I just finished my 15th batch using my chugger pump. Prior to buying it I did a lot of online trolling research on how to clean the thing and a decent amount of people just said run PBW through it followed by clean water. Just wanted to say that I have taken mine apart every batch to clean it (because I’m super anal) after running PBW and water through it, and not once has it been perfectly clean. I have always found hops etc. in nooks and crannies. Just my two cents.
–I love the pump by the way, it is saved my back. I use it to transfer all of my fluids throughout the whole brew day. Really good addition.
T
I will probably not take apart my chugger often (just bought one), but I do plan to run boiling wort through it for a few minutes before doing transfers. Heat can sanitize dirt.
Agreed on the boiling wort, I have a whirlpool arm on my chiller so I run the wort through the pump the last 10 minutes of the boil anyway while sterilizing my chiller… Then I use the whirlpool arm for Whirlpool hopping and then to help with chilling as well. I still can’t stand to know that there are old particles stuck in there even though I’m running boiling wort through it. …OCD
My pump is used only for hot-side wort transfers, so sanitation is of no concern. I’ve only taken my pump apart every few years and there has never been anything in it.