problems when moving a fermenter

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:44 pm

When i pick up a fermenter with an airlock attached, the change in pressure can cause the liquid in the airlock to be sucked back into the fermenter.

simple solution. take off the airlock before moving....but...

now air will be sucked back into the fermenter. I dont loose sleep over hygeine but allowing air back into the fermenter seems to somewhat undo the benifits gained from using an airlock.

If this took place in a primary fermenter I would probably say the air would quickly be displaced by CO2 but when you consider a secondary fermenter CO2 production would be extremly limited.

any thoughts on this?

Buzz · Post by **Buzz** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:32 pm

I put half a campden tablet into the airlock with the water so, should any get sucked back into the brew, it shouldn't present a problem.

Post by **Aleman** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:46 pm

Don't move the fermenter, move the beer

Vossy1 · Post by **Vossy1** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:40 pm

I've done this myself many times

Moving them is always going to allow air in....
As I know you have a C02 supply why not just prugre with C02 after moving...that's what I do

steve_flack · Post by **steve_flack** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:04 pm

Aleman wrote:Don't move the fermenter, move the beer

That's what I do. The fermenter only moves when it's empty (usually for cleaning). I pump my beer from the kettle to the fermenter and the conical is on legs long enough that I can rack by gravity straight into a keg.

brewsters millionths · Post by **brewsters millionths** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:11 pm

I don't suppose the conical will flex enough to "breathe in" if you were to try to move it.

Post by **Aleman** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:13 pm

brewsters millionths wrote:I don't suppose the conical will flex enough to "breathe in" if you were to try to move it.

You can get a set of wheels for it so that you can take it for walkies

brewsters millionths · Post by **brewsters millionths** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:18 pm

then guys could act the way women do when taking a pram for a walk

Vossy1 · Post by **Vossy1** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:18 pm

You can get a set of wheels for it so that you can take it for walkies

Now I'd pay good money to see that

BarryNL · Post by **BarryNL** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:23 pm

I just use cheap whiskey (the stuff my wife puts in her coffee) in the airlock instead of water. If a bit of that gets sucked in its not going to cause any problems.

Post by **Aleman** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:35 pm

Vossy1 wrote:
You can get a set of wheels for it so that you can take it for walkies
Now I'd pay good money to see that

You mean like

this

booldawg · Post by **booldawg** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:14 am

...Where R2D2 meets home-brewing!

steve_flack · Post by **steve_flack** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:17 am

Sadly they don't recommend using wheels and leg extensions together. For me the later was more useful. I can easily lift the conical when it's empty to take it out for a hose down.

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:29 pm

even the 2piece airlock can sometimes suck back.
sodium met in the airlock sounds a good idea but I think ideally i shouldn't move the thing until I'm ready to syphon out.

Vossy1 · Post by **Vossy1** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:55 pm

but it has to bubble back through the sanitiser which should also act as a filter.

They don't work like that DaaB. The sanitiser acts as an air lock and it literally gets sucked straight into the fv.

I use that type of FV without the airlock. Instead I put a piece of fine muslin/net over the airlock hole and secure with an elastic band.
If I need to move it I just repurge with C02.

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problems when moving a fermenter

problems when moving a fermenter