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Replacing hoses
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 2:41 pm
by Beer-lord
I guess even though I clean my lines with each change of a keg, after 2 years I really should look into replacing my lines with new ones. I hate to take the tape off the kegerator and mess with it while it's working great but on my next week off, that's part of the plans.
Anyone have any suggestions on how often the hoses should be replaced?
Re: Replacing hoses
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 8:26 pm
by Rebel_B
You should not have to replace any hoses, unless there is damage or wear evident. Your choice, you can change them anytime you like.
Re: Replacing hoses
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2014 12:19 am
by Gymrat
I honestly don't know how often they should be changed. I always run One Step through mine after each keg. I prefer One Step over Star San for this because One Step is actually a cleaner where Star San is really just a sanitizer. I also like to pull the faucet off after each keg and disassemble it for cleaning.
Re: Replacing hoses
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2014 9:28 am
by FrozenInTime
I run Oxyclean through my hoses to clean them, then water to rinse, then one-step to sanitize. I have the same hoses on my kegs I started with a couple years back, they still look good. I have been thinking of replacing them soon myself.
Re: Replacing hoses
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2014 10:33 pm
by MadBrewer
I ended up tossing some beer lines that I forgot to clean and they got really funky. Not worth cleaning when I can just get some new lines. But the others I have on hand I rinse well after each keg and run some starsan through them. I take apart my cobra taps and post connectors after each use and do the same. I guess a little PBW cleaning on everything wouldn't hurt as well. I say if you have been maintaining them well, keep using them until you feel they need to be changed.
I ran into an infection a couple batches back, tossed that fermenter and everything that touched that beer. Gave all of my other equipment a good cleaning and sanitizing. I replaced some high temp hose and my autosiphon hose stuff like that and I feel better now. That's when I came upon the old beer lines...garbage. Since the infection I've taken a better approach with cleaning and extra sanitizing.
Re: Replacing hoses
Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 11:28 am
by DaYooper
The only lines I have really replaced from time to time were for the picnic tap, and that was only for aesthetic purposes. Not that anyone could really tell with beer in the lines, so now in hindsight I am wondering why I even cared....
Re: Replacing hoses
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 5:10 pm
by Kealia
I replaced mine right before I went on vacation and am glad that I did. I use PBW and Stars an between each keg to clean the lines but over time they do get murky. Looking at them they looked great until I put them next to brand new lines. They weren't horrible, but still discolored a bit.
I even added two feet so I'm now running twelve for lines at about 40 degrees and 12 psi which is making for even better pours than before.
I'll likely swap them every 6-12 months going forward.