Cleaning Tap Lines

[Jimmy]

What's your process for cleaning tap lines? I had been using a 2L pop bottle with a carbonator cap..

1) Fill the bottle with PBW & hot water, and force it through the tap lines
2) Fill the bottle with hot water, and rinse lines
3) Fill the bottle with starsan and sanitize lines

Since getting the Marks Keg Washer, I've been using it to clean my lines (makes life a whole lot easier). You could easily accomplish the same thing with a cheap pond pump, 4 feet of hose, and a ball lock post & short dip tube.

Required Equipment:
-Small pond pump
-Hose barb to screw into pond pump
-Ball lock liquid out post
-Ball lock gas in dip tube
-4' of tubing (ID same as the dip tube)
-Bucket/container to act as liquid reservoir

I follow the same steps (PBW, water, then Starsan), but just let it recirculate for a bit while doing something else. The ball lock post just inserts into your liquid out lines of your kegerator, then open your tap and turn the pump on.

Below is a picture of the setup:

[Keith]

Able to show the ball lock piece up close?

[darciandjenn]

I'm new to kegging, but I've found it easiest to just hook a keg up with the desired cleaning/rinsing/sanitizing product to the CO2 and run it through the lines. I do this whenever I clean my kegs. Am I missing something?

[Keith]

I'm new to kegging, but I've found it easiest to just hook a keg up with the desired cleaning/rinsing/sanitizing product to the CO2 and run it through the lines. I do this whenever I clean my kegs. Am I missing something?

The above methods just free up your kegs and allows you to recirculate with zero effort.

[darciandjenn]

Fair enough! Thanks

[Jimmy]

I'm new to kegging, but I've found it easiest to just hook a keg up with the desired cleaning/rinsing/sanitizing product to the CO2 and run it through the lines. I do this whenever I clean my kegs. Am I missing something?

That works, but uses CO2. By using a pump, you're able to save money on CO2, and you're also able to recirculate for a longer time (which could mean a more effective cleaning job).

[mthibodeau]

one other way, instead of the ball lock post would be to put a mfl fitting on the end of your lines (both the liquid lind in the kegerator and on the marks keg washer). This would allow you to hook to mfl based connectors for washing the keg, and then using a mfl to mfl adapter, http://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/1_4_MFL_ ... dapter.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, you could hook the two lines together

[RubberToe]

I made the top spear of my keg washer so I could add and switch attachments. I have: rotating CIP ball, ball lock gas, ball lock liquid posts, etc. I use it to recirculate PBW, etc through my lines.

[LeafMan66_67]

Method one for me:

I use a small tub on top of my kegerator with a couple of litres of hot 5-star liquid line cleaner. I have a small pond pump that I connect direct to the Perlick with 1/2" silicon hose - fits perfect over the end. I back off the ball lock connector back screw on my beer line and drop that into the tub, secured with a clamp. I recirc the hot line cleaner for 10-15 minutes, repeat with clear water and then push through some Star San. Don't forget to tighten up the ball lock connector before you put it back on!

PBW works also, but not as great as the line cleaner.

I'll take a picture next cleaning day.


Edit:
Parts needed:
-one pond pump
-18" of 1/2" silicone tubing

[Jimmy]

Method one for me:

I use a small tub on top of my kegerator with a couple of litres of hot 5-star liquid line cleaner. I have a small pond pump that I connect direct to the Perlick with 1/2" silicon hose - fits perfect over the end. I back off the ball lock connector back screw on my beer line and drop that into the tub, secured with a clamp. I recirc the hot line cleaner for 10-15 minutes, repeat with clear water and then push through some Star San. Don't forget to tighten up the ball lock connector before you put it back on!

PBW works also, but not as great as the line cleaner.

I'll take a picture next cleaning day.

I used that same method on one of my previous line cleaning days, but switched because the hose barb I have for the pump is too small for the 1/2 tubing. Recirculating in the opposite direction of the flow of beer is probably beneficial.

[Jimmy]

Funny, I just stumbled across this:

http://www.homebrewfinds.com/2015/08/ma ... -pump.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Keith]

That's what I need to get for my keg washer. Anyone know if the one Dave sells has the barb?

[the-mailman]

Yes he does. Picture on web site just doesn't show it.

[Keith]

I know what I'm getting next Frig that will make cleaning those lines so much easier using the keg washer. Hands down one of my best investments yet.

[bandarker]

Normally I run PBW through (while cleaning the keg) and let that sit in there for a while. Normally I'll flush with star San and then run beer through it at the end. Haven't had any problems so far, may be overkill?

[Albert]

image.jpg

Picked up a fountain pump at PA and hooked up to a keg post, works mint! Thanks for the idea fellas.

[LeafMan66_67]

Same pump I have.

[mthibodeau]

How much was the pump if you don't mind my asking?

[Albert]

It just went off sale..snagged it for $30, reg $60.

[CoolBeans]

I might try this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YK1-7mHk48" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I need to get a pin lock liquid post. Any ideas where to get one? Seems like most shops only sell ball lock posts.

[Jayme]

I'm new to kegging, but I've found it easiest to just hook a keg up with the desired cleaning/rinsing/sanitizing product to the CO2 and run it through the lines. I do this whenever I clean my kegs. Am I missing something?

That works, but uses CO2. By using a pump, you're able to save money on CO2, and you're also able to recirculate for a longer time (which could mean a more effective cleaning job).

I do this but with an air compressor to not waste CO2. I've found a full keg of PWB to be more than enough to clean a line without the need to recirculate. Could also just run it through twice... Anyway I like doing it this way because I did not have to buy anything.