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View Full Version : Cleaning drop flue pan



parsissn
10-21-2024, 03:23 PM
I have a 30x48 drop flue pan that doesn't have any drains in the flues. How does everyone clean out their pans like this? It's a major task since the pan is very heavy even when empty and it can't be easily lifted.
Try draining all you can thru the draw off valve into a clean SS pot, then prop up the opposite end to drain the rest. If you keep the depth while boiling down to 1-1.5" deep. At 2.5" you will have about 15 gal, thus 3 large SS pots, at 1" about 10 gal.
Once drained clean it using white vinegar or pan cleaner. However I haven't used pan cleaner in over 14+ years. Rinse very well before putting the concentrate back into the pan. Until very recently there were no drains, it was all done the way I suggested. Another way is to siphon the pan. To do that fill a clean length of tubing with concentrate. then while holding one end very close to the bottom, run the other end over the side and into an appropriate container and it will drain most of the concentrate.

maple flats
10-21-2024, 06:49 PM
Try draining all you can thru the draw off valve into a clean SS pot, then prop up the opposite end to drain the rest. If you keep the depth while boiling down to 1-1.5" deep. At 2.5" you will have about 15 gal, thus 3 large SS pots, at 1" about 10 gal.
Once drained clean it using white vinegar or pan cleaner. However I haven't used pan cleaner in over 14+ years. Rinse very well before putting the concentrate back into the pan. Until very recently there were no drains, it was all done the way I suggested. Another way is to siphon the pan. To do that fill a clean length of tubing with concentrate. then while holding one end very close to the bottom, run the other end over the side and into an appropriate container and it will drain most of the concentrate.

DRoseum
10-21-2024, 07:18 PM
I use a modified siphon approach, pulling the fluid out through a food grade silicone tube, using a food grade guzzler diaphragm hand pump.

Brian
10-22-2024, 12:25 PM
Shop vac with tubing.