3 Tips for Cannabis Extraction Equipment Cleaning

Cannabis extraction equipment can be costly.  And, with an investment like this, you should know and understand all of the moving parts and what needs to be cleaned, oiled and maintained.  This usually comes in the form of an owner’s manual, however, sometimes you need to dive in and use your head. Watch as the machine moves and operates to determine for yourself where you need to do what.  

Know your Machine

There are various vessels and parts that come with every machine.  These, along with lines, supply tanks and other connections should be observed to determine what is going to need cleaning as well as how often you will need to clean these areas.  Get to know your system and know it well. This is what is producing your product and it will go down from time to time. If you know what areas are prone to going down or causing issues, sometimes having a backup of that component on the shelf could save you a day’s production.  

Determine the frequency and need for each component

The object is to avoid downtime or contaminated product.  However, not all the components are going to need the same cleaning schedule.  So, it is important to determine what the cleaning schedule would work for your needs.  If your extractor came with a user manual, then the information should be in there. However, if you do not have a user manual, do as we have suggested above and watch and learn how your particular extractor works.  Everyone uses their extractor a bit different. For example, if you use it on 3 shifts 24/7 it will need cleaning more than one that is only used on one shift. Or one that is only used scarcely. And, you should keep that in mind.  

Common cleaning procedures will use ethanol and cleaning and rinsing the separator vessels, the connection lines and be sure to check the filters and downstream lines for any carryover of cannabis extract.  Having a proper cleaning procedure in place will help with getting better yields as well as improve separation. Avoid clogged lines by cleaning them out properly with ethanol as well.  

If you use an extractor with different types of plants, one with high THC and another with high CBD strains you should always clean the equipment between batches to help avoid cross-contamination.  

The CO2 gas compressor pump has many moving objects and should be checked weekly with a weekly maintenance log.  This will help you to avoid costly maintenance down the road. The pump should be closely inspected for any loose connections, a loose belt, and for leaks.  Changes in noise levels and vibration could be a sign that something is about to go terribly wrong. 

Keep Parts on Hand

This has been mentioned before but it is worth mentioning again.  Over time you will really know what to stock, but for now, any belts, O-rings, and valves should have a back up on the shelf.  It is costly to have a machine go down and you have to wait on the parts. Anticipate what you may need and have on hand. You can check out suppliers like https://salemscientificlabs.com. Also, any consumables such as oil or other fluids should be kept too.