Why am I still getting foam?

[DeadFall]

My calculations tell me that I need just under 3m of 5/16 beer line for my set up (I don't have a kegerator yet, 20psi with around a 2.5 ft drop from tap to keg, ambient temps are around 16c) I've got about 1m of 3/8 hooked up to about 2.5m of 5/16 and I'm not seeing any decrease in foam from when it was just the 1.5m of 3/8. Should I drop the gas in pressure now that it's been at 20psi for about a week?

[alexlark]

Foaming can be a big pain, I'd put it down to maybe an over carbed beer, or more likely lack of temp control in your case.

At the beginning of the year I had a foaming issued caused by a drop in temp, I've got no heat in my fridge so the beer absorbed more CO2.

[AnthonyUK]

Should I drop the gas in pressure now that it's been at 20psi for about a week?

Once you have the required level of carbonation you only need enough pressure to push it out. 5psi or less should be enough.

[oliver tate]

Is the rubber seal on the corny diptube in good condition?

[DeadFall]

Is the rubber seal on the corny diptube in good condition?

I checked them over the other before filling. Some of them I replaced. All keg lubed up too.

[DeadFall]

Should I drop the gas in pressure now that it's been at 20psi for about a week?

Once you have the required level of carbonation you only need enough pressure to push it out. 5psi or less should be enough.

Thanks, I'll drop it down a bit and see if that helps

[AnthonyUK]

Also, it might be worth venting any excess pressure too.

[rpt]

3m of 5/16" will drop about 4 psi. I think you need 3/16" which will drop 15 times as much per metre.

If you lower the pressure to serve you will lose carbonation over time.

[MTW]

I treated an overcarbonated keg with this method recently and it worked a treat. [I did make sure I left some pressure on the gas line throughout, to prevent a flooded regulator: I don't have a check valve.] It was previously taking forever to vent it, even with some agitation at a warmer temperature.

[Dads_Ale]

3m of 5/16" will drop about 4 psi. I think you need 3/16" which will drop 15 times as much per metre.

If you lower the pressure to serve you will lose carbonation over time.

As said add some 3/16 beer line. I did this and it worked for me without having to drop the keg pressure (I like my beer well carbonated)

[6470zzy]

Should I drop the gas in pressure now that it's been at 20psi for about a week?

Once you have the required level of carbonation you only need enough pressure to push it out. 5psi or less should be enough.

+1 There is no need to dispense at 20 psi

Cheers

[DeadFall]

Dropped to 5psi. I'm getting gas building up in the line between pours. when i'm pouring i can see it coming out of the beer before it hits the tap. I'm guessing this is too much line?

[phil.dadd]

I'm getting exactly the same issue (gas coming out before the tap), not solved it yet...

[MTW]

It can apparently be due to any join or sharp edges in the line. I have some 3/8 which was on the picnic tap (itself a problem at high carbonation, I'm told) when it came, connected to 3m of 3/16. I start to get too much foam and bubbles in the line around 2.2-2.5 vols, which is nothing like as much as that length of 3/16 line should be able to take. Better tap needed for me and without the join.

[Jambo]

I too had issues with 3/8 tubing - I think some of the pressure drop numbers floating around for it may be wrong, or, more likely, there are temperature effects also which mean you need more pressure drop than you think. I suggest as others have said - get a substantial coil of 3/16 tubing, get as rid of as much 3/8 as you can to minimise the amount of beer in pipes and you'll be fine.

All this talk of dropping pressure for serving is at best a bodge, it's a waste of time and gas, and doesn't even guarantee results.

The other thing you need to be mindful of without a kegerator is seasonal changes in keg temperature which can lead to foaming. I have my kegs happily at 30-40 psi in the summer but more than 10 psi in the winter can be risky!