I'm going keg for the 1st time this weekend. I have a 3 tap system I made from a old refrigerator. I was wondering if I should disconnect the beer lines from the keg when not in use.(if not going to use for a few days) Do you sanitize the co2 side of the system? If so whats the best way. And also how often should I clean the lines.
No reason to disconnect the lines from the keg, or the faucets. No need to sanitize the Co2 side, but you should have check valves in your co2 line to keep it from working it's way into your manifolds and regulators anyways. Clean lines? Depends really. I probably don't clean mine as often as I should, and it's around once a month usually. Maybe 1.5 months. I have some good barrier line, so mine doesn't pick up flavors as often, or stain. That said, beer stone will accumulate and you'll need to clean them. Some people clean the lines after a keg has kicked, others every other, and some.. never. Who knows.
No. While it might not hurt, you could be introducing bugs to your quick dissconect while it's hanging unattached. I sanitize the CO2 quick disconnect before putting a new keg in. I don't remove/disassemble it, but I do squirt starsan into the "chamber", pour out, then hook up. I do it after every keg. It keeps them cleaner than if you let stuff build up.
