Beer Forum

Hey guys,

I have been purging with CO2 and kegging for only a few months and have seen a big improvement in the longevity of my bottled beers and kegs.

Does anyone else sanitize all their gas lines before purging and kegging?

I am a little unsure whether it is necessary as it never comes into contact with beer or other liquids, however the yeasts and bacteria in the air may be an issue.

While I have done this a before it is not necessary. That said it can't hurt. I do error on the side of cleaning a gas line before first use, but I don't think that is necessary either.
If you got beer in your gas line you should defiantly clean it. Just make sure you always have your gas on before you hook up to a keg or you may get a gas line full of beer. This happens because the keg has more pressure than the line. Back pressure pushes into the void of pressure in the line.

I sanitize my gas lines the first time I connect them to quick disconnects and the tank. Just to be safe and sure, although I am anal when it comes to sanitation.

I always sanitize my gas line for my beer gun too when bottling beers from the keg. Once again, just to rule out any variable that might screw up my beer.

With that being said, I don't think its necessary, but it is so easy to do, so why not?

Thanks for your input guys.

I like the 'better safe than sorry' attitude. It does require a little more work, but it's got to be worth it right?

Cheers.

Beerbrain wrote:Thanks for your input guys.

I like the 'better safe than sorry' attitude. It does require a little more work, but it's got to be worth it right?

Cheers.

It's a better option than turning a German Pils into a Brett Saison.

I love to be redundant, so I'll chime in...

I always shoot some starsan down the lines when I put the stuff together the first time, but so long as I don't get beer back into the line I just re-spray the connector. I haven't been bitten by it yet (maybe 100 batches since I started kegging).

NateBrews wrote:I love to be redundant, so I'll chime in...

I always shoot some starsan down the lines when I put the stuff together the first time, but so long as I don't get beer back into the line I just re-spray the connector. I haven't been bitten by it yet (maybe 100 batches since I started kegging).

Pretty much what I do to. No issues.

Generally all I do is spray the connector with Star San just before sticking it on a keg post. Be sure to spray the post too. Every month or two, I take the connector apart and soak in in PBW for awhile to clean it. Dip all the parts in Star San and reassemble. The gas line will be clean enough that you don't need to put any sanitizer in it. If beer has backed up into the line, it needs a lot more than just sanitizing. Complete cleaning with BLC or outright replacing is in order.