Bottled water in my airlock, is this massive error?

[nobby_n]

Started first ever brew last Saturday, everything bubbling nicely in FV. However I was just looking at a turbo cider video where the guy said sterilised water for airlock. I just poured some from the Tesco spring water in having sterilised the airlock beforehand. Could this be a problem do you think?

 

[Jeltz]

I wouldn't worry too much, while its best to use sterile water (or non rinse sanitiser) it shouldn't really get back into the FV that's kind of the point of the airlock.

 

[LeithR]

I suggest that boiled and cooled water into a 1 pint bottle with 2 crushed campden tablets and left for a short while to let the CT's dissolve then put that into the airlock, its safe and cheap.

 

[nixhaz]

I wouldn't worry mate, I used tap water for 10 years with no problems!

 

[nobby_n]

Thanks guys, put my mind at rest. Boiled, cooled, sterilised next time most prob next time, but the tap water option looked OK too.

 

[jonnymorris]

When I use an airlock, which is rare these days, I fill it with vodka. Probably overkill but I've a 1 litre bottle in the cupboard and an aversion to drinking it.

 

[RobWalker]

I wouldn't worry mate, I used tap water for 10 years with no problems!

this

also +1 to no airlock on beer...

 

[evanvine]

You can **** in the air lock!
The CO2 is outward flowing not inward!!
It's there to keep the **** and the Fly out.

 

[Jeltz]

You can **** in the air lock!
The CO2 is outward flowing not inward!!
It's there to keep the **** and the Fly out.

I hope your aim is true, or are you brewing lager :wha:

 

[calumscott]

You can **** in the air lock!
The CO2 is outward flowing not inward!!
It's there to keep the **** and the Fly out.

I hope your aim is true, or are you brewing lager :wha:

:rofl:

 

[jonnymorris]

The CO2 is outward flowing not inward!!

Yes but... in the past I've caused the contents if the airlock to be sucked back into the brew just by picking up the FV (as the plastic deforms). I'd rather have vodka in my beer than ****.

 

[NickW]

The CO2 is outward flowing not inward!!

Yes but... in the past I've caused the contents if the airlock to be sucked back into the brew just by picking up the FV (as the plastic deforms). I'd rather have vodka in my beer than ****.

+1

Did this with my previous brew.

Didn't even rinse it out since the last brew and it had a fruit fly in it... somehow it turned out fine :wha:

 

[Fore]

Yes, and take care if the fermenter has a tap. Drawing quickly from the tap will pull the airlock water into the beer. Even though I had earlier read this, I still did it . Anyways, my beer was fine.

 

[zgoda]

I stopped using airlocks and my worries are all over, now I can stack buckets up to 3 levels high. Sometimes being short on storage isn't that bad.

 

[winelight]

I think all brewing guides should have two options, what you're supposed to do and what people actually do. Supposed to have airlock with sterilised water: what people actually do, is use tap water or no airlock at all.

This would save a lot of worry on the part of new brewers :

 

[evanvine]

Hear hear to winelight!
Too many times do I read the cry of "wolf"!