Cleaning your copper lines

[Haynes Forest Products]

I was talking to a fellow producer today and with the new rig in place they had a plumber friend build them a preheater. I asked what they did to clean the flux out and sterilize it. They didnt think about it until I asked. I explained that as soon as they fired up the rig and sap hit the preheater and got hot the first batch was going to taste like soldering flux. Anytime I replace any copper in a house water system I inform the homeowner that there will be a unpleasent taste in the water. I tell them to throw out the ice from the fridge and let all the water run from all the taps and washing machine before use........What do you do to get the preheater clean?

I think it depends on if you use water soluble or oil base flux.

[KenWP]

I would probbably run some really hot water through first and see what happens after that. Maybe the first bit of sap also. With the 3/16 copper tube not much worry of solder there as there isn't a fitting made that I can find that solders on. They are all compression fittings.