picnic taps and mold.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,569
    I've always pulled my picnic taps apart and cleaned them between switchovers. But there were a couple that had been on the same kegs for a good long while.... Looks like its time for some new ones.
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    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    gross, but is it really mold?
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,569
    frydogbrews said:

    gross, but is it really mold?



    Yes, definitely mold. Black and green mold. Tried to clean one of them and it had dug in so hard that it pitted into the rubber.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,962
    Eeeek! I need to check mine. And now I really don't want to.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,569
    C_dubbs said:

    Eeeek! I need to check mine. And now I really don't want to.



    yes, you really should check them. If the've been in service more than a few months take a look.

    I'm sure it depends a lot on how common mold problems are in your area. For me i have to clean the kegerator door seals and interior parts every six months or so, otherwise mold shows up on them.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Eeeek! I need to check mine. And now I really don't want to.



    yes, you really should check them. If the've been in service more than a few months take a look.

    I'm sure it depends a lot on how common mold problems are in your area. For me i have to clean the kegerator door seals and interior parts every six months or so, otherwise mold shows up on them.


    weird.
    my keezer has been kicking for 3 years and never a spot of mold. and its pretty wet in there in the summer. i should take apart my taps and clean them. they are not picninc taps. never taken them apart. i run a small bristle brush up there every few months though.
    they are the regular metal taps from midwest. i forget what kind. not the top of the line, but not the cheapo's either. how often should i be taking those things apart? can i take those apart?
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,569
    @kegcowboy @kegoutlet

    You guys might want to add your input here. I don't know much about how the metal ones go together.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    frydogbrews said:

    Lakewood said:

    C_dubbs said:

    Eeeek! I need to check mine. And now I really don't want to.



    yes, you really should check them. If the've been in service more than a few months take a look.

    I'm sure it depends a lot on how common mold problems are in your area. For me i have to clean the kegerator door seals and interior parts every six months or so, otherwise mold shows up on them.


    weird.
    my keezer has been kicking for 3 years and never a spot of mold. and its pretty wet in there in the summer. i should take apart my taps and clean them. they are not picninc taps. never taken them apart. i run a small bristle brush up there every few months though.
    they are the regular metal taps from midwest. i forget what kind. not the top of the line, but not the cheapo's either. how often should i be taking those things apart? can i take those apart?


    can and should. they're either stainless steel or more likely chrome covered brass. you can see here how most of them are set up:

    image

    they might be a little hard to get apart after a few years of use, but they should go back together pretty easy after you clean em.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    you unscrew part 2 from part 6 and part 3 from the threads on the body of the faucet. after that, everything should come apart.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    wow, that looks like a pain in the butt.
    i like my little bristlebrush more and more!
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,962
    The top of my keg that I just pulled out of the kegerator was all spotted with mold on top. Given the pattern around the out post I'm going to guess that I took that QD off once or twice and maybe dribbled some beer around. If everything is clean, the mold can't grow right?
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,962
    I just checked both of my picnic taps. One was clean as a whistle. This was the other. I'm soaking in oxy right now. Then probably the trash can. I really kinda freaked out.
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    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    C_dubbs said:

    I just checked both of my picnic taps. One was clean as a whistle. This was the other. I'm soaking in oxy right now. Then probably the trash can. I really kinda freaked out.



    eeew. what's it taste like?
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,962
    FromZwolle said:

    C_dubbs said:

    I just checked both of my picnic taps. One was clean as a whistle. This was the other. I'm soaking in oxy right now. Then probably the trash can. I really kinda freaked out.



    eeew. what's it taste like?

    Ha. Licorice?

    Anywho.... The one that had all this junk on it is the one I had the apfelwein on last. I wonder if this is the icky stuff that was coming out in the pour pictured in this thread right here.
    I don't understand why one tap is so bad and the other had nothing on it at all.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    C_dubbs said:

    FromZwolle said:

    C_dubbs said:

    I just checked both of my picnic taps. One was clean as a whistle. This was the other. I'm soaking in oxy right now. Then probably the trash can. I really kinda freaked out.



    eeew. what's it taste like?

    Ha. Licorice?

    Anywho.... The one that had all this junk on it is the one I had the apfelwein on last. I wonder if this is the icky stuff that was coming out in the pour pictured in this thread right here.
    I don't understand why one tap is so bad and the other had nothing on it at all.


    hops? or possibly the acidity of the apfelwein. i know from cheesemaking that molds tend to thrive in an acidic environment.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,962
    FromZwolle said:

    C_dubbs said:

    FromZwolle said:

    C_dubbs said:

    I just checked both of my picnic taps. One was clean as a whistle. This was the other. I'm soaking in oxy right now. Then probably the trash can. I really kinda freaked out.



    eeew. what's it taste like?

    Ha. Licorice?

    Anywho.... The one that had all this junk on it is the one I had the apfelwein on last. I wonder if this is the icky stuff that was coming out in the pour pictured in this thread right here.
    I don't understand why one tap is so bad and the other had nothing on it at all.


    hops? or possibly the acidity of the apfelwein. i know from cheesemaking that molds tend to thrive in an acidic environment.


    That makes sense. That keg was on tap for quite a while.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    even more reason to not use picinc taps
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,962
    frydogbrews said:

    even more reason to not use picinc taps


    Agreed.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,569
    C_dubbs said:

    I just checked both of my picnic taps. One was clean as a whistle. This was the other. I'm soaking in oxy right now. Then probably the trash can. I really kinda freaked out.


    toss it. even if it looks clean there will be pockets that have been dug by the mold and it will get funky really fast.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 122,569
    C_dubbs said:

    FromZwolle said:

    C_dubbs said:

    I just checked both of my picnic taps. One was clean as a whistle. This was the other. I'm soaking in oxy right now. Then probably the trash can. I really kinda freaked out.



    eeew. what's it taste like?

    Ha. Licorice?

    Anywho.... The one that had all this junk on it is the one I had the apfelwein on last. I wonder if this is the icky stuff that was coming out in the pour pictured in this thread right here.
    I don't understand why one tap is so bad and the other had nothing on it at all.


    I wuold assume thats what is floating in the glass. it's hard to know, but i had two of the three in my fridge come out looking like that. the other one was clean
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    OK ..... Note to self :

    Don't go with picnic taps ..
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    When I go to kegs I'll bite the bullet and get real taps .... and use my cheap shank design
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,962
    ceannt said:

    OK ..... Note to self :

    Don't go with picnic taps ..


    They're a cheap temporary alternative. The trick is to keep them temporary.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,777
    C_dubbs said:

    ceannt said:

    OK ..... Note to self :

    Don't go with picnic taps ..


    They're a cheap temporary alternative. The trick is to keep them temporary.


    or clean them more than once every few years.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,962
    FromZwolle said:

    C_dubbs said:

    ceannt said:

    OK ..... Note to self :

    Don't go with picnic taps ..


    They're a cheap temporary alternative. The trick is to keep them temporary.


    or clean them more than once every few years.


    Well sure. I suppose I could try that.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • scoobscoob
    Posts: 16,617
    ceannt said:

    OK ..... Note to self :

    Don't go with picnic taps ..



    Yes, I upgraded to perlick taps from the standard chrome jobs, best thing I ever did.
    Jesus didn't wear pants
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