How to keep kegerators in good condition?
To get the best out of a kegerator, it also deserves the best care. No one wants lukewarm, low-quality beer, right? That‘s just not the way it should be. What it should be is a great, enjoyable and convenient experience as chores are made or while taking on a hobby at home. It is a good way to pass the time while lounging around the house.
No one wants to be annoyed at bad beer. Avoid this scenario. The best thing to do is to start cleaning the kegerator and maintaining its good condition.
But how to do it the proper way? It’s a pretty simple task. Clean the keg then the beer lines, faucet and keg coupler. It’s simple, but like in everything else, this requires effort.
Why Clean a Kegerator?
Clean the kegerator after every use. That means after each keg.
Remember, flushing the beer lines come right after cleaning the kegs. Ignore and residue left in the beer lines and the faucet could taint the beers.
Yeast, mold and other deposits could cause microbial infections. The result would be bad beer no one would like to take another drink of. Would anyone knowingly drink anything that has a microbial infection? No. The same goes with the faucet. Clean all the area to the line running down into the kegerator.
The Kegerator Cleaning Kit
This is not just the wash-with-soap-then-rinse kind of cleaning. There are accessories needed for the specific purpose of cleaning a kegerator. A beer line cleaning kit actually comes with a special bottle, pump, hose and a compound that should be used in getting rid of residue.
Following the instruction booklet, the compound should be mixed in the bottle. There should be one tablespoon of powder mixed with scalding hot water (be careful!). Screw in the cleaning hose to the bottle to be able to pump the cleanser into the kegerator.
A hand-pumped kit can be bought. It connects to the carbon dioxide (CO2) pump or has a pressurized pump. However, there are creative people who create pumps with quart bottles or soda kegs and tubes. Never use bleach.
The Cleaning Process
Safety is a priority for both the owner and the appliance. So before doing what needs to be done, make sure to turn off and unplug the kegerator. Turn off the CO2, too. Close the regulator, disengage the tap, and remove the keg.
Having done those, wash all the surfaces (ex. tap, lines, spill tray, regulator, tank) with unscented mild soap and warm water. The inside surfaces (ex. beer lines, spigot) follow. Include the inside of the cooling unit.
For flushing beer lines:
Safety first! Chemicals are used for removing the residue from the beer lines. Wear good rubber gloves and even eyewear for protection. Also, have a bucket ready so nothing spills out and onto the floor when placing the keg coupler.
Take the faucet off the tower then attach the solution bottle’s hose to the faucet head in its place. Stick an end of a beer line into the bucket. Tilt the bottle and let the solution go. Squeeze or pump it to make the liquid come out faster.
The liquid will come out of the line and most probably beer residue. Let the solution stand for a few minutes. To clean further, flush the line twice.
After flushing, fill up the bottle with just scalding water this time. Use it to rinse beer lines thoroughly. Rinse at least three times — the more rinsing, the better way of flushing out all possible residue along with the cleanser.
For the removable parts:
The faucet is already removed. Remove the keg coupler as well from the beer hose. Disassemble them.
Use a spanner or faucet wrench for the faucet. There should be approximately five different parts. Meanwhile, the ball pin will remove the pressure from the coupler for easier cleaning. Take out the gas line to avoid any water getting into it.
Add a teaspoon to a tablespoon of the cleaner to a bowl of scalding hot water. Once all the powder is dissolved, let the parts soak for 30 minutes to an hour.
Scrub away debris from the parts that may carry bacteria and contaminate a brew. The faucet brush will help in reaching all areas, including the hard-to-reach ones.
Once sure that there isn’t any more debris left, rinse the faucet and coupler thoroughly.
Reassembling the Kegerator
There’s nothing much else to say except make sure all parts are there and are in good condition. Replace what needs to be replaced. Tighten screws where it is needed, but let the faucet less tight to let beer pour better. Place the faucet either at an angle for an even pour or place it just straight up. It’s the owner’s call.
Cleaning a kegerator really does need effort. But in time, the routine will make things much easier. The most important thing is fresh draft beer would be ready for your pleasure once again. That’s already a great reward in itself.