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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 06-10-2008, 06:21 PM
jhon jhon is offline
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Default How often do you clean your lines?

I read this article on the Micro Matics We page:

Cleaning: Do I need to clean the equipment and how often?
http://www.micromatic.com/article.aspx?artid=61

Maybe I missed it, (it might be there looking me right in the face) but I did not see the “How often“ answered. The only time frame I saw was "Regularly"

Ok, what is regularly?

Is time the major factor, or is the amount of beer dispensed?

Thanks once again
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Old 06-10-2008, 06:26 PM
THE ICEMAN THE ICEMAN is offline
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From the article...
Quote:
For residential applications, cleaning should be performed after every keg or at a minimum of every two weeks. Routine cleaning is essential to maintain the quality and fresh taste draft beer has to offer.
I would venture to say that most just clean after every keg.

THE ICEMAN
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Old 06-10-2008, 06:27 PM
jumper jumper is offline
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I don't have a set time... I clean after every keg and I haven't had a problem yet.
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Old 06-10-2008, 06:41 PM
hobster hobster is offline
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Kegs last longer than 2 weeks? I've been chugging just to make sure I maintain my cleaning schedule.
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Old 06-10-2008, 06:42 PM
jackstraw jackstraw is offline
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The experts say to clean every two weeks.

Personally, I usually just do the cleaning btwn kegs.
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Old 06-10-2008, 10:54 PM
monkey710 monkey710 is offline
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Should clean the faucet about every 2 weeks but the line after every 1/2 barrel.
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Old 06-11-2008, 04:42 AM
Skinsfan1311 Skinsfan1311 is offline
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Between kegs for me too!
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Old 06-11-2008, 07:39 AM
cubby_swans cubby_swans is offline
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between kegs for me. So far kegs last an average of 3 weeks in my house.
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Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed.
Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery
and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might
be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself,
"It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than
be selfish and worry about my liver."

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Old 06-25-2008, 12:25 PM
110toyourleft 110toyourleft is offline
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i ordered the cleaning supplies today and have brand new tubing. should i wait to clean the new tubing before i tap the the first keg?
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Old 06-26-2008, 01:04 PM
Scott Zuhse Scott Zuhse is offline
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The further past a two week cleaning cycle a system is cleaned the better chance you have for a bacteria build up which can be difficult to remove. Risky business - particularly when it is relatively easy to clean these systems.

Never hurts to pre-clean a new system.
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Old 06-26-2008, 01:14 PM
mark_ksz mark_ksz is offline
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How well do these cleaning kits work compaired to the hand pump kits sold on mm. beer line cleaning kit cleaner draft beer keg tap - eBay (item 130234003259 end time Jul-03-08 03:54:51 PDT)
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Old 06-26-2008, 01:19 PM
Scott Zuhse Scott Zuhse is offline
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At least with the hand pump you can create some velocity and agitation. Looks like the one in your link is gravity fed. Not sure you could do anything to increase the velocity.
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Old 06-27-2008, 06:55 AM
cubby_swans cubby_swans is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mark_ksz View Post
How well do these cleaning kits work compaired to the hand pump kits sold on mm. beer line cleaning kit cleaner draft beer keg tap - eBay (item 130234003259 end time Jul-03-08 03:54:51 PDT)
I realize that's only $26 up front, but it only comes with a 4oz jar of cleaning solution. I can't imagine that's good for more than 4 cleanings or maybe 8 at most. Then, you have to buy more cleaning solution. If you buy the kit from MM, the cleaning solution it comes with is enough for 32 cleanings, and you get the pump, which generates some force to help remove anything that might be built up in the lines.
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____________________________________________
Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed.
Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery
and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might
be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself,
"It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than
be selfish and worry about my liver."

____________________________________________
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  #14 (permalink)  
Old 06-28-2008, 01:45 PM
40percentrobot 40percentrobot is offline
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I agree with Scott and Cubby - I have the gravity-fed "system" that came with my kegerator, and while it works ok, I would much rather have the pump system that is sold by MM.

With the gravity system, you must hold the bottle upside down and loosen the cap enough to let some air into the bottle so the cleaning solution can start flowing. Of course, solution always drips out near the cap. This method is messy, to say the least.
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