[Pinski]

Would boiling the therminator prior to its first use be the best way to sanitize? Do folks ever use StarSan with these things. I had to buy the display unit so I didn't get a manual.  Do you have to blow the thing out prior to running it? 
Brewing makes me feel like a little kid... what this? what does that do? why? why?  how come?  Thanks for all your help AHA forum!

[mabrungard]

I guarantee that there is virtually no microbial contamination in a brazed plate chiller unit since the last time any of those surfaces were exposed, the next thing that happened was a trip into a very hot oven to set the braze.  Don't worry about it.

A normal sanitization with StarSan or Iodophor will be perfectly fine.  DO NOT run StarSan through these brazed chillers for a long time since it will erode the copper brazing. 

[bluesman]

Initially, I recommend running some hot water and then starsan through the chiller.

Then after each use, I like to run hot water through both inlet and outlet ports for several minutes to purge the chiller of most of the debris. I then soak the chiller in a PBW solution for deep cleaning and then boil the chiller prior to the next batch. Boiling will sanitize the chiller and mitigate any potential for contamination. 

[nateo]

I'd also bake it after cleaning to make sure you dry the thing out, and do some additional sterilizing.

[narvin]

I wouldn't bother doing anything special before your first brew.  Cleaning with PBW and rinsing with hot water after each brew session is important to prevent any buildup inside. 

Right before chilling circulate some boiling wort through it for a couple of minutes before turning on the cold water.  I think that baking the unit is overkill.  How does the outside of an immersion chiller get clean?  In the boil.

[tom]

I think I would clean it first.  Don't know what manufaturing oils, etc. they might have used.

[tumarkin]

I think I would clean it first.  Don't know what manufaturing oils, etc. they might have used.

+1
(in mama's voice) ewww, don't put that in your mouth, you don't know where it's been

[pfooti]

Yeah, I circulated a medium-strength PBW solution through it for a while before first use. You can bake it (refer to your instructions) to sterilize it, but it's not particularly necessary unless you have a known infection. I just circulate starsan through it (and my whole cold-side setup) during the last bit of the boil for everyday use. Seems to work fine.