Airlocks not bubbling

[deano469]

I put my first couple of brews on Thursday night but there doesn't seem to be any air lock activity, both are in clear plastic djs and there are bubbles and foam in the brews just nothing being released from the air locks. Is this OK or do I need to throw some more yeast in?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

You probably have a leak plastic PET's are known for it.

This is from the WOW guide here in the forum - Incidentally, don’t rely solely on airlock activity, particularly with the PETs they sell in homebrew shops which have rubber grommets in the lid, they don’t always make an effective seal, so watch for tiny bubbles at the neck.

 

[stevie1556]

I use the 5 litre PETs, and in the lids I drill an 8mm hole. You really have to push the airlocks through but it makes a perfect seal everytime.

As above, you probably have a small leak somewhere and that's stopping the bubbles in the airlock, but the foam and that sounds like it's fermenting away nicely.

What wines have ya got going?

 

[deano469]

Thanks for the heads up Chippy tea, both djs have tiny bubbles rising in them so like you said, it must be leaky lids, I'm guessing this isn't really an issue as long as the gas can escape?
I have a batch or raspberryade on the go and a turbo cider with raspberry lowicz syrup in, with the hope it will make a nice apple and raspberry cider.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I use the 5 litre PETs, and in the lids I drill an 8mm hole. You really have to push the airlocks through but it makes a perfect seal everytime.

I found a 28mm drill bit makes a perfect hole to fit a bung and airlock. :thumb:

From WOW thread -

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Thanks for the heads up Chippy tea, both djs have tiny bubbles rising in them so like you said, it must be leaky lids, I'm guessing this isn't really an issue as long as the gas can escape?
.

You could try putting a sandwich bag with a hole poked through the centre over the top of the bottle then screw the cap on, this will fill the threads and make it a tight fit, a bit like plumbers PTFE tape but a lot cheaper (i am a tight barsteward) if its still not bubbling stick some blu-tack around the outside of the hole where the airlock enters the cap..

 

[deano469]

Might try that next time, I fitted grommets into the caps I have at the moment.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I edited my post as you posted so you may have missed it -

You could try putting a sandwich bag with a hole poked through the centre over the top of the bottle then screw the cap on, this will fill the threads and make it a tight fit, a bit like plumbers PTFE tape but a lot cheaper (i am a tight barsteward) if its still not bubbling stick some blu-tack around the outside of the hole where the airlock enters the cap..

 

[stevie1556]

Might try that next time, I fitted grommets into the caps I have at the moment.

I edited my post as you posted so you may have missed it -

You could try putting a sandwich bag with a hole poked through the centre over the top of the bottle then screw the cap on, this will fill the threads and make it a tight fit, a bit like plumbers PTFE tape but a lot cheaper (i am a tight barsteward) if its still not bubbling stick some blu-tack around the outside of the hole where the airlock enters the cap..

Deano - the TC with the Lowicz syrup is great. My stocks get raided everytime friends come round. I found it helps to backsweeten it with Splenda though.

Chippy_Tea - the only reason I didn't drill holes big enough for the bungs was because I didn't have a big enough drill bit! I found that with an 8mm hole it's a perfect fit though.

 

[Tankboi]

Thanks for the heads up Chippy tea, both djs have tiny bubbles rising in them so like you said, it must be leaky lids, I'm guessing this isn't really an issue as long as the gas can escape?
.

You could try putting a sandwich bag with a hole poked through the centre over the top of the bottle then screw the cap on, this will fill the threads and make it a tight fit, a bit like plumbers PTFE tape but a lot cheaper (i am a tight barsteward) if its still not bubbling stick some blu-tack around the outside of the hole where the airlock enters the cap..

Also you can use a balloon with a few holes poked it, fit it over the neck with an elastic band or two. It's also more fun to watch. This was advice giving to me off another website when I first started brewing and didnt have an airlock.

 

[deano469]

Cheers for the advice guys. Only done a small batch of TC Stevie as these are my first 2 brews, if they are good though i will definitely be making some bigger batches up.