do you put the red cap on the air lock back on ?

[Toastie]

? mines off , assumed it was just to keep it dust free in the shop ?

 

[StrangeBrew]

? mines off , assumed it was just to keep it dust free in the shop ?

I leave the red cap on after filling with water to stop anything airborne dropping in and possibly infecting the airlock water...

:

 

[bobsbeer]

I put mine back on as it keeps dust out, but the whole idea of the airlock is to keep bugs etc out with the water so I am sure it will be fine.

 

[Toastie]

cheers , iv put mine back on now but feels like it would stop the air getting out , don't spose it will then , il keep an eye on it .

thanks for quick reply :)

 

[Stone Cold]

infecting the air lock? the airlock is stopping the brew from infecting, dont need no cap get rid of it

 

[shearclass]

They would not have a cap on if they weren't supposed to have a cap on!

 

[StrangeBrew]

infecting the air lock? the airlock is stopping the brew from infecting, dont need no cap get rid of it

Glad your so confident nothings going to ever fall into or contaminate your airlock, personally I'd rather not take the risk and the cap comes with the airlock for this very purpose... So I use it !

:

 

[bobsbeer]

cheers , iv put mine back on now but feels like it would stop the air getting out , don't spose it will then , il keep an eye on it .

thanks for quick reply :)

If you look there is a gap between the airlock and the cap so air gets out no problem.

 

[jonnymorris]

Cap on. Better safe than sorry however unlikely something falling in might be. The cap isn't an air tight fit so no worries.

 

[RobWalker]

not unlikely with loads of flies and the smell of sweet wort being thrown out of your airlock 3 times a second!

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

infecting the air lock? the airlock is stopping the brew from infecting, dont need no cap get rid of it

+1 :thumb:
Never used the cap, never had a problem...

BB

 

[artiums_enteri]

You must be referring to the S air lock which is meant for secondary or conditioning the beer. That air lock should really only be used when fermentation is complete, and no more C02 is escaping the fermenter. For primary fermentation the 3 piece air lock or blow off tube is your best bet.

 

[StrangeBrew]

You must be referring to the S air lock which is meant for secondary or conditioning the beer. That air lock should really only be used when fermentation is complete, and no more C02 is escaping the fermenter. For primary fermentation the 3 piece air lock or blow off tube is your best bet.

S type and mini 2 piece 'cylinder' ones are all that's generally available here and the 2 piece gets overwhelmed more readily then the S type. The S types cope much better with heavy fermentation. Agree on the blow off tube for brews that ferment very profusely.

I have seen those larger 3 piece ones you get over there on youtube brewing video's etc ... but not seen them on sale in the UK.

:

 

[Cussword]

Just put the cap back on :P better safe than sorry, I've had flies in the airlock :sick: (they have drowned, of course). The red cap would stop that :thumb:

 

[Stone Cold]

put the whole fermenting vessel with airlock and little red cap inside a great big condom and tie a double knot, just to be safe not sorry. and dont look at it funny, very tempremental

 

[Andyhull]

I've never had an airlock with a cap, i usually (when making wine) just put a piece of cotton wool in the top.

 

[Cussword]

put the whole fermenting vessel with airlock and little red cap inside a great big condom and tie a double knot, just to be safe not sorry. and dont look at it funny, very tempremental

:lol: Where can you buy them :whistle:

 

[Runwell-Steve]

I have thrown the caps away that came on mine, Oops

 

[Moley]

I'd be inclined to throw away the airlocks as well, far too noisy in my opinion.


But yes, cap on to keep the flies out of the trap, just in case you ever get a suck-back (if lifting plastic fermenters).

 

[Runwell-Steve]

I'd be inclined to throw away the airlocks as well, far too noisy in my opinion.

I don't bother with them for beer, but I have got some wine on the go now so use them for that.