StillSmart

This is about my 6th-7th run, normally the entire process takes 8-9 hours and I'd be left with 4L reading 98% at 20C, I followed the same process as always and now no product would come out, instead every 10 min or so it would just come gushing out and skyrocketing the temperature of the post-flow cooling water, now I'm 3.5 hours into the run with 3.5L at 69% at 20C. Water supply is the same, could this be a need to replace saddles or something wrong with the cooling tower itself? Or equipment failure?

This sounds like you are puking, most common causes.
No boil enhancers
No conditioner
Level in boiler too high
Wash wasn't de-gassed

Or perhaps the column is flooding and needs emptying, cleaning and repacking.

I got conditioner and level is at max 20L mark, wash was degassed and enhancers are there, I wash them each time, should I get new ones? Should I just gut the column?

Is the silicon seal sat correctly under the lid? This can cause some strange aberrations!

yep, all the seals are intact and functioning

Note to self, inspect the still thoroughly prior to use or NEVER LET ANYONE HELP CLEAN MY STILL AND JAM A BALL OF PAPER TOWEL INTO THE COLUMN EVER AGAIN.

Thanks for the assistance though, I appreciate the quick responses.

Spooky wrote:Note to self, inspect the still thoroughly prior to use or NEVER LET ANYONE HELP CLEAN MY STILL AND JAM A BALL OF PAPER TOWEL INTO THE COLUMN EVER AGAIN.

Thanks for the assistance though, I appreciate the quick responses.

Trust no-one, Spooky..!

Experimenting with balls of paper towel could be a way forward!
You know the song-
" I get knocked down, but I get up again....."

Robert.