Yuck

[MaltLicker]

Finishing up the clean up from yesterday's brew, and took the boiler's ball valve completely apart.  Not just nozzle off but the inbound side of the valve itself.  The side that connects to the boiler.  Eww.  Stuff gets around the ball valve, apparently.  Thankfully I always remove it and soak it in Oxy then Star-San which may have averted disaster, but I'll be taking that valve completely apart from now on before next brew.  The cold wort goes thru it on way to carboy.

[UselessBrewing]

Yuk, Yes. Is it a worry? No, because you are boiling in this kettle. So it is sterilized by the time the chilled wort hits it. I would still clean it tho...

Cheers
Preston

[MaltLicker]

I've now been taking the valve apart each time, and did so again yesterday after using only 0.50 oz of hop plugs.  This is what came out from inside the valve after soaking, and spraying thru with a garden hose, including cocking the valve half-open to TRY get out the gunk. 

The valve does get quite warm from being so close to the boil kettle but the insides are not getting sanitized from the heat, in my opinion.  I'd definitely recommend taking ball valves completely apart to sanitize.  It does not have to be done right after the brew, just before the next one.