figuring it will help sanitize it. I put a piece of foil over it until after I chill, then spray some starsan in there, and start draining.
Dan S. from NJ

Offline Slowbrew

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Re: Ball Valve Cleaning
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2015, 06:17:36 am »
Pretty much the same procedure.  If it happens to get nasty I'll spend a bit more time on it but it noramally doesn't require much work.

Paul
Where the heck are we going?  And what's with this hand basket?

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Ball Valve Cleaning
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2015, 07:50:59 am »
The 3 piece ones allow one to take it apart and clean and sanitize. The hot side gets that routine on occasion. The ones on the conical more often.
Jeff Rankert
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Offline flbrewer

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Re: Ball Valve Cleaning
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2015, 04:02:04 pm »
I pulled my apart today (not the entire valve, but separated it from the mash tun) and noticed some dry crud. I then gave it the sniff test and I have to say it was an evil, foul smell. This is someone who doesn't brew that often, maybe my hot garage has something to do with it.

Either way, probably doesn't matter but just an FYI.

Offline narcout

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Re: Ball Valve Cleaning
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2015, 04:25:02 pm »
What about ball valves on boil kettles?

I recently took mine apart for the first time in 3 or 4 years.  It actually didn't have much crud inside.  I probably won't do it again for another couple of years.

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