For 200 gallons, I started with the hot water
from our 50-gallon tank, using an adapter on the kitchen sink and garden hoses
running out 100 feet to the brewer sitting in an unheated pump house. The hot water tank was set at 120
degrees but reached the brewer at 100 degrees. The hot water tank drained (which is a
good thing to do periodically for tank maintenance) and fresh water coming in to
the tank from the well pump had a chance to warm slightly before running out again
to the brewer. Of course the flow from
the tank was decreased at this point, but with other hoses from the house’s
cold water spigot to the brewer, the temperature of the water in the brewer was
at 80 degrees. It took about 2
hours to fill the brewer. I kept a small heater on in the pump house and the
air temperature was 72 degrees and the brew stayed about the same. This is Bob’s Brewer; the one Bob
Norsen graciously donated to our fruit club. We had our first batch of tea this
weekend. The tea looked and smelled great. The fruit club members drove up with
their quart containers, gallon jugs, and some with 5-gallon buckets. The compost tea was gone in two
hours. We’ll do this again
next weekend. Judi -----Original Message----- Hi Jason You and others might do
better to start with an efficient 80 gallon hot water heater that
puts and holds all the heat in the water rather than in the
surroundings. Then fill your tank 80 gallons short of full with typical
52 F well water. Add 80 gallons of 160 degree hot water and you are
going to be at 70 degrees right away and ready to start the brew.
No 2 day wait for the water to heat while the brewer tank loses about half
the heat you are adding. A gas fueled HWH would be
economical. compared to electric if you can use gas. Heat loss in the 24 hour brew will be partly offset by
microbic heating. An air driven brewer will cool some. good
in summer. Can be offset in winter with in-tank heater. External
heaters are gong to put some heat in the tank and some into the
surroundings. Not very effective. Defroster cable used to de-ice
roof edges can be used by closing the thermostat. It won't take much heat to keep
the system warm. Bob.
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