I'm considering filling my brew kettle directly from the hot water tap to save time. Its a direct feed from cold water to combI boiler.
When I mentioned this idea to a friend he expressed some concern that as the water never gets to boiling within the system it could grow bacteria and could get dangerous.
So is it safe can bacteria grow within the system and make the hot water unsafe to use
Cheers sean
How do combI boilers work
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Jocky
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Re: How do combI boilers work
Pretty sure this has been discussed before and your idea is fine.
There's nothing for bacteria to grow on, so I don't know how they would grow in your boiler any more than growing anywhere else in your plumbing.
There's nothing for bacteria to grow on, so I don't know how they would grow in your boiler any more than growing anywhere else in your plumbing.
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sbond10
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Re: How do combI boilers work
It's the fact I think isn't the element submerged so always wet so could grow bacteria...
Also the other question could be against doing this is what temp can you take alkalinity tests at and what temps could you add crs. If my waters at 45 degrees it will apprently take 9 minutes to hit strike temp would this even be enough time for the reactions to take place
Also the other question could be against doing this is what temp can you take alkalinity tests at and what temps could you add crs. If my waters at 45 degrees it will apprently take 9 minutes to hit strike temp would this even be enough time for the reactions to take place
Re: How do combI boilers work
Loads of people use combi boilers to fill their HLT/Braumeisters etc (me included). Just treat alkalinity etc as normal
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millmaster
Re: How do combI boilers work
sbond,
Your friend may be thinking of legionella ( the bug that causes Legionaires Disease ). It can grow or be propagated in systems open to the air where there is stored warm/hot water which is under about 40 degrees C.
A combi boiler uses gas to heat water ( to 80+ degrees C ) in a closed sealed circuit ( too hot for bugs ) that directly heated water then heats the incoming cold water via a heat exchanger. If your friend is indeed thinking of legionella, then his concern is misplaced and you wont have any issues from using your combi boiler to fill your brew kettle - and you would still be boiling the wort anyway
Your friend may be thinking of legionella ( the bug that causes Legionaires Disease ). It can grow or be propagated in systems open to the air where there is stored warm/hot water which is under about 40 degrees C.
A combi boiler uses gas to heat water ( to 80+ degrees C ) in a closed sealed circuit ( too hot for bugs ) that directly heated water then heats the incoming cold water via a heat exchanger. If your friend is indeed thinking of legionella, then his concern is misplaced and you wont have any issues from using your combi boiler to fill your brew kettle - and you would still be boiling the wort anyway
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sbond10
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Re: How do combI boilers work
So if I'm reading this right you have your element that's connected to its own little circuit filled with water then the cold feed runs parallel to this hot circuit transferring heat to the cold water thus heating it.
Re: How do combI boilers work
I use our combi to fill both boilers saves a little time, have done for years.
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Re: How do combI boilers work
I'm always surprised that people have concerns about sourcing water from their boiler. Crockery and cutlery gets rinsed in it. Toddlers just love splashing about in a bath and part of that involves drinking copious quantities of bath water (which they happen to be sitting in). Yet taking the same water source directly from the tap (without any contact with a toddler's arse), then boiling it for 90 minutes is a problem? Off flavours? Infection? I've not found any reports.
If you think you have a dead bird or pigeon poop in an uncovered header tank, have a look - but you'd probably already be ill.
If you think you have a dead bird or pigeon poop in an uncovered header tank, have a look - but you'd probably already be ill.
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sbond10
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Re: How do combI boilers work
So who also treats there water as well can crs react at 50 degrees
Re: How do combI boilers work
How much reassurance do you need?? Yes, CRS does work. Try it yourself and see.
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GrowlingDogBeer
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Re: How do combI boilers work
I do my alkalinity test with cold water out of the cold tap.
I fill my Braumeister with water out of the combi boiler, then treat with the required amount of acid, I rarely use CRS these days, normally Sulphuric Acid but the principal is the same.
I then mash in within a few minutes. I've been heating my strike water using my Combi ever since I started brewing approx 5 years ago and haven't had any problems.
All the combi boiler is doing is heating your mains tap water via a plate heat exchanger, the same thing as many of us use for cooling wort. The water being heated in your boiler has not been hanging around anywhere, it comes straight in from the mains, goes through the heat exchanger, then comes out of the boiler hot.
I fill my Braumeister with water out of the combi boiler, then treat with the required amount of acid, I rarely use CRS these days, normally Sulphuric Acid but the principal is the same.
I then mash in within a few minutes. I've been heating my strike water using my Combi ever since I started brewing approx 5 years ago and haven't had any problems.
All the combi boiler is doing is heating your mains tap water via a plate heat exchanger, the same thing as many of us use for cooling wort. The water being heated in your boiler has not been hanging around anywhere, it comes straight in from the mains, goes through the heat exchanger, then comes out of the boiler hot.
Re: How do combI boilers work
How about using water from a system with a hot water tank?
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AnthonyUK
Re: How do combI boilers work
That water is normally supplied via a cold tank in your loft. It should be OK if your tank is clean and you have a constant turnover but I wouldn't use it personally.rpt wrote:How about using water from a system with a hot water tank?