Broken Sight Glass

[Newfie_Brewer]

I am looking for suggestions so history does not repeat itself.

While brewing last weekend I had an unfortunate incident that involved my sight glass breaking during my boil. I was throwing a few darts while the boil was in progress and when I look over I see boiling wort spewing out of the sign glass near the elbow. I quickly transfer the wort into my hot liquor tun and finish out my brew day. I lost a little wort but not too much.

My issue is that I was nowhere near the sight glass when it broke. It did not get bumped, nothing hit it or dropped on it. It was a polycarbonate type from brewhardware. I am worried about adding another as I am worried about this happening again. Should I be concerned or was this just a freak breakage? I am thinking about plugging the hole and using other methods to measure my liquid (ie a measuring stick).

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[GillettBreweryCnslt]

Well, those things are rated to 250F IIRC. Were you using some sort of heat shield? If it got too hot then the plastic may have melted or broken. Other then that I can offer no explanation.

[mr x]

I use non rigid poly tubing.

Sent from my Nexus S

[CorneliusAlphonse]

i use a plastic stir spoon with notches cut in the sides, works well enough. haha. no experience with sight glasses. but the heat thing sounds plausible...