Pex?

[MrNate]

Ok, so I'm working on my design for the new brew system, and I was thinking about using PEX (http://www.pexsupply.com/index.asp?i=30) to pipe in the hot and cold water lines. Does anyone know of a reason not to use it? The only downside I could find that would be a concern in this application is biofilm, and I don't know how much of a concern that really is.

It seems like a fairly cool product, what with its manifolds and color coding and all. Not sure I'd plumb my house with it, but for a brewery...

Anyway, here's my ham-handed attempt at a schematic. Please understand that I am a complete amatuer, have no idea what I'm doing, etc. Please don't blast me for it. It's a work in progress. I call it a Flexi-Mash system. The idea was to be able to do any kind of mash: Single-step infusion, decoction, recirculated, heat echanged recirculation, batch or fly sparged. All easily controlled on the fly, but not really automated.

[paulcgi]

my FIL swears by that stuff. apparently it's very popular in Europe. He said that as he has to repair copper, he's putting at lease the couplers from this stuff. I've seen it at the store but haven't really looked at it much. I guess the main issue would be it's temp rating.
I wouldn't worry much about cleaning it tho, as a quick run-through with PBW would probably be all you'd need

[vw addict]

Are you going to recirculate wort in the mash thru it? Wouldn't you want it to be food grade if you are?

[MrNate]

No, just hot and cold water.

[paulcgi]

since the stuff is made for hot & cold water piping, I guess it kind of must be food grade as is. The pex tubing for in-floor heating would be different. I also did see that the WATTS brand of pex connectors & tubing is rated to 200F so you are def. good to go there.
cool idea. you could put together the brewery and then have 2 water lines (something like RV water lines, don't use garden hose, those are not food safe) to connect to hot & cold sources, hook up propane, and off you go.

Paul...

[MrNate]

Yeah, that's what I did last time around, except I used copper plumbing and one of those drinking water safe coil hoses. But that is now dismantled and somewhat packed.

Since the new one will be indoors, I'm going to run it off of NG and connect it up with standard braided supply lines (and flexible NG line). It'll be more like a built-in appliance.

I also want a dump sink, or at least a cup sink. I imagine that I can run it to a drain pipe just like a dishwasher... Jut tee off the drainline above the trap.

[Mill Rat]

Originally posted by MrNate
Since the new one will be indoors, I'm going to run it off of NG and connect it up with standard braided supply lines (and flexible NG line). It'll be more like a built-in appliance. Be sure to have good exhaust ventilation. There's nothing that makes NG more or less prone to CO production than propane. I'd recommend a hood arrangement with a powered exhaust blower.

[MrNate]

Yeah, it's in there.