AL
CHEMIST
17
18
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
WHY IS IT HAPPENING?
HOW TO FIX IT?
Alcohol distillate flows
irregularly
• Wash is surge boiling caused
by hot spot on the base of the
integrated boiler.
• Spirit outlet pipe is submerged
in distillate, causing alternative
pressure and vacuum.
• Add ceramic boil enhancers. In extreme cases try
adding 1-2 stainless steel pot scrubbers.
• Trim outlet pipe so that it cannot be below the level of
the collected distillate.
Spirit is coming out cloudy/
milky/dark
• Wash is foaming while boiling
and carrying fermentation
residues up the column.
• Unfermented sugar in your
wash can cause foaming which
eventually made its way up the
dome and into the condenser,
bringing the undistilled wash
into the output.
• Always ensure your wash is completely fermented
• Only fill wash to MAX line on inside of boiler.
• Add 4-5 capfuls (for brown spirit washes), or 3 capfuls
(for other washes) of Still Spirits Distilling Conditioner.
This stops excessive foaming in the boiler. Add ceramic
boil enhancers in your boiler. Re distil the bad spirit.
The yield is low
• The wash has not fermented out
properly so the amount of alcohol
available is reduced.
• The sugars were not fully
dissolved, or the fermentation
temperature was too high or
too low.
• Steam and vapour pressure is
leaking from lid seal.
• Ensure that fermentation is finished before beginning
distillation.
• Check the lid gasket is sitting evenly inside the lid
before clipping onto the boiler.
The boiler has stopped
heating even though power
is on
• This is likely due to an electrical
fault or the boiler overheating.
The boiler has a thermostat
cut out switch which will
automatically turn off if the unit
goes above 125°C (257°F). It also
has a protective fuse in case
the thermostat cut-out doesn’t
operate.
• Press the reset stick under the base of the boiler to
reset the thermostat. If the boiler doesn’t heat up, an
electrician will need to check it out.
Small solids are in the
distillate outlet
• This is most likely due to
collecting too far into the tails.
These solids are caused by oils
present in the tails bonding
together.
• No need to fix it, this will not affect the spirit when
redistilled and this is very unlikely to be in the hearts.
• If present in final spirit, simply filter the spirit through
a coffee filter to remove solids.
Spirit is coming out
very hot/steam
• This is due to not enough cooling
water flowing through the
condenser.
• Increase the flow rate through the condenser to ensure
the temperature of outlet spirit is a safe level.
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