installing airlock

[stephent]

I installed an airlock to one of my FV's. Cut a hole, put in bung and airlock, job done.

However I am wondering if it is actually airtight? Water level in lock moves as if its being pushed out, lid buldges with the gas, but i never see the bubbles pushing through the airlock. Is this normal, or maybe i am just not paying enough attention to it.

Any ideas?

 

[benspray]

Mine did the same, doesnt give a nice constant bubble like the bubbler on my demijohns just seems to pressurise the FV and then perhaps every couple of minutes or so the pressure rises high enough to lift the water far enough to eject a load of gas like literally a stream of bubbles for about a second or two, which if you have used too much water will eject half of that as well

Less water in the airlock seems to let it vent at a lower pressure / more often but its still the same bubble stream rather than constand blip blip, and doesnt blow so much out meaning less topups (actually I never topup since I started putting less water in)

 

[phettebs]

For me, once fermentation starts and the FV gets positive pressure, I have a constant stream of bubbles (a second or two between each bubble) for 3-4 days. If the lid doesn't seal or the airlock itself doesn't seal, you may not see anything. I have a pale ale in primary now that did not bubble at all. Ever. I popped the lid on my bucket the second day thinking the yeast wasn't working and it had a nice thick head of foam on it. So, I'm assuming it has a leak somewhere that prevent the CO2 from being routed through the airlock.

One of the things we frequently see new brewers here in the US doing is counting the time between bubbles to know when fermentation is complete. Not a good idea since you may have a bad seal somewhere.

Barry

 

[stephent]

well i have tried 2 wines in the same FV and both have ended up vinegary like, according to her. Im wondering if there is a leak that would allow oxidization?

Surely if there was a leak though, the lid wouldnt buldge, showing pressure inside the fv?

 

[didgeman]

If you look at your FV where the handle sits it is not air tight anyway. I had panic attacks as well but one of the guys here told me not to panic with beer. From my experience with wine I prefer to have FVs that have molded in handles so the only way out for the CO2 is through the airlock. I used to have 100ltr vats and only ever lost one wine to the vinegar terrorist. It just happened to be rose hip and me and the missus picked 36 pounds of the damned things so we were gutted. not to mention losing 60 odd liters of wine.

 

[stephent]

im pretty sure it is air tight, i cant see anywhere that it isnt. Its a youngs U brew FV.

 

[corby_brewer]

In my honest opinion ther isnt any need to fement beer under airlock, just un snap the lid of your FV.

 

[stephent]

thanks. That clears up the lager/ beer making. More concerned about the wine now lol.

If the lid isnt on tight as didge said, then thats why i have been having problems. May be worth investing in a screw top fv?

 

[Springer]

[quoteIn my honest opinion ther isnt any need to fement beer under airlock, just un snap the lid of your FV.

][/quote]
Quite agree I have never used an air lock, on beer, I just rest the lid on the FV.

 

[corby_brewer]

thanks. That clears up the lager/ beer making. More concerned about the wine now lol.

If the lid isnt on tight as didge said, then thats why i have been having problems. May be worth investing in a screw top fv?

I do have a screw top FV, which i got off freecycle, but as of yet ive not got round to using it as all my wines are made in 1 galon batches.

 

[tubby_shaw]

The snap on lids on FV's are very rarely gas tight, and as such are unsuitable for much past the first week of wine fermentation, airlocks are unnecessary for the active stage of beer fermentation :thumb:

 

[Moley]

If the lid isnt on tight as didge said, then thats why i have been having problems. May be worth investing in a screw top fv?

I seem to recall telling you that after your first attempt failed, you don't make wine in buckets (at least not beyond the extraction stage with country wines), the exposed surface area is too great.

A Young's screw-top FV is around £12, how much have you wasted on kits or ingredients now?

 

[stephent]

only 20 quid,

Picked up a screwtop fv yesterday, so going to give that a go. Cheers guys.

 

[stephent]

btw you state a youngs screwtop FV is only 12 quid, however the exposed surface area would be exactly the same as a bucket? The dimensions are very similar.

 

[Moley]

A valid point, my beer bucket is 35cm diameter (960 sq.cm) and the Young's fermenters seem to be about 29cm internal (660 sq.cm), although I make 6 gallon batches in them and top up to the neck, 11cm (95 sq.cm). However, they are gas tight and will retain a protective atmosphere as long as you're not taking the lid off every five minutes.