Ask The Brewmasters

Back to discussions
Expand all | Collapse all

What is the maximum amount of time you would let your filler sit unused before doing a CIP?

  • 1.  What is the maximum amount of time you would let your filler sit unused before doing a CIP?

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 12-17-2025 11:59
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    Hello,

    As this is a slow time of the yar for our brewery and with extra days off due to the holiday we can go 5 or 6 days before using our filler again.   We CIP with caustic at the end of each day and start the next run with a heat sanitization. We swab our rinse water, a filler head, and our seamer after the heat san.  We are finding our rinse water is failing the swab after these long breaks so then we have run a CIP before packaging.  This causes delays so I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how long is too long for the filler to sit and require a CIP?

    We have a rotary filler and the cups stay on after a CIP and don't come off until after the next heat san.  

    One of our maintenance technicians said in the past he remembered that if the filler sat for more than 3 days they would CIP.   

    Just trying to be efficient by using caustic as little as possible but also avoid the packaging team having to wait for the CIP to be finished.

    I want to lock down a time frame for when we decide to just start with a CIP and skip the heat san all together as to not waste a bunch of labor hours.  



    -------------------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: What is the maximum amount of time you would let your filler sit unused before doing a CIP?

    Posted 12-18-2025 17:10
    Edited by Walter Heeb 12-18-2025 19:46

    Good Afternoon, 

    We Re-CIP all equipment if it has been sitting more than 3 days prior to heat sanitation. We ATP swab 3 fill heads, the skimmer plate and Underlid Gas. We also use NBB-B-Am as a weekly Environmental swab on various components that have the potential of splashing/dripping back to monitor for biofilms. End of Run: Skim plate gets scrubbed the line gets a Foaming Caustic, followed by a Foaming Quat, then start CIP.

    If the schedule is backed up on the CIP skid, we try to squeeze in touch up CIPs a day or two ahead of time to stay within our 3-day window so that day of it is not delaying the packaging team. Hope this was helpful. Cheers. 



    ------------------------------
    Christopher Bernard
    Brewmaster; Assistant Brewmaster; Brewing Supervisor
    Dust Bowl Brewing Co
    Turlock CA
    (209) 427-2082
    ------------------------------



Related Content