Airlocks! Is there really a difference?

[crofty83]

I've started a TC today and it's fermenting nicely :-)

Anyway, I've stuck a U-Bend style airlock in the top of the demijohn but now it wont fit inside the airing cupboard. I was thinking about changing the airlock for a 2/3 piece airlock which is a bit shorter and would then fit inside the airing cupboard but is their a difference between the two?

Anthony

 

[RobWalker]

Not one that matters, go for it!

 

[Davey H]

I wouldn't have thought so i presume that they are all for the same thing (i.e allowing co2 to escape and not allowing air in) :wha: ive used several different types and haven't noticed any difference. :thumb:

 

[fbsf]

Only ones I have found a bit poor are the old Boots glass ones (with the two little glass bubbles - one either side). With a vigorous fermentation, the gas can bubble the liquid right out of the airlock!
This one...

I've had no such problems with the pillarbox-type or the six-chamber ones.

 

[BrewDan]

Other than the shape and size, none that I know of. Only thing I would say for the shorter 'handy airlocks' is that if the fermentation is quite strong the top can pop off leaving it open for bits to drop in.

You can also run a piece of syphon tube from the bung to a bottle of water etc, that works just as well

 

[crofty83]

Thanks guys :-)

I've just checked on the TC and the water that was in the airlock has been forced around the U-Bend by the CO2 and will soon start to leak out of the top. Is this normal?

 

[Djtrouble1982]

Sorry to hijack while we're on the subject of airlocks, I have a cider and wine in fv's and there is no airlock activity at all, but I can see changes in the fv. Is this normal???

 

[crofty83]

Sorry to hijack while we're on the subject of airlocks, I have a cider and wine in fv's and there is no airlock activity at all, but I can see changes in the fv. Is this normal???

Oi you. Get out of my thread :p

 

[oldbloke]

Sorry to hijack while we're on the subject of airlocks, I have a cider and wine in fv's and there is no airlock activity at all, but I can see changes in the fv. Is this normal???

Not according to your sig you don't! :wha:

What sort of FV? If it's a bucket, they (a) have loads of headspace for the gas to hide in so the lock may take ages to get going, and (b) often don't seal specially well so the lock gets bypassed (and I had that happen with a demi where I didn't push the bung in hard enough, recently, too)
If you can see something happening, something's happening. Don't worry too much about the lock

 

[Gayle]

I like the two-part airlocks because they're much easier to clean when necessary (like when the brew bubbles up through it!) and they're quieter too. Not that I mind the lovely bloopiling noise the bubblers make, but it freaks out visitors :lol:

 

[Djtrouble1982]

Forgot to update sig

 

[TRXnMe]

I find the 'pill box' types are easier to clen out if the ferment tries to climb out the air lock than the 6 blob U bend ones :)

Other than that, no difference.

My fiery ginger beer nearly sent the cap of the pill box bubbler into orbit, simple solution was to leave it loose rather than try and get the friction fit

 

[PD]

With bucket type fermenter's I never seem to get good airlock activity, and have got to the stage I look on them as an emergency escape route for a vigorous ferment !. The lids seem to be clicked on securely but obviously gases are escaping somewhere other than the air lock. Yet I have never ( touch wood ) lost a brew to it being spoilt by bacterial air contamination, so I've stopped worrying now. I think the lids are more or less there to stop things falling in.
I remember years ago when I started making beers ( early 1980's ) we brewed in open buckets covered with a wet tea towel. Mind you we use to use bread yeasts as well floated on the surface of the brew on a piece of toast ! we got drunk many times he heee.