Starsan and o-rings/bev lines

Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:52 am

I'm looking at switching over to starsan from Iodophore, but I had a couple questions on whether starsan eats o-rings under long term storage conditions. Same thing with bev lines as it's going to be sitting in the jumpers for a long time.

Also does it tend to lend any flavors over the long term, I was thinking about storing it in my lines with the cobra taps untill I needed them.

I'm going to be using RO water for the starsan solution and not re-use any of it. Just seems nice to have a whole keg of it sitting around for a rainy day.

Then if I make a bad batch of beer I can just rack it on to a gal or two... pull a Justin :D

Thanks guys and gals!
madmonkeybrewing
 
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Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:49 am

WEEELLLLL,

First of all........WELCOME to the insanity my brotha!

I can't speak on the issue of what it will do to O-rings and such, I have noticed some of my hoses and tubing cloud up after extended periods of time in solution.

I've never noticed and off flavors from using it, but I don't leave it long term in my hoses either.

(Wasn't there a Sunday Session with the folks who make Star-San????)

Why not re-use it???? If your going to mix in RO, it will last MUCH longer than if with regular water, from what I've read, and have heard, as long as it's still clear, and makes bubbles/foam when you shake it, it's as good as the first day you mixed it up. I have used Star-San for years, reusing it several times over a few month period with no problems. I wouldn't rack 5 gallaons of beer on top of 2-3 gallons of Star-San, but hey, that's just me!


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Whitebeard_Brewer
 
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Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:04 am

Don't know of any long term effects, good or bad.

There is clouding of the tubes but that's nothing to worry about.

Never seen any added or changed flavors.

I keep 5 gal (mixed using RO water) in a keg to rinse other kegs and beer lines. It usually is still good after three months when I change it out just to change it out.

You will find a couple of good interviews, one here at the BN and one at basic brewing radio.

And welcome to the BN :D
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numsquat
 
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Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:25 am

The Star-San dude said as long as the pH is below 3.5 it's still good. I recall him saying something about the cloudiness of the tubes being caused by the Star-San getting into the microscopic pores of the tubing. That's a good thing! I've never heard of anyone detecting any flavors caused by Star-San.
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BrewTa2
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Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:27 am

sweet thanks guys! I missed the starsan sunday show unless it happened after like april of last year... I'm still trying to catch up.

I'll look for it. I have seen most all of my lines go cloudy sooner or later. I rigged up a QD to my racking cane so I can rack directly to a purged keg. That one had some iodophore in it at one point of time, it retained some liquid and clouded, so I wasn't overly worried.

Starsan is cheap(ish)! RO water is even more so, I don't mind dumping it. I figure a keg of starsan will last close to a year.

I'll probably still use iodophore for some things. I have a ton of it still, but everyone on the forums and on the sunday show seem to love it.

I suppose I wouldn't rack onto starsan for a bad batch... just bottle it, give it to thirsty... seems like a lot of work to properly dispose of beer :)
madmonkeybrewing
 
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Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:11 pm

Iodophor will eat rubber, star san won't
Nuff said
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bub
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Wed Feb 20, 2008 1:55 pm

bub wrote:Iodophor will eat rubber


That would explain my first born...........
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BrewTa2
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Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:48 am

BrewTa2 wrote:
bub wrote:Iodophor will eat rubber


That would explain my first born...........


HA.... beer came out my nose on that one.
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