How to Clean Kegerator Lines: Everything You Need To Know

A kegerator is a great investment for any brewery or bar. It allows you to serve fresh, cold beer on tap without having to hassle with bottles or cans. However, if the lines aren't cleaned regularly, you could be serving up some nasty surprises for your customers. In this blog post, we'll teach you how to clean your kegerator lines and keep them in good condition. Let's get started!

How Often Do You Need To Clean Your Beer Lines?

How often you need to clean your beer lines will vary depending on how frequently you use your kegerator. A general rule. If you're using it every day, then you'll need to clean the lines at least once every two weeks according to the Brewers Association.

This is the standard in the industry.

However, if you're only using it once a month, then you can get away with cleaning them after every new keg.

Be aware using your kegerator this much will mean build up of yeast, mold, bacteria and beer stone will be more common. So it's important to have the right cleaning kit for the job. So you can dispense draft beer from the beer tower and drink quality beer.

Either way, it's important to develop a cleaning schedule and stick to it. This will help ensure that your beer lines are always clean and you're serving fresh beers.

Why Do You Need to Clean Your Kegerator?

There are a few reasons why you need to clean your kegerator on a regular basis, and tap system.

First, if the lines aren't cleaned regularly. Beer can start to build up and form yeast deposits. This can lead to unpleasant flavors and aromas in your beer, and it can also cause bacteria and mold to grow.

Secondly, unclean lines can cause your beer to foam excessively. This not only looks bad, but it also means that you're losing out on precious beer, and you'll experience higher pour costs.

Finally, if the lines are left too long without being cleaned. They can become clogged and won't be able to dispense beer properly. Clogged kegerator beer lines isn't fun when you are cleaning them.

Nobody wants a dirty beer dispensing system that has high pour costs. Business owners want to maximize their keg yield, and get the greatest return on their investment.

Your Kegerator Cleaning Kit

Now that you know why it's important to clean your kegerator lines, it's time to get down to business with equipment.

The first step is to assemble your beer line cleaning kit.

This will include a pump bottle of beer line cleaning solution, a spanner wrench, and a brush. Some keg jumpers and keg couplings if you have more than one tap handle. These are the most important pieces of a beer line cleaning kit equipment.

Next, fill a sink or bucket with warm water. We will use this to pump draft beer through the kegerator beer lines with warm water, and beer line cleaner.

Take a faucet wrench. Loosen the beer faucet on the beer tower. Take the faucet head and place in a bucket of beer line cleaner. Use a caustic solution that's 2-3 % Alkaline and let the whole faucet or faucets sit in this solution for at least 20 minutes.

Make sure to follow the instructions on the bottle, as different cleaners have different strengths and require different dilution ratios.

Beer line cleaning solution varies depending on the brand. So it's important to follow the instructions for the best beer line cleaning.

Now it's time to start cleaning! Begin by attaching the cleaning line to the faucet with the hand pump, and running water through the lines of the draft beer system for a few minutes. This will help flush out any loose debris, beer residue, and any other organic particles hidden in the draft system. And get the system ready for the cleaning solution.

If you are cleaning only one faucet and you don't have a cleaning coupler. You many need to unscrew the beer hex nut on top of the keg coupler. This will allow for the water and beer solution to exit the system.

Again this if you only have one beer faucet to clean on your kegerator. If you have multiple faucets. You will need to use a jumper line. To connect where the faucets are and keg couplings to connect a keg coupler.

Cleaning beer lines is important step to clean beer, and delicious beer.

After the system has been purged with water. Use the cleaning solution and pump the cleaning solution through the beer lines until it's running out of the last beer coupler.

You may need to disconnect the beer hex nut from the beer coupler to get the solution running into a bucket. If you only have one tap handle to clean. After the clean. Make sure to reattach it before you tap a keg.

While the lines are soaking in the static clean. Use the hose brush to clean the outside of the keg coupler. Be sure to brush all of the nooks and crannies, as this is where beer deposits tend to build up.

Once the lines have soaked for 20 Minutes with cleaning solution. Run water through them again for a few minutes. This will help rinse away any residual cleaner. Use PH paper to check for neutral tap water which is between 7-8. Use the Ph paper on your tap water and compare to the draft beer system. This will tell you where you need to be. So that you are free of cleaner in your beer lines.

Cleaning your kegerator lines may seem like a lot of work, but it's actually quite simple once you get the hang of it. By following this cleaning process. You can ensure that your beer lines are always clean and in good working condition. Cheers!

What You Will Need To Start Cleaning Your Kegerator Lines Today

Direct Draw Beer Line Cleaning

• Pump the cleaning solution, or hand pumped. For clean beer lines
• Cleaning solution and clean water to clean draft beer system and draft lines. Mix the two together to clean a kegerator
• Faucet wrench or Spanner wrench to take off beer faucet. Take faucet parts, all the parts and put them into cleaning solution. I recommend this spanner wrench for beer systems and to clean a kegerator
• Bucket for water and cleaning solution
• Jumper Lines for multiple faucets and Keg couplings for multiple keg couplers
• Ph Paper
• Towel to wipe down beer lines and gas line. Also wipe down all the residue inside kegerator
• Use these procedures and equipment to keep your kegerator clean

Conclusion

Cleaning your kegerator lines is an important part of keeping your beer quality tasting great. By following the steps in this article, you can make sure that your lines are clean and free of bacteria and other contaminants. Be sure to clean your lines regularly for the best results. Thanks for reading how to clean kegerator lines.

If you have any other questions please feel free to reach out to us here. And check out our blog for more information about beer line cleaning and draft beer education.

Cheers!