8 Steps to Cleaning a Kegerator Beer Line

Why Do You Need To Clean Your Kegerator?

If you own a kegerator then it is highly recommended clear the beer lines after every keg. If kegerator beer lines are left unclean then it can lead to the growth of bacteria, yeast, sediment (commonly referred to as beer stone), and mold. All these things can ruin the taste of your beer and will impart a foul smell. That is why it is empirical to regularly clean the kegerator beer lines and you shouldn’t treat it as an optional feat. We have put together a comprehensive guide for beer line cleaning that will explain every step in detail. So, let’s dive into it.

STEP 1.

This is the first step before cleaning your beer lines. You must do this so that there is no interference during the beer line cleaning and you will be able to avoid any silly complications.

STEP 2.

Then you have to use the spanner wrench for removing the beer faucet. Most beer faucets are set up such that counter-clockwise rotation tightens them and clockwise rotation loosens them. So, you need to rotate your spanner wrench in the clockwise direction so that the beer faucet loosens up. Once it is loose enough, you can just remove it by using your bare hands.

STEP 3.

Beers on tap are gaining popularity and that is why pubs prefer to have a larger selection available to their customers. For providing a wide range of options, pubs need larger beer tap systems and that is why having up to 12 taps seems more reasonable than having a basic kegerator system.

STEP 4.

Now you must prepare the solution for cleaning the kegerator beer line. For this purpose, you will have to mix the powdered cleaning compound with water in a dedicated bottle. You must make sure that the amount of water and the powdered cleaning compound that use are in the right proportion. The exact ratio depends on the potency of the powdered cleaning compound however as a general rule you should use a gallon of water for every tablespoon of the cleaning compound. For making an effective cleaning solution, you should use hot water. As a rule of thumb, the hotter the better but a temperature range of 120-150 degrees is a good place to start. Once the solution is ready, you can transfer it from the bottle to the beer line cleaning kit.

STEP 5.

You can now use your beer line cleaning kit to pump the cleaning solution into the kegerator beer line. While doing this you should use a bottle or a bucket to collect the cleaning solution that comes out of the keg coupler. Doing this will allow you to ensure tidiness throughout the cleaning process. You can connect the hose of the beer line cleaning kit with the opening from where you removed the faucet head. This will allow you to establish a direct connection between the cleaning kit and the beer tower. Hence, you will be able to clean the beer line all the way to the keg coupler. You should tilt it whenever you are ready and then let it go. You can also squeeze it to speed up the process.

As the beer line is being cleansed, you will see that water and some residue beer will come out. If you have done everything diligently then it should get emptied into the bucket and you shouldn’t have to worry about it. You should pump the cleaning solution into the beer line multiple lines to ensure better cleansing. However, if you don’t have enough time then you should at least repeat the process two times. Once you are done, you can remove the ball pin from the keg coupler and let it rest for 65-90 minutes.

STEP 6.

Now fill the cleaning kit with simple hot water and pump it into the beer line as you did with the solution. The hot water will eliminate any residues from the solution and the beer line will be completely clean. You should repeat this process two times as well, however, the more the merrier.

STEP 7.

Now that your beer line has been cleaned, you should reconnect the coupler and the faucet from where you removed them. You must make sure that you reconnect them in the right way. If you fail to reconnect them the way they are supposed to be then it will leave small openings which can lead to leakage and spillages. While reconnecting the faucet, you might need to use the spanner wrench again. Now that you are putting it back so your goal is to tighten it as much as possible. As we discussed earlier, counter-clockwise is the direction in which the faucet is tightened. So, you should rotate the spanner wrench in the counter-clockwise direction.

STEP 8.

Now that everything is in place, you can turn on the CO2 tank and the regulator. Congratulations! You have successfully cleaned your kegerator beer lines and now you are back in business. Check out more about Brewskis Beverage Here.