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Main
Date: 16 Oct 2006 12:46:14
From: Gerard Eberlein
Subject: Hairline "dishwasher" type cracks in autosiphon
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When I last cleaned my autosiphon, I always clean it by hand with PBW and
rinse in hot water, I noticed in the light very fine cracking, like the kind
you see when you put non dishwasher safe plastics in the dishwasher. I've
always rinsed in water thats hot but not so hot that it causes skin burns.
Is this normal wear and tear after only about 8 batches of brewing,
bottling, etc. or am I rinsing too hot? I read you have to thoroughly rinse
items cleaned in PBW and I figure hot water is the surest way. Is it safe to
keep using this siphon? It still holds a seal but I don't want to risk
infection either. I had wanted to bottle tomorrow and brew on wednesday but
need to know the risk factor involved with this. My LHBS is quite a drive
and not sure I can make it there before the weekend. Thanx in advance.
Gerard
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Date: 16 Oct 2006 18:13:29
From: ET
Subject: Re: Hairline "dishwasher" type cracks in autosiphon
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"Gerard Eberlein" <dormouse@charter.net > wrote in
news:QHOYg.8$lD2.0@newsfe05.lga:
> When I last cleaned my autosiphon, I always clean it by hand with PBW
> and rinse in hot water, I noticed in the light very fine cracking,
> like the kind you see when you put non dishwasher safe plastics in the
> dishwasher. I've always rinsed in water thats hot but not so hot that
> it causes skin burns. Is this normal wear and tear after only about 8
> batches of brewing, bottling, etc. or am I rinsing too hot? I read you
> have to thoroughly rinse items cleaned in PBW and I figure hot water
> is the surest way. Is it safe to keep using this siphon? It still
> holds a seal but I don't want to risk infection either. I had wanted
> to bottle tomorrow and brew on wednesday but need to know the risk
> factor involved with this. My LHBS is quite a drive and not sure I can
> make it there before the weekend. Thanx in advance.
>
> Gerard
>
>
The hairline cracks or "crazing" as i call it, are typical of many clear
plastics when exposed to high temperatures. One of my autosiphons has
the same symptoms. I bought another on sale and only rinse it in just
barely warm water, and no cracks.
--
-- ET >:-)
"A common mistake people make when trying to design something
completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete
fools."---- Douglas Adams
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Date: 16 Oct 2006 18:29:25
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: Hairline "dishwasher" type cracks in autosiphon
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ET wrote:
> "Gerard Eberlein" <dormouse@charter.net> wrote in
> news:QHOYg.8$lD2.0@newsfe05.lga:
>
>
>>When I last cleaned my autosiphon, I always clean it by hand with PBW
>>and rinse in hot water, I noticed in the light very fine cracking,
>>like the kind you see when you put non dishwasher safe plastics in the
>>dishwasher. I've always rinsed in water thats hot but not so hot that
>>it causes skin burns. Is this normal wear and tear after only about 8
>>batches of brewing, bottling, etc. or am I rinsing too hot? I read you
>>have to thoroughly rinse items cleaned in PBW and I figure hot water
>>is the surest way. Is it safe to keep using this siphon? It still
>>holds a seal but I don't want to risk infection either. I had wanted
>>to bottle tomorrow and brew on wednesday but need to know the risk
>>factor involved with this. My LHBS is quite a drive and not sure I can
>>make it there before the weekend. Thanx in advance.
>>
>
> The hairline cracks or "crazing" as i call it, are typical of many clear
> plastics when exposed to high temperatures. One of my autosiphons has
> the same symptoms. I bought another on sale and only rinse it in just
> barely warm water, and no cracks.
I flush with B-Brite and rinse with hot water from the tap. No problems
with my autosiphon. I've been using it for almost a year, so maybe its a
bit young compared.
--
Dan
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Date: 22 Oct 2006 06:06:58
From: ET
Subject: Re: Hairline "dishwasher" type cracks in autosiphon
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Dan Logcher <dlogcher*xspam*@comcast.net > wrote in
news:453407c7$0$559$b45e6eb0@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu:
> ET wrote:
>> "Gerard Eberlein" <dormouse@charter.net> wrote in
>> news:QHOYg.8$lD2.0@newsfe05.lga:
>>
>>
>>>When I last cleaned my autosiphon, I always clean it by hand with PBW
>>>and rinse in hot water, I noticed in the light very fine cracking,
>>>like the kind you see when you put non dishwasher safe plastics in
>>>the dishwasher. I've always rinsed in water thats hot but not so hot
>>>that it causes skin burns. Is this normal wear and tear after only
>>>about 8 batches of brewing, bottling, etc. or am I rinsing too hot? I
>>>read you have to thoroughly rinse items cleaned in PBW and I figure
>>>hot water is the surest way. Is it safe to keep using this siphon? It
>>>still holds a seal but I don't want to risk infection either. I had
>>>wanted to bottle tomorrow and brew on wednesday but need to know the
>>>risk factor involved with this. My LHBS is quite a drive and not sure
>>>I can make it there before the weekend. Thanx in advance.
>>>
>>
>> The hairline cracks or "crazing" as i call it, are typical of many
>> clear plastics when exposed to high temperatures. One of my
>> autosiphons has the same symptoms. I bought another on sale and only
>> rinse it in just barely warm water, and no cracks.
>
> I flush with B-Brite and rinse with hot water from the tap. No
> problems with my autosiphon. I've been using it for almost a year, so
> maybe its a bit young compared.
>
I also have a hot water heater right under the sink turned up way past
the "safe" 125F point, so that may be my problem as well....
--
-- ET >:-)
"A common mistake people make when trying to design something
completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete
fools."---- Douglas Adams
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Date: 16 Oct 2006 10:48:17
From: alebrewer
Subject: Re: Hairline "dishwasher" type cracks in autosiphon
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Gerard Eberlein wrote:
> When I last cleaned my autosiphon, I always clean it by hand with PBW and
> rinse in hot water, I noticed in the light very fine cracking, like the kind
> you see when you put non dishwasher safe plastics in the dishwasher. I've
> always rinsed in water thats hot but not so hot that it causes skin burns.
> Is this normal wear and tear after only about 8 batches of brewing,
> bottling, etc. or am I rinsing too hot? I read you have to thoroughly rinse
> items cleaned in PBW and I figure hot water is the surest way. Is it safe to
> keep using this siphon? It still holds a seal but I don't want to risk
> infection either. I had wanted to bottle tomorrow and brew on wednesday but
> need to know the risk factor involved with this. My LHBS is quite a drive
> and not sure I can make it there before the weekend. Thanx in advance.
>
> Gerard
Two points come to mind.
1) why are you using PBW, which you are saying is requiring the "hot"
rinse? For my autosiphon, after use, I rinse with water, flush with
iodophor sol'n if I feel so inclined, and drain it and put it up.
Prior to use, I flush it with iodophor sol'n, drain, and use. I've
used the same autosiphon for an unknown number of batches over the past
4 years. I've never had a problem (other than the autosiphon sometimes
sucking air).
2) maybe you're being a little too anal about your sanitation? I know,
blasphemy, but if you're clean and sanitary, you should be just fine.
Yes, you can get infections in small cracks in plastic, but just
because you have cracks doesn't mean you will have an infection. I
guess what I'm trying to say is that if you have an infection whose
source you can't locate, fine cracks in your plastic is a possible
source. But, if you don't have a problem, don't worry. As you beer is
already fermented, it isn't as susceptible as fresh wort would be;
there isn't all that much for bacteria to eat and there are already so
many yeasts around, they wouldn't have much of a chance.
I'm not saying you don't have to be concerned about being clean and
sanitary, just that you don't have to worry about it. Clean it, rinse
it with iodophor, drain it, and use it.
By the way, I used my autosiphon to transfer nearly boiling wort one
time (not recommended). It didn't cause any cracks, but I do think it
is why it will suck air unless I put water on the "top" side of the
seal.
ab
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Date: 16 Oct 2006 21:11:16
From: Lee
Subject: Re: Hairline "dishwasher" type cracks in autosiphon
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I learned at least 2 valuable lessons the hard way. One of them was
that the hard plastic tubing in auto-siphons isn't very heat resistant.
I ruined my auto-siphon not very long after I got it in the front door.
I still haven't admitted to anyone what the other lesson was.
Lee
alebrewer wrote:
> Gerard Eberlein wrote:
>> When I last cleaned my autosiphon, I always clean it by hand with PBW and
>> rinse in hot water, I noticed in the light very fine cracking, like the kind
>> you see when you put non dishwasher safe plastics in the dishwasher. I've
>> always rinsed in water thats hot but not so hot that it causes skin burns.
>> Is this normal wear and tear after only about 8 batches of brewing,
>> bottling, etc. or am I rinsing too hot? I read you have to thoroughly rinse
>> items cleaned in PBW and I figure hot water is the surest way. Is it safe to
>> keep using this siphon? It still holds a seal but I don't want to risk
>> infection either. I had wanted to bottle tomorrow and brew on wednesday but
>> need to know the risk factor involved with this. My LHBS is quite a drive
>> and not sure I can make it there before the weekend. Thanx in advance.
>>
>> Gerard
>
> Two points come to mind.
>
> 1) why are you using PBW, which you are saying is requiring the "hot"
> rinse? For my autosiphon, after use, I rinse with water, flush with
> iodophor sol'n if I feel so inclined, and drain it and put it up.
> Prior to use, I flush it with iodophor sol'n, drain, and use. I've
> used the same autosiphon for an unknown number of batches over the past
> 4 years. I've never had a problem (other than the autosiphon sometimes
> sucking air).
>
> 2) maybe you're being a little too anal about your sanitation? I know,
> blasphemy, but if you're clean and sanitary, you should be just fine.
> Yes, you can get infections in small cracks in plastic, but just
> because you have cracks doesn't mean you will have an infection. I
> guess what I'm trying to say is that if you have an infection whose
> source you can't locate, fine cracks in your plastic is a possible
> source. But, if you don't have a problem, don't worry. As you beer is
> already fermented, it isn't as susceptible as fresh wort would be;
> there isn't all that much for bacteria to eat and there are already so
> many yeasts around, they wouldn't have much of a chance.
>
> I'm not saying you don't have to be concerned about being clean and
> sanitary, just that you don't have to worry about it. Clean it, rinse
> it with iodophor, drain it, and use it.
>
> By the way, I used my autosiphon to transfer nearly boiling wort one
> time (not recommended). It didn't cause any cracks, but I do think it
> is why it will suck air unless I put water on the "top" side of the
> seal.
>
> ab
>
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Date: 22 Oct 2006 08:26:23
From: Dick Adams
Subject: Re: Hairline "dishwasher" type cracks in autosiphon
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Gerard Eberlein <dormouse@charter.net > wrote:
> When I last cleaned my autosiphon, I always clean it by hand with PBW and
> rinse in hot water, I noticed in the light very fine cracking, like the kind
> you see when you put non dishwasher safe plastics in the dishwasher. I've
> always rinsed in water thats hot but not so hot that it causes skin burns.
> Is this normal wear and tear after only about 8 batches of brewing,
> bottling, etc. or am I rinsing too hot? I read you have to thoroughly rinse
> items cleaned in PBW and I figure hot water is the surest way. Is it safe to
> keep using this siphon? It still holds a seal but I don't want to risk
> infection either. I had wanted to bottle tomorrow and brew on wednesday but
> need to know the risk factor involved with this. My LHBS is quite a drive
> and not sure I can make it there before the weekend. Thanx in advance.
I've lost two autosiphons. IMRHO PBW should not be used on plastics and
hot water is death on thin plastics. My tap water can be up to 120F
(48.9C) and that did not appear to be a problem. But one day something
happened to my hot water heater and it went up to 160F (71.1C). I
filled a pail about half full and put in some Idophor. After my third
use that day, the autosiphon sprung a leak. Now I check the water and
use it at about 86F (30C).
Dick
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