Brewing Master

Question:

If you brew inside your house/apartment with an open flame and burn the place down, the insurance company that current carries the policy will have your ass in a sling for years. Besides, you risk CO poisoning no matter how good the ventilation. I wouldn’t do it.I’m sure lots of people do it but God forbid if you have a fire….Insurance doesn’t cover homebrewing accidents! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all.  I am contemplating getting a propane OR natural gas burning to move up to all-grain. However, under no cercumstances do I want to brew outside.  I find the time of the year when I really have a craving for the good old homebrew is during the winter (lack of a frid to lager with and lack of decent heavy beers available commercially in my area), and brewing in 4 ft snow banks takes away from the experience.  So, I want to get into a burner with a full wort boil (1/2 keg converted) and am wondering what kind of ventalation do I need to install in my basement to brew safely.  Can anyone recommend website that take about this?  Please keep in mine I am working my way up to one of those 3-tier systems and want to install a ventalation system that will work for that too. Thanking you all in advance, Mike

Response:

Is it possible to get a setup with an electric heating element? Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you brew inside your house/apartment with an open flame and burn the place down, the insurance company that current carries the policy will have your ass in a sling for years. Besides, you risk CO poisoning no matter how good the ventilation. I wouldn’t do it.I’m sure lots of people do it but God forbid if you have a fire….Insurance doesn’t cover homebrewing accidents! Hi all.  I am contemplating getting a propane OR natural gas burning to move up to all-grain. However, under no cercumstances do I want to brew outside.  I find the time of the year when I really have a craving for the good old homebrew is during the winter (lack of a frid to lager with and lack of decent heavy beers available commercially in my area), and brewing in 4 ft snow banks takes away from the experience.  So, I want to get into a burner with a full wort boil (1/2 keg converted) and am wondering what kind of ventalation do I need to install in my basement to brew safely.  Can anyone recommend website that take about this?  Please keep in mine I am working my way up to one of those 3-tier systems and want to install a ventalation system that will work for that too. Thanking you all in advance, Mike

Response:

Absolutely. Get a copy of the March/April 1999 edition of BT (Alas, poor BT, I knew it well.). There is a good article about an all-electric half barrel brewery. Good luck, Dan Cole

Response:

Keep your eyes out for industrial-kitchen restaraunts that are going out of business, they have these giant (12-14 inch) hotplates on wheels, I am trying to acquire one now… they are generally electric and will heat up your brew pretty darn quick, plus they are super stable (anyone who has put a 10 gallon brew pot on a gas stove knows about how that stability issue can get important….) SilDra – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Absolutely. Get a copy of the March/April 1999 edition of BT (Alas, poor BT, I knew it well.). There is a good article about an all-electric half barrel brewery. Good luck, Dan Cole

Response:

Thanks guys, but does anyone know of a company that will build me an electric element to specifications I give them?  Where do the resturant owners get ther elements? Mike You will reach me at one of the following two accounts: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Keep your eyes out for industrial-kitchen restaraunts that are going out of business, they have these giant (12-14 inch) hotplates on wheels, I am trying to acquire one now… they are generally electric and will heat up your brew pretty darn quick, plus they are super stable (anyone who has put a 10 gallon brew pot on a gas stove knows about how that stability issue can get important….) SilDra Absolutely. Get a copy of the March/April 1999 edition of BT (Alas, poor BT, I knew it well.). There is a good article about an all-electric half barrel brewery. Good luck, Dan Cole

Response:

The major problem with propane indoors is that it is heavier than air and tends to pool. So, you can fill up the basement with extra propane, until it reaches the level of your burner, and BOOOMM! Ventilation won’t help that much if the windows are above the floor. There are ring-burners on the market which have natural gas hookups. I would strongly suggest using them instead. The ring-burners spill less heat out the side of the pot, which would be a big safety advantage for inside. They are more efficient than jet-burners and easier to adjust, but they cost more (mine was $89). They are used commercially as Chinese wok-burners, so they are safe to use indoors. Trevor

Response:

Does your Insurance Have a Homebrewing Clause in your policy.. So They will pay for Hot Water heater fires, Kitchen Stove Fires, Fireplace Fires, Gas Leak Fires, Kids playing with matches and cigarettes, Acts of Natures, and Electrical Fires but not Homebrewing Fires. With Good Ventilation whether it is a vent-a-hood or windows there is no more of a risk of CO poisoning than cooking with your Kitchen Stove or a Fireplace. I brew indoors all the Time and have yet to set off a CO Monitor yet ( by the way I checked about having CO monitors and most Insurance Companies were gonna give a Discount for having them in addition to Fire alarms ). I don’t see where there would be a difference in Insurrance company payoff if Brewing Fires are not covered regardless if you brew with propane ( natural gas ) or Electricity. Just from my point of View. I find it more Dangerous to brew with Electricity than with propane. If you do brew with electricity I would Highly recommend a Ground Fault Interruptor ( GFI ) and If your Wiring is old I would Install new wiring and a Circuit Box be installed in the Basement. Older wiring may not be able to carry the wattage needed and over heat causing a fire. New wiring and Box in the Basement will isolate the wiring from the rest of the house. Everyone Knows Liquids and electricity don’t mix well, with a GFI the circuit will cut off the Electricity in the event of a boilover, just in case you panic and grap a hold of the pot to control the boil over. To be safe also always unplug the tower when you clean it.

Response:

Insurance doesn’t cover homebrewing accidents!

Absurd.  Insurance might not cover a fire caused from using an improper device indoors but that depends on the policy.  If there’s not a clause to that effect your covered. In fact alot of, not all, ins. companies will forgive you your first claim and not raise your premium. I worked in the insurance restoration industry for a number of years and have seen all kinds of crazy crap covered. Brew On! Bob My Home Brew Page http://members.aol.com/bsmntbrewr Star City Brewers Guild http://hbd.org/starcity

Response:

I brew 10 gallon batches indoors on a three-burner system using a ring burner and two King Kookers that I converted for natural gas (not very difficult).  However, it does require considerable ventilation.  I built an exhaust hood from sheet metal, stovepipe and a blower salvaged from a mobile home furnace.  I also highly recommend a CO detector. Cheers. — Bill Pierce Cellar Door Homebrewery Des Moines, IA

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all.  I am contemplating getting a propane OR natural gas burning to move up to all-grain. However, under no cercumstances do I want to brew outside.  I find the time of the year when I really have a craving for the good old homebrew is during the winter (lack of a frid to lager with and lack of decent heavy beers available commercially in my area), and brewing in 4 ft snow banks takes away from the experience.  So, I want to get into a burner with a full wort boil (1/2 keg converted) and am wondering what kind of ventalation do I need to install in my basement to brew safely.  Can anyone recommend website that take about this?  Please keep in mine I am working my way up to one of those 3-tier systems and want to install a ventalation system that will work for that too. Thanking you all in advance, Mike

Response: