Tips for unclogging counter flow chiller?

[KidHop]

Hey all,

More of a lurker than poster, but I've run into a situation where I could use some help from the BN Army.

My copper counter flow chiller (Chillzilla) has developed a flow restriction (it's clogged) on the cooling water side. Water still gets through, but at a much lower flow rate. Has anyone experienced this before and if so, how did you remedy it? Other than sending hot PBW through the cooling water side, which I doubt will do much good, I'm not sure what other options I have.

Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks much!

[BeerPal]

I would heat up a few gallons of PBW (near boiling), keep it hot and recuirculate it through the chiller (requires a pump) for as long as it took to clear the clog. Maybe an overnight soak in PBW first.

[KidHop]

In the words of Chris Farley..."Stupid, Stupid, Stupid." - referring to me of course.

As soon as I hit submit, I realized I should back flush with the garden hose. Don't know why I overlooked this before. Anyway, worked like a charm. I had a bunch of grass clippings and other material clogged in there from 10 years of use. My flow rate is now back to normal.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[BeerPal]

I had a bunch of grass clippings... in there from 10 years of use.

Grass clipping in your CFC???

[KidHop]

Yes on the cooling water side. I have 200' of garden hose feeding it. I'm sure from having the hose lay on the ground leads to grass clippings and other matter accumulating in it over time.

[Kbar]

Laughing my ass off.

In my opinion, beer equipment is just that, beer equipment. No other hosuehold uses. Cleaned and stored properly until the next batch.

[BeerPal]

Laughing my ass off.

In my opinion, beer equipment is just that, beer equipment. No other hosuehold uses. Cleaned and stored properly until the next batch.

+1

Even my white, potable water hose gets drained and hung up after each brewing-only use.