Beer Dispenser Maintenance
Beer dispensers are essential equipment for foodservice places like breweries, bars, banquet halls and more. The more often your commercial business uses it the more often it will need cleaning and maintenance to keep it working. Check out some of the dispenser maintenance below to help you upkeep your machine. Make sure you reference your machine’s manual for specific cleaning products and tools when maintaining your beer dispenser.
Cleaning the Taps
Beer lines should be cleaned at least on a bi-weekly basis. Refer to your beer dispenser’s manual to see the best recommended cleaning times. The most popular way to clean beer taps and the lines is by using a beer cleaning kit. This means using a pump and cleaning solution to fill the lines. Start by disassembling the faucet and coupler to clean the smaller components. Wash them with warm, soapy water and rinse off any excess detergent. Make sure if your pieces are stainless steel or chrome to not use abrasive tools and chemicals to prevent scratches or corrosion.
Cleaning the lines with a kit is very simple. You remove the keg and place a large bucket under the lines. Make sure the bucket is big enough to hold all of the cleaning solution you will be flushing through the lines. Add the recommended amount of cleaning solution to warm water in the pump. After that pump the solution through the lines and allow it to sit for the recommended time. Use the pump to flush out the solution and rinse with clean water.
Replacing Hoses
Replacing the beer lines will happen eventually, even if you are maintaining and cleaning them. Look into the types of hoses your machine will need and how long they should be. There will also be a recommended length to the beer lines, to reduce foaming when dispensing. Check the air lines and see if they need replacing as well. It will be easier to replace all lines at once. The air lines can get beer in them so make sure you check them occasionally.
Maintenance Checklist
Make sure to clean and maintain these beer dispenser parts on a regular basis. For specific timelines of when to replace/clean pieces, check your specific machine’s manual.
- Condenser Coils - These should be cleaned monthly, or every 3-5 weeks. Be careful not to bend or damage any of the coils when cleaning. Use a vacuum to remove any dirt and debris.
- Wiping the Exterior - Wiping down the beer dispenser’s exterior should happen on a daily basis. This will prevent any build-up and can be a quick and simple cleaning. If your exterior is stainless steel, only use stainless steel cleaner to prevent harsh abrasives from damaging it.
- Rinsing the Drip Tray - The drip tray should always be cleaned at the end of the work day. These can get sticky and build-up can happen if they aren’t properly maintained.
- Check Temperature/Pressure - Always check daily that the dispenser is at the correct temperature and pressure. Refer to your machine’s guide for the recommended temperature and pressure.