Beer Forum

edramshaw · #1 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 04:16 PM

I have encountered a problem at a customers bar and was looking for some support and/or second opinions on my diagnosis before heading out there…

The system is a glycol chilled long draw system servicing 2 towers (one is 50 feet and the other is 25-30 feet away) using 75/25 at 20lbs to push the beer. The cooler is one floor below the bar(s). The first run is the main bar, the second is to a service bar that will not be used for another month or two.

The problem is that some of the lines are pouring intermittently, slowing to a trickle and turning to foam. Sometimes not pouring at all or pouring foam.

My diagnosis is that something must be blocking the line because the service bar still pours when the ones at the main bar do not. I did not really inspect the second run but will do that when I am in next. The glycol unit is set at 30 with a 7-8 degree differential and the freeze point of the mix is 31 degrees. This seems to support my theory. I recommended servicing the unit which will include flushing the glycol out and replacing it with fresh glycol mix, cleaning out the dust from the cooling unit and resetng the thermostat for 29 and the differential down to 3 degrees. I am assuming that the service bar run is not as insulated or runs through a warmer part of the building which is why it is not freezing and the main bar is. Is there anything else I should be looking at? Does my diagnosis seem accurate? I want to get this up and running for them as soon as I can so I want to be prepared. Thanks in advance for any help.

Larry Tapper · #2 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 09:03 PM

Take a temp reading of the out glycol line and the return line, the system my not be large enought ot take care of both runs. they longest run should be the first lines cooled. How old is the system? Lots of things to Know just to help out, good luck.

edramshaw · #3 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 05:43 AM

Thanks. The system is on the older side. I will take take the temp of the send/return lines when I head up there. I could see why that would cause beer to foam but not to freeze, any thoughts?