Look at you with your pump, your ball valves, and two vessels!
You made me shudder. It is a most unpleasant feeling when a valve gets accidentally opened, or worse yet, you realize that you didn't have the QD fully connected. You learn (the hard way) to slow down and make sure nothing is getting near those long-handled valves.
That is why I leave the valve handle disconnected. I make sure the valve is in the closed position before I fill the kettle, and the handle sits in a tool kit until I need it, at the end of the brew day.
Yeah, the handle on the one on my pump is very short, and not nearly as easily to accidentally turn. If it gets turned, it was meant to be (for the right reason or not). The valve itself is a lot smaller too. Those 4-inch levers make turning that valve WAY too easy. I see a mod to them in my future. I like them (or SOMETHING) on the shaft so I know which way it's turned with a glance. It wouldn't be a big problem to shorten them or make something that serves the purpose. Pretty sure I could get something at a hardware store somewhere. I turn mine to a 45 degree angle when I store the kettles and pump so the valve can dry out fully and not grow new life forms. Being hot-side, I don't worry too much about the sanitation. Boiling does wonders for that. But I do occasionally disassemble and clean the beer stone out of them. The great thing about teflon and stainless steel is BOTH can stand up to some pretty harsh chemicals. I've found CLR to be excellent for getting off beer stone. Heating up some vinegar does a pretty good inside the kettle, too. That's about as food-safe as it gets.
It wouldn't be homebrewing with the occasional mishap!!!
No mishaps permitted in my kitchen!
Clearly you need to add something new to your process
No, I really don’t!Clearly you need to add something new to your process
Is that spunding?
