Filling HLT/all-in-one from garden hose

[Clint]

If you use a hose...cap the end off. My chiller hose which hangs in the shed frequently expels slugs from the open end when I start running water through it. As it's going to waste I'm not particularly bothered.

 

[Jim Brewster]

If the garage is not too far from the house it might be worth having a tap plumbed in as a long term investment.

I reckon if I was going to bodge DIY it I could use some 15mm copper pipe, a tee from the outside tap with a service valve to isolate it when not in use, a few lengths of 3m copper pipe, and some elbow compression fittings, or soldered if I was feeling brave.

 

[Hop_it]

I was employed for most of my working life by two large chemical companies in their plastics businesses in technical roles. For a large part of that time my product responsibilities included PVC (aka vinyl). . . . . . . So, flexible PVC contains plasticisers to make it pliable and soft. Some of these are based on phthalates (not phenols as mentioned above). There are many different types of phthalates, and it is true that some of them have been shown to be toxic. However, these are no longer used because there are many alternatives available to the plastics industry.
In addition to this the highest risk of plasticiser migration/leeching (i.e. of any type of plasticiser) occurs during prolonged contact and/or at elevated temperatures, and when there is a suitable medium. For example food products are no longer packaged in flexible PVC because of the extended contact time. A good example is milk because the fat is a possible solvent for some plasticisers. However, that said flexible PVC bags are still used for blood storage, and flexible PVC tube is used for transfusion tubing and drug delivery. So, it's not black and white.
Food grade PVC tubing is designed to be used mainly by the food industry to transport liquid foodstuffs or liquids used in the manufacture/production of food, and has been formulated with additives that will not impart any taste or taint to the food. It is of course the safest option, but the bottom line is - you are very very very unlikely to have any problems using a garden hose to transfer cold water to your HLT for homebrewing. It is good practice to flush it out with fresh water before collecting your sample, and I only say that because you don't really want to use stale water for your beer. There is quite simply not enough contact time to leech out any plasticiser from the inside wall of the pipe.

 

[moto748]

Where is the garden hose stored? I'd be more concerned about creepy-crawlies, bacteria etc. getting in there, than plasticisers.

When I fill my boiler, I measure out the water in a measuring jug, and pour it into a washing-up bowl (kept just for the purpose), and then pour that in the boiler, 4 litres at a time. Do that three or four times, and I have enough for a batch.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

I was employed for most of my working life by two large chemical companies in their plastics businesses in technical roles. For a large part of that time my product responsibilities included PVC (aka vinyl). . . . . . . So, flexible PVC contains plasticisers to make it pliable and soft. Some of these are based on phthalates (not phenols as mentioned above). There are many different types of phthalates, and it is true that some of them have been shown to be toxic. However, these are no longer used because there are many alternatives available to the plastics industry.
In addition to this the highest risk of plasticiser migration/leeching (i.e. of any type of plasticiser) occurs during prolonged contact and/or at elevated temperatures, and when there is a suitable medium. For example food products are no longer packaged in flexible PVC because of the extended contact time. A good example is milk because the fat is a possible solvent for some plasticisers. However, that said flexible PVC bags are still used for blood storage, and flexible PVC tube is used for transfusion tubing and drug delivery. So, it's not black and white.
Food grade PVC tubing is designed to be used mainly by the food industry to transport liquid foodstuffs or liquids used in the manufacture/production of food, and has been formulated with additives that will not impart any taste or taint to the food. It is of course the safest option, but the bottom line is - you are very very very unlikely to have any problems using a garden hose to transfer cold water to your HLT for homebrewing. It is good practice to flush it out with fresh water before collecting your sample, and I only say that because you don't really want to use stale water for your beer. There is quite simply not enough contact time to leech out any plasticiser from the inside wall of the pipe.

Brilliant to have quality info like this - thanks! :hat:

 

[foxy]

I think the way brewers use rice hulls would be more of a health risk than garden hose.

 

[An Ankoù]

Where is the garden hose stored? I'd be more concerned about creepy-crawlies, bacteria etc. getting in there, than plasticisers.

When I fill my boiler, I measure out the water in a measuring jug, and pour it into a washing-up bowl (kept just for the purpose), and then pour that in the boiler, 4 litres at a time. Do that three or four times, and I have enough for a batch.

Aren't you worried about plasticisers leaching out of your washing bowl, not to mention the jug itself? Me, I use a crystal eye-dropper to catch individual raindrops as they fall. Takes no time at all to get 15 litres for a good old mash. The rest of the family watch in amazement, peeing themselves with laughter. Enough teardrops there for a jolly old sparge and Bob's your uncle. Fermentation carried out in old "Round Up" containers. I know there'll be nothing nasty growing in there.

Got carried away there @moto748 . No offence intended.

 

[Clint]

I would add when I run my slug filled chiller the smell off the cheap plastic hose is quite noticeable....nasty pvc smell.

 

[Hop_it]

I think the way brewers use rice hulls would be more of a health risk than garden hose.

I agree. I sometime use rice hulls, but I now rinse them several times with boiling water before stirring them into the mash. The rinse water is always brown, so who knows what is actually in there???? . . . . . Probably some of the paddy-field and whatever they put on it

 

[Clint]

I agree. I sometime use rice hulls, but I now rinse them several times with boiling water before stirring them into the mash. The rinse water is always brown, so who knows what is actually in there???? . . . . . Probably some of the paddy-field and whatever they put on it

Sounds like load of sh..

 

[foxy]

I agree. I sometime use rice hulls, but I now rinse them several times with boiling water before stirring them into the mash. The rinse water is always brown, so who knows what is actually in there???? . . . . . Probably some of the paddy-field and whatever they put on it

What they put on it is fungicide, insecticide and finally weed killer to stop the growth. Here in Australia it has to be washed before going into animal feed. Some countries it has the be washed before going into chicken litter! Terrible stuff.

 

[Hop_it]

What they put on it is fungicide, insecticide and finally weed killer to stop the growth. Here in Australia it has to be washed before going into animal feed. Some countries it has the be washed before going into chicken litter! Terrible stuff.

Hmmmm, not an appealing cocktail of chemicals . . . . . I may have to reconsider my options

 

[Clint]

Would oat husks be better?

 

[foxy]

Hmmmm, not an appealing cocktail of chemicals . . . . . I may have to reconsider my options

Would oat husks be better?

Doesn't matter what hulls or husks are used they should be washed, or use a more fluid mash and don't use them at all.

 

[Jim Brewster]

beta glucanase is apparently the trick to unstuck mashes... if you can get hold of it

 

[foxy]

beta glucanase is apparently the trick to unstuck mashes... if you can get it!

Or more liquor. I no sparge but have to keep a close eye when making an oatmeal stout or an English IPA with flaked maize. I just keep stirring the mash every 10 minutes.

 

[Hop_it]

beta glucanase is apparently the trick to unstuck mashes... if you can get hold of it

I have been trying to get some to test, but it only seems to be available to the brewing trade in the UK in large quantities. Also, it appears to have a limited shelf life, and has to be stored at low temperatures (5 to 12degC). This clearly puts homebrew shops and online retailers off the idea of stocking it for sale in small quantities.

 

[Clint]

I stir the mash 3 times and use 2.6l/k . Seems to work.

 

[foxy]

I have been trying to get some to test, but it only seems to be available to the brewing trade in the UK in large quantities. Also, it appears to have a limited shelf life, and has to be stored at low temperatures (5 to 12degC). This clearly puts homebrew shops and online retailers off the idea of stocking it for sale in small quantities.

A bit like proxitane, the best no rinse sanitiser available. Has to be kept in the fridge and low shelf life,(a year) though I have kept it for a couple of years and it still works.

 

[AnimatedGIF]

If the garage is not too far from the house it might be worth having a tap plumbed in as a long term investment.

I reckon if I was going to bodge DIY it I could use some 15mm copper pipe, a tee from the outside tap with a service valve to isolate it when not in use, a few lengths of 3m copper pipe, and some elbow compression fittings, or soldered if I was feeling brave.

That is exactly my plan, but I'll be using MDPE pipe 750mm below the garden. There's a pointless garden tap at the back of our house, about 6m from the garage, so I'll basically divert that to the garage. This will be done in all the spare time I have