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This old kegerator
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Care and maintenance
Q: How often should I clean my lines?
Line cleaning should be done on a regular scheduled basis. (approximately every 6 weeks) Scheduled line cleanings with a standard cleaning kit will keep your system at peak performance. Good rule of thumb, clean your lines every time you switch out a keg.
Cleaning the Beer Line and Faucet.
Once a week the beer line and faucet should be cleaned with fresh water. You will need the CK100 Cleaning Kit to do the following steps.
Shut off the pressure supply at the cylinder. Remove tap from barrel.
Remove the cap and pump on the cleaner. Fill jar with fresh water and reassemble.
Remove the faucet from the shank (use the spanner wrench). Rinse under fresh water with faucet in open position.
Connect the cleaning attachment on the end of the cleaner to shank coupling nut - tighten slightly with spanner wrench. Place hose and coupler into a bucket and pump water through line. If tap has a shutoff, be sure it is open.
Remove cleaning attachment, replace faucet, tighten coupling nut with spanner wrench, Retap barrel. (Before retapping make sure beer faucet is closed.)
How to clean a direct draw system
Periodically the system must be cleaned with cleaner. This should be done when a new barrel is tapped. You will need the CK100 Cleaning Kit to do the following steps.
The pressure source in direct draw dispensers is bottled CO2 gas. This gas is reduced to the proper dispensing by a regulator and then delivered to the barrel through a flexible hose and keg coupler. This coupler has a check valve in it prevent beer from backing up into the hose and regulator. Before a new barrel is tapped this line should be "blown out" by quickly opening and closing the regulator outlet valve allowing a surge of gas to travel through the coupler. The coupler should then be rinsed in a bucket of fresh water.
Next, mix 1/2 oz. BLC (tap and line cleaner) to each quart of warm to hot water. Do not allow concentrate to contact skin.
Remove the cleaner cap assembly, fill the jar and reassemble, leaving the remaining solution in the bucket.
With the barrel on tap, the coupler should be blown out by quickly opening and closing the regulator outlet valve.
Remove the coupler from the beer line and place in bucket. (Save the black connector washer.) Remove the faucet from the shank using the spanner wrench. Disassemble it, and place parts in the bucket.
Attach the cleaning attachment on end of cleaner hose to faucet shank coupling nut. Tighten slightly with spanner wrench. Place beer line end into bucket and pump the solution through the line.
Remove the tap and faucet parts, brush thoroughly with faucet brush. If coupler has a shutoff, make sure it is in open position. Rinse in cool fresh water. Reassemble the faucet.
Use the faucet brush to clean around shank end and coupling nut.
Detach cleaner and rinse with cool fresh water. Fill with fresh water and re-attach it to faucet shank coupling nut, pump water through beer line (make sure end of line is in bucket).
Disconnect cleaner and replace the assembled faucet. Tighten coupling nut slightly with spanner wrench. Now attach beer line to coupler (making certain to reinsert the black hose washer). You are now ready to tap the new barrel.
The drip tray should be cleaned out with a sponge using the same solution and rinsed.
Periodically the inside of unit should be cleaned with the same solution and a damp sponge.
When barrel is empty and the unit is not going to be used for a while, the above steps should be followed to prevent yeast build up and sediment in the beer line.
How to replace an Empty CO2 Cylinder.
 1. Close Valve by turning clockwise "A"
2. Unscrew adjustment screw (counter-clockwise) "B" as far as it will go.
3. Remove regulator from empty cylinder "E"
4. Remove dust cap from new cylinder at "E". Open and close valve "A" quickly to blow dust from the outlet.
5. With cylinder valve "A" in closed position, reattach regulator to cylinder at "E". Be sure to include the CO2 washer.
6. Open valve "A" all the way. (This is important because this cylinder valve seals in two places.)
7. Readjust regulator pressure "B" and open optional valve "C".
What size CO2 tank should I buy?
| Cylinder | Diameter | Height | Empty Weight | Full Weight |
| 2 1/2 lbs | 3-1/2" | 18 1/4" | 6 1/2 lbs | 9 lbs |
| 5 lbs | 5" | 17 1/2" | 12 1/2 lbs | 17 1/2 lbs |
It takes about 1/2 lb of CO2 to dispense a 1/2 bbl of beer. A 2 1/2 lb CO2 cylinder should dispense between 4-5 1/2 barrels or 8-10 1/4 barrels. A 5 lb CO2 cylinder should dispense between 8-10 1/2 barrels or 18-20 1/4 barrels.
Tapping a Keg
What coupler do I need for the brand of beer I plan to buy?
We offer a compatibility guide that can match your brand of beer to the correct keg coupler.
How to tap a keg
You tap a keg by using a keg coupler. You will need to purchase the correct coupler to match the brand of beer keg you have. You can refer to our compatibility guide to find which coupler is right for you.
· Do not agitate the keg. If there has been excessive agitation during transportation, allow the keg to settle for 1 to 2 hours before tapping.
Make sure the beer faucet is in the off position prior to tapping.
Remove the dust cover from the beer keg.
Make sure that the keg coupler handle is in the up (off) position.
Align lug locks on tavern head with lug housing in top of keg; insert tavern head.
Turn tavern head handle 1/4 turn clockwise; the tavern head is now secured to keg.
Rotate on/off valve hand 1/4 turn clockwise to open beer and CO2 ports in keg. The keg is now tapped.
Tapping the keg properly will activate both the beer and the CO2 pressure line. The keg will be ready to draw beer.
Getting started - Draft beer questions
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