How often should beer lines be cleaned?+
The Brewers Association recommends cleaning beer lines every two weeks (bi-weekly). This prevents yeast, bacteria, and beer stone from building up and affecting the taste, aroma, and quality of your beer. Some high-volume establishments may benefit from weekly cleaning.
What happens if I don't clean my lines regularly?+
Dirty lines lead to off-flavors, sour or vinegary taste, increased foaming, and potential health risks from bacteria growth. Over time, beer stone and scale buildup can also damage your faucets, couplers, and lines — leading to costly repairs or replacements.
What does the cleaning process involve?+
We use professional-grade electric recirculation pumps to push caustic cleaning solution through your lines, faucets, and couplers. The lines are then thoroughly rinsed and sanitized. We also disassemble and clean faucets and couplers by hand. The whole process typically takes 30–60 minutes depending on your system size.
How much does tap cleaning cost?+
Starts at $11 per tap, with a $72 minimum per visit. For larger systems, the price scales simply with your tap count. No hidden fees.
Do I need to close during cleaning?+
In most cases no. We can clean lines while your bar is open — we typically work one section at a time to minimize impact. We'll coordinate with you to find the least disruptive schedule.
Do you clean more than just beer lines?+
Yes — along with beer, we regularly clean and service wine, cider, and nitro lines. Running something else on draft, like cold brew or kombucha? Give us a call — the equipment is similar, so we can usually help, and we'll tell you straight if we can't.
Do you work on both kegerators and long-draw systems?+
Yes — from a single under-bar kegerator or direct-draw setup to a full long-draw glycol system running across the building, we service them all.
My beer is coming out too foamy. What's causing it?+
Foamy beer is usually caused by incorrect CO₂ pressure, temperature issues (warm lines or warm beer), dirty lines, a faulty coupler or faucet, or a leak in the system. We can diagnose and fix the root cause — don't just keep adjusting the pressure regulator as a workaround.
My beer tastes off or sour. Is that a cleaning issue?+
Usually yes. Off-flavors are typically caused by bacterial contamination in dirty lines, or beer stone buildup. A thorough cleaning usually resolves this. If the problem persists, it could be an issue with the beer itself or your cooler temperature.
Do you do emergency repairs?+
Yes — call or text us at 360-422-1664 and we'll do our best to get to you as quickly as possible. We understand that a down tap means lost revenue.
Doesn't my beer distributor install and maintain my draft system for free?+
Mostly a myth in Washington. State “tied-house” laws (RCW 66.28.305) bar breweries and distributors from giving retailers free services or anything of “money's worth” — so free installs and comped line cleaning for a licensed bar aren't allowed. And it cuts both ways: a bar that accepts an unauthorized freebie can put its own liquor license at risk, so “but they offered” isn't a defense. A distributor can sell you equipment — the line is free versus paid, not who does the work — but either way, the cost of keeping your system running falls on you, the licensee. That's where an independent service like ours comes in, with no compliance gray area. (Not legal advice — the WA Liquor and Cannabis Board can confirm specifics.)
Can you install a new draft system or add taps?+
Yes. Whether you're adding a tap or two to an existing setup or building a brand-new draft system from scratch, we can spec it, install it, and get it pouring. Call or text us with what you have in mind and we'll put together a quote.
What areas do you serve?+
We serve Skagit, Whatcom, and Northern Snohomish Counties — including Mount Vernon, Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, Bellingham, Oak Harbor, Conway, La Conner, Bow-Edison, Arlington, and Marysville. Don't see your city? Call us and we'll let you know if we can help.
How do I get started?+
Easy — call or text us at 360-422-1664, or send a message through our contact page. Tell us your location, how many taps you have, and what service you need. We'll get back to you quickly with a quote and scheduling options.
Do you offer recurring cleaning schedules?+
Yes, and we strongly recommend it. We can set up a regular bi-weekly cleaning schedule so you never have to worry about it. Just reach out to get started.
Are you licensed, insured, and bonded?+
Yes — Tapworks Northwest is fully licensed, insured, and bonded. That means you're protected whenever we're working on your equipment, and you can bring us on with confidence.
How do I pay?+
We accept ACH, check, cash, and credit cards — whatever's easiest for you.
Do I have to sign a contract or commit to anything?+
No long-term commitment required. Before we work on your system we'll have you sign a short service agreement — it's not a lock-in, it just confirms you've authorized the work and lays out our simple payment terms, which protects both of us. You're free to book a one-time cleaning or set up a recurring schedule, whichever you prefer.