I've been using a standard 25 foot 3/8 wort chiller and it get the wort down to around 90 pretty quickly but damn it's a any race to pitching temp. The wort chilling is adding extra time in my process and its a becoming a real pain. I am ready to use a bazooka to solve a problem that a 22 would. I do 3 - 5 gallons and brew in my garage and use my hose connection. What is the best solution to cool the wort fast without additional equipment like a pump? Should I get a pte chiller? Counter flow? 50 foot 1/3 inch? I should also mention the wort chiller is a friends who never brews so eventually I'll need my own so if you wanted to cool your wort fast and it's your first purchase what would you go with?
I have the same problem. My current method is to use the IC to chill down to 100 and then I hook the IC to a sump pump in an ice bath and let the water recirculate there. It gets me to the mid-60s pretty quickly. I borrowed the pump from a buddy, so no extra expense.
The recirculating pump is the way to go from what I've researched. I might have to bite the bullet as I can use the pump for multiple things like a whirlpool, I think. I just gotta believe there is a wort chiller that can get it down to 60 without a pump.
The more surface area the better. 50 ft 1/2 inch is nice. I need the submersible pump and ice water in the summer, and often to get lagers down to 46F to pitch yeast.
Your water temp becomes the biggest factor when you reach a certain temp. You don't necessarily need a pump to recirculate ice water, but you do need the ice water. Using a pump, or buying a second IC would do the trick. Just depends on how much you want to spend, and what you'll get out of each option.
Exploiting evaporative cooling by spraying water (or wiping with a sopping wet cloth) on the outside of the kettle is one low-tech solution. Works best where the air is dry (low dew point) relative to the air temperature.
This is my situation exactly. This is similar to the pump I use. The one I use has been discontinued, and this looks like the newer model. http://www.amazon.com/PP29105-Under...&qid=1432431613&sr=1-2&keywords=Sunterra+pump
Plate chiller all the way. I was planning of building a counter flow, but changing my mind to a B3-36A 60 Plate from these guys: https://www.dudadiesel.com/ Love the data: http://www.dudadiesel.com/files/beerwortchart.pdf
On my 5-gal setup I have an immersion chiller to get the wort down to 90F or so. Then I hook up a plate chiller through which I circulate ice water via a submersible aquarium pump that is housed in a small cooler. Gets the wort from 90 to the high 40s/low 50s here in SC in under 10 min.
http://www.nybrewsupply.com/beer-ho...ort-chiller-garden-hose-fittings-38-x-50.html I haven't seen anyone beat this price for this set-up. Works great for me on 5 gallon batches. I do have a deep well with cold water year round though. I can chill from 210 to 70 in less than 15 minutes in August/July with constant stirring. I used to just let is sit and do its thing but if you stir constantly while chilling it cuts the time in half.
That's a good price. I see there stuff on amazon and they always have the best stuff. I am always cautious of buying homebrew stuff on amazon though, not sure why. Have had good luck with their stuff?
That's a great price. I was thinking a pump would cost a lot so I never looked at that option. However, that seems like the way to go. Especially as summer is in its way and my ground water will be in the low 70s. Thx
Im on my way to home depot to pick up a submersabke pump for my 50x3/8 IC. The pumps like 20$ and is for outdoor waterfall landscaping features. Up until now I have used my main IC with a small prechiller IC submersed in a bucket of ice water. It works ok, but after collecting 50 gallons of water from my set up now, I want to go to the ice water pump solution to avoid this excessive waste.
In California we have a water limit because of the drought. With my current scenario I am wasting a lot of water that I feel bad about and I am going to have to pay for it starting in June. Going to get that set up too with the water pump. I was thinking of the per chiller but after hearing your comment it make my decision that much easier.
I thought you might have thought that. I had to buy some attachments to hook it up to the wort chiller as well.
Only bought that from them and very pleased with the chiller. I've used for about 2 dozen batches with no issues.
