Barrel pressure test

[Dosfairways]

I’m testing the pressure retention on another barrel I have. I filled it 3/4 with water before charging and found no leaks from the cap or valve and strong flow from the tap, but after leaving it overnight I found no pressure left. I’m a bit puzzled. I’m no physicist, but is the water absorbing the co2 and losing pressure as a result??

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

I’m testing the pressure retention on another barrel I have. I filled it 3/4 with water before charging and found no leaks from the cap or valve and strong flow from the tap, but after leaving it overnight I found no pressure left. I’m a bit puzzled. I’m no physicist, but is the water absorbing the co2 and losing pressure as a result??

Yes. You might even be able to detect that the water is carbonated by it’s look or taste.

It’s still possible you have a slow leak of course!

 

[jof]

Can't someone make an adapter to fit a bike pump?
That way people could check for leaks without using up expensive CO2 cartridges

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Can't someone make an adapter to fit a bike pump?
That way people could check for leaks without using up expensive CO2 cartridges

They do. You can buy a King Keg cap with built-in Schrader valve that also comes with a digital pressure gauge to test the pressure.

https://www.balliihoo.co.uk/index.php?route=product/search&search=cap and pressure

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

You can also buy Schrader valves and fit them yourself as several of us have.

Here’s one of mine...

 

[kelper]

The Ballihoo gauge is useless, it doesn't even depress the stem on the Schrader valve so you can't get a reading.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

The Ballihoo gauge is useless, it doesn't even depress the stem on the Schrader valve so you can't get a reading.

Really? I use mine every day and it works on all my Schrader valves. You must have a dud!

 

[kelper]

Really? I use mine every day and it works on all my Schrader valves. You must have a dud!

I've got two duds!

 

[Flan]

I’m testing the pressure retention on another barrel I have. I filled it 3/4 with water before charging and found no leaks from the cap or valve and strong flow from the tap, but after leaving it overnight I found no pressure left. I’m a bit puzzled. I’m no physicist, but is the water absorbing the co2 and losing pressure as a result??

When it’s pressurised Try screwing an empty cartridge onto the valve and leaving it overnight if the pressure has gone the next day at least you know it’s not from the pin valve.

 

[kelper]

Or turn it upside down and look for drips!

 

[Sandozer]

In my air force days, decades back, I worked on aircraft oxygen systems. The standard method of checking for leaks was to use a very dilute washing up liquid, frothed and spread over any suspect joints. I use this method on my Kingkeg, you can get the froth even over the lid joint. Stand back, give it time and watch, but you all know that anyway.