A dirty stone is one of the leading causes of low carbonation. The pores that make fine bubbles are tiny, and once they plug, the stone makes big bubbles that don’t dissolve.
Why surface cleaning isn’t enough
Running stones through your tank’s caustic cycle cleans the surface and removes most of the beer stain, but the pores inside stay plugged (How to Properly Clean Your Carbonation Stone). Our forced-flow method pushes caustic through the stone. Ultrasound is the other way in.
GW Kent, which makes sintered stainless carbonation stones, names an ultrasonic bath as the best way to clean a stone, and advises never brushing a sintered stainless stone (GW Kent).
The BrewWizz ultrasonic stone cleaner
BrewWizz calls its Ultrasonic Stone Cleaner the best method for cleaning its ceramic carbonation stones, and the most effective way to clean any carbonation stone, and recommends one to anyone using its ceramic stones.
- 10-litre tank with a small upright footprint (about 21 × 12 × 6.5 inches)
- Two front dials for cleaning time and temperature
- Ball valve for quick draining, and a removable stainless mesh basket
- 12-month back-to-base warranty
The lower-cost option
If you’re not ready for an ultrasonic cleaner, the Torpedo is the tool from our stone cleaning video. It uses CO2 to force caustic through the stone, cleaning the pores as well as the outside. BrewWizz positions the ultrasonic cleaner as the step up for stubborn blockages, and the better fit for ceramic stones.
Using it
Follow the cleaner’s instructions for time and temperature, and ask us if you’re not sure what suits your stones. Two handling rules apply either way. Avoid touching stones with bare hands, because skin oils can plug the pores. And check the result the way we do in our cleaning video: run CO2 through the stone in a bucket of water at the same pressure before and after, and compare the flow.
How often?
There’s no single interval that suits every product, so ask us what fits yours. In the meantime, a falling flow at the same pressure, or a run that takes noticeably longer than usual, is a sign the stone is due.
Want to add an ultrasonic cleaner to your setup? Order at brewwizz.com, or email [email protected].
Sources
- brewwizz.com, Ultrasonic Stone Cleaner and Torpedo product pages.
- FizzWizz System & Accessories (warranty, basket) and FAQ (dirty stones and low carbonation).
- GW Kent, Replacement 12″ Stone (ultrasonic cleaning, no brushing, skin oils).
- How to Properly Clean Your Carbonation Stone (bucket flow test).