Starsan to clean Buffalo Boiler?

[legion]

Hi,

Am looking to make the switch from Kits / Extract to BIAB and got a 40 L Buffalo Boiler for my birthday. Would it be okay to use starsan to sanitise the boiler?

Adam.

[Beer O'Clock]

If you are boiling in the Buffalo (and you will with BIAB), then the only thing that needs sanatising is the tap. The boiling process does the job for you. But yes, I use Starsan for the tap before transferring to the FV.

[legion]

Great thanks.

[Goulders]

I too got a buffalo 40l for my birthday. Just treated water tonight (GW simple - boil 30 mins with campden tablet and 3 tsp of gypsum). Will rack off tomorrow night and then either tomorrow or thursday will do my first BIAB - Mysterio SNPA; ingredients arrived today

[Beer O'Clock]

Hey Goulders. If you are doing BIAB, and you are treating overnight, save yourself the leccy. No need to boil it. Just fill the boiler to the required level, add crushed Camden tab and just leave it. The Chlorine dissipates naturally and the Camden works on the Chloromines.
Add your Gypsum into the mash (inside the bag with the grains).

KISS

[Goulders]

Beer, thanks for that. I filled the boiler from our combi-boiler which has in-line filter. However, the water is very hard where I live and a lot of CaCO3 left behind after boiling. But will try your method next time

[Beer O'Clock]

Are you adding Gypsum to adjust your PH or just "because" ? If it's the latter, try a couple without and see what the resuts are like. That's what I did and found that darker ales were fine but paler ones were "lacking". My water is different to yours (unless you live near Watlington) so it's an experiment you might like to try rather than assume it's better with Gypsum.

[Goulders]

I live in Portsmouth and did "just because", but also the ale will be a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale clone. I have done kits before and found the water untreated to be ok for a stout, but having looked at water treatment calculator based on water reporton my area, thought I would try an addition of gypsum. To be honest, just looking forward to getting the brew done and replacing beer in the bottles I have enjoyed emptying over the last few weeks!

[Beer O'Clock]

Fair enough, but water treatment is really an added tool with which to 'perfect' great beers. I would always advise getting the basic technique right before getting involved in something that can potentially stuff up a beer. Also when fault finding, it adds another element that can disguise the real cause.


I know nothing of your experience, so ignore if it's not relevent

[jmc]

I have an old buffallo boiler and it works a treat now that I have:
a) moved temp sensor so I get a rolling boil
b) Thoroughly clean element after each boil.
If I dont clean element thoroughly after each brew I end up with the next boil cutting out after only a few minutes.

If its brand new and you haven't done a rolling boil before with the boiler I'd give it a go (with water) to check it doesn't cut out at 90C
You don't want to find that out when its full of wort!

I use a very small test-tube brush to clean out boiler tap. Its suprising the amount of gunk you can find in there even after flushing with warm water.

Good luck with you brew

[Goulders]

Thanks. Tested with water and ready to go!

[judasegg]

Had problem with mine dying after only my 4th brew - inside there is a thermal fuse (in wire with white sleeve on it), and that blew. Was going to replace it and be all safety conscious - but instead I took it out, and also took off the thermal switch attached to element, and soldered them all together. Seems to be working so far...but need to test it this weekend on a long boil as I am a noobie in the electrics department.

Good times.

[Bribie]

Couple of points:
If the element is dirty it will tend to cut out as it is working harder to boil, thanks to the crust of stuff baked onto it, the boiler "trip out" will think the boiler has boiled dry and it will cut out. I have a similar Aussie made boiler that works on the same principle and I had it bypassed, works fine. Remember those boilers aren't supposed to boil wort - they are intended to boil lots water in church halls for Ladies Bingo, or in high volume restaurants. We ask a lot of them.

A good method of cleaning the element and boiler insides is to use a green scratchy kitchen cleaner, but now and again go over the entire insides and element with some fairly strong citric acid solution (and wear kitchen gloves) and a brush. This is a great de scaler and can be easily rinsed out later.

[legion]

Thanks again for for all the useful advice in this thread. I got my ingredients delivered for my first 4 or so brews on Friday. Just need to get a bag sorted and will place an order with eoinmag later today.