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01-03-2006, 03:24 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 16
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Home made Glycol system
Hi to all. I'm brand new to the forum and to home draft beer. We just bought a home that has a beer system in it. There is literally a gallon of glycol in a plastic bucket in the freezer section and a keg in the refrigerated section of the refrigerator that is being used to cool the system. The glycol needs to be pumped directly upstairs about 18 feet to the tap. The system was not working when we bought the home and a friend of mine said the pump (a condensate type pump) that was pumping the glycol was dead. I bought a new and stronger pump ( a 1/3 horsepower submursible pump)and put it in the glycol and it began working perfectly. The beer was nice and cold. I went down after about an hour and checked on everything and it seemed that the pump had begun to heat up and was starting to warm the glycol and eventually the beer. I shut off the pump and the beer ran fine and remained pretty cold for the rest of the night. I plan on getting a bigger stainless steel bucket so I can fully submerge the pump in an attempt to keep it cold.
Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Lou
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01-03-2006, 03:41 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 257
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Are you sure it wasn't just the glycol getting warm from exchanging heat with the lines and not recooling fast enough?
Semper Fi,
The Gunns
"Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
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01-03-2006, 07:02 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 16
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USMC,
You could be right. I didn't think about the heat exchange. Because the pump felt a little warm to the touch, I just assumed it was because it was constantly running for about an hour. The glycol appears to be running through the system loop pretty steady so I don't really know. I'm going to try getting the bigger steel bucket and completely submerging the pump in the glycol.
Thanks for your response.
Lou
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01-04-2006, 06:35 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 257
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Well if it is a heat exchange issue a bigger bucket that will hold more glycol should help. The more glycol that is in the system the less impact heat exchange should have as you will always have the same amount in the lines but with more in the freezer.... you get the idea...
Semper Fi,
The Gunns
"Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
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01-04-2006, 07:24 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 16
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Thanks again USMC. When were you in the Marines? My father-in-law was in for 16 years and saw action in Korea. Just curious.
Lou
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01-04-2006, 08:21 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 257
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No Prob Lou, hope it helps. I retired about two and a half years ago, still with the Corps though, doing contracted support work now.
Semper Fi,
The Gunns
"Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
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01-09-2006, 08:33 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 257
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Hey Lou, how about an update. Did you get your problem fixed?
Semper Fi,
The Gunns
"Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
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01-24-2006, 07:55 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 16
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Gunns,
Sorry about my late reply to your 1/9/06 post. I have not checked the forum for a couple of weeks. I got the bigger bucket, but not a metal one, and a fresh gallon of glycol which I mixed 1 to 1 with distilled water per the direction on the bottle. I have not tested the system yet because I need to clean the beer lines and have not purchased a pressurized cleaning system yet. I have run the now fully submerged pump for about an hour in the bigger bucket and it does not seem to be getting as warm so I have high hopes that it will work better than before.
Do you know anything about the dual bottle pressurized cleaning kit? The professional guy who originally cleaned my system recommended it so I may order it very soon so I can clean and use the system on a regular basis.
Lou
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01-25-2006, 04:50 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 257
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Lou,
Good to hear your glycol system seems to be working better. I have no percsonal knowledge of the dual bottle pressurized cleaning kit. Scott should be able to help you with that.
Semper Fi,
The Gunns
"Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
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01-25-2006, 08:05 AM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 16
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Gunns,
How do I get in touch with Scott to ask him? I'm still new to the forum.
Thanks,
Lou
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01-25-2006, 12:28 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 257
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Scott checks in once a day or so and should see your question and reply
Semper Fi,
The Gunns
"Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
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