Remove the fermenter tap everytime I clean/sterilise

[nnylf18]

Hi, This is my first post on this great website, I am a first time brewer and I plan to do my first brew (Coopers Lager) tomorrow. I have got myself a Cooper Micro brewery and I am just thinking ahead and wondering if I should be removing the tap after every brew / before my next brew to clean and sterilise the thread or will this just introduce more bacteria and damage the tap screwand thread?

[trucker5774]

Once in a while won't do any harm, but I wouldn't worry about it. I cant remember taking mine apart in the last ......er....well....er ....ever

[nnylf18]

Thanks, I am just unsure about the whole process but looking forward to getting started!

[Wolfy]

I have got myself a Cooper Micro brewery and I am just thinking ahead and wondering if I should be removing the tap after every brew / before my next brew to clean and sterilise the thread or will this just introduce more bacteria and damage the tap screwand thread?

If you are talking about a plastic fermentation vessel with a plastic threaded tap (and most likely a black washer), the most common recommended practice is to unscrew it, clean the tap and thread well, sanitise the lot before putting the washer back on and screwing the tap in again. I have never heard of anyone having trouble with unscrewing and re-screwing the tap between batches and if you do not unscrew the tap and clean/sanitise the tap and thread between batches there would be a much higher risk of infection.

If your tap looks like the one below some/many people even forcibly pull the tap pieces apart every few batches so they can properly and completely clean and sanitise inside of it (which I think is what trucker5774 was talking about).

[boingy]

I don't think I've ever removed a tap to clean it.
I've replaced one or two when they have become stiff to operate, leaky or very discoloured but apart from that I clean them in place.
I suspect removing the tap and pulling it apart every brew is a sure fire way to shorten the life of the tap and/or end up with a leaky seal.

[nnylf18]

Thanks for all the replies, there seems to be some mixed opinions, I think I might remove and clean every so often but maybe not after each batch, I guess the tap will be easily replaced but if the thread goes on the fermenter it will be for the bin.

[Andy]

I take the W&D plastic tap on my FV apart everytime I brew (and when cleaning the FV after a fermentation is finished). Very easy to do and takes only a few minutes.

[Manx Guy]

I have the 'Coopers micro brewery' fermenter and I remove and clean the tap after each brew and when sanitising before each brew...

The tap looks identical to that in the photo posted by Wolfy

I have done about 22 brews in this frmenter and the tap is fine!

I have only dismantled the tap once tho' Usually I just remove it give the thread a good clean with a soft cloth and VWP the tap the same and rise well...

The only infection problem I had came from iffy bottles...

Hope that helps



Guy

[nnylf18]

Thanks everyone, remove and clean before/after every brew it is, I'm just about to start cleaning and sterilising now then get my first brew on! Thanks for the help!

[WishboneBrewery]

I tend to remove my FV taps after each ferment and wash along with the FV, then when reassembling I assemble it wet covered in Starsan solution. Better than risking infection from something so simple.

[steve_flack]

I have stainless steel 3 piece ball valves on my conical and I remove and boil them every time I use it. About every half dozen brews I take them apart. There's usually a fair bit of gunk hiding in there. Boiling deals with that. I doubt any sanitiser would make a serious dent on it.

[TC2642]

I will do it once in a while but not that often. Never had any problems, if your concerned wash them every time.

[johnmac]

I rarely dismantle my WD Drum taps - no problems yet.