[anykine]

I bought a stainless steel immersion chiller that I plan to pump mash wort through, as part of a budget DIY HERMS system (with Sous Vide machine as heater).

What is the best way to clean the inside of the steel coil straight from the factory?

TSP?

Just PBW?

Soap?

What’s the best practice? I don’t want machine oil or any crud from the manufacturing process in my beer.

Thanks!

[ynotbrusum]

I have heard that dish soap water is perfectly fine to use.  Give it a warm long circulation and you should be good to rinse well and use.

[anykine]

Thanks.   I don’t know about how they make theses things and if soap would do the trick.  I’m relieved.

[RC]

Personally I'd just flush it with a gallon or two of hot water. There's a lot less crud in there than you think. If you must use a cleaner, I'd use hot PBW or TSP.

[KellerBrauer]

I would use TSP, followed by PBW.  Allow each to circulate for several minutes.  RC is probably right in saying there’s not much crud.  However, better safe than sorry especially if the ends of the lines were not properly capped/sealed.

[ynotbrusum]

Not sure how many folks have actually used this stuff on stainless coils, but the mfg of mine suggested the regular dish soap approach based on its ability to clear up the mfg process oils and other deposits well.  You will be fine using any one or a succession of two or more.

TSP is sometimes difficult to source these days because the phosphates are not favored.

In the end don’t sweat it and rinse very well regardless!

Cheers.

[Robert]

Would this be an appropriate application for the old mantra of hot alkaline, water rinse,  hot acid,  water rinse?  That's what I do to most new equipment.   And old equipment.   Anything I think needs a good, comprehensive cleaning.