Brass tap nut inside boiler - safe?

[brewbrew]

I have just invested in a nice new boiler that came with a "stainless steel" ball valve. The valve is definitely 316 ss (stamped on it) but the fixing nut that goes inside the boiler (in contact with the wort) is made of brass. Same goes for the ss thermometer - the sensor bit is ss but the fixing nut is brass (bigger surface area than the thermo probe).

Am I right to be feeling brassed off? Is a small amount of brass OK and is it not normal to have a ss nut on the ss tap and thermo?

I bought it from one of the big on-line shops that is often mentioned on here (it is not a cheapo Ebay job) - so I'm somewhat surprised.

Any advice?

Cheers BB

[gobuchul]

What's the problem with brass?

I thought all water taps had brass internals?

[alix101]

Brass contains lead that can leach out but on the amount you have its not going to be a concern.
John palmer wrote a chapter in how to brew about metals and there effect.
The best thing to do is to clean it with a two part vinigar and one part hydrogen poroxide (I'd Google that first )
To clean it , but I think you only do this once.
It's not a big issue but you should watch out for a reaction between the two meals which will cause corrosion your essentially crating a battery when adding wort.

[vacant]

Pipework Suppliers are on eBay though at the time I was after a few stainless bits it was slightly cheaper to buy direct from their web site.

[Jackthehat]

Modern brass fittings that may come into contact with the water supply have significantly reduced/no lead content.

[Capped]

I always thought brass was copper and zinc. Why the lead??

[Aleman]

I always thought brass was copper and zinc. Why the lead??

Makes it easier to machine

[Capped]

I always thought brass was copper and zinc. Why the lead??

Makes it easier to machine

Thanks - thought as much. Sorry for splitting hairs but if you add lead to brass, how can it still be called 'brass' when it becomes something else? They could at least call it leaded brass, like petrol! I mean they could add anything to anything and still call it what it was originally known as and nobody would know. Think I'm over-analysing things I need to lay down!

[Mashman]

In a dark room

[simon12]

According to wikepedia "However, bronze and brass may also include small proportions of a range of other elements including arsenic, phosphorus, aluminium, manganese, and silicon."

[Kev888]

Brass (like many metals) is a more of a family than one specific exact formula; there are different grades of brass with different makeup.

Brass used for potable water supplies in the UK (WRAS approved) contains no or very little lead. This is considered safe in drinking water systems and is fine in the boiler, and there is no reason why it shouldn't be included as part of a boiler tap. If it is from a reputable retailer then this should be so.

Just don't clean your boiler with anything that can attack brass. Normally thats only a restriction around fermenters which need disinfecting to a higher standard (and even then there are alternatives). But sometimes people use their boiler to hold potions for cleaning/disinfecting hoses or a plate chiller or something, and some of those may not be good for brass (or indeed stainless if left long enough).