Airlocks

[Shoit]

I'm just in the process of attempting my first ever brew. Everything seems to be going well, except I can't seem to get the airlock to function correctly. It's securely in the top of the fermenting bin via a bung, next to the heater. I've got a good fermentation going on, but no bubbles through the airlock and the lid is bulging!

Its a "top hat" style airlock, i filled the internal piece half full with boiled and cooled water (after sterilizing). But it doesn't seem to be working - can someone give me the idiots guide to setting up this type of airlock?

Thanks in advance

Kev

[Jim]

That should be working OK.

Have you checked that the path through the airlock is clear? It may be a faulty moulding or something may be blocking it. Try taking it off and blowing air through the tube (sterilise before replacing it, obviously).

[Shoit]

Can I just be clear, I fill the inside of the airlock and then press the top portion into the water filled piece? How full should the bottom bit of the airlock be before I put the top piece in?

Thanks in advance

Kev

[russt1969]

I'd say about half full. Or just under.
I had a problem with a bubbler not bubblin' once because the lid had a slight air leak in it. Also air can escape around the rubber bung. Put some water around the bung and see if you get bubbles.

[Shoit]

I'll check that out - i know there is a very slight leak, but not enough to deal with the pressure thats in there at the moment

I'll try detaching it and filling again. What's the best way to seal the bung whilst I'm changing the airlock? Just cover it with cling-film or something similar?

Also, at what point is it worth starting to check the SG? - I don't see the point at the moment as it's only 24hrs into the fermentation and all is going well. I checked it at the start and it was in the correct range.

Kev

[Jim]

Kev, yes, that's right. (EDIT your previous post, that is)

There should be a gap where the top half meets the lower half to allow air to escape. Have you tried putting it together with no water in and blowing through the tube? If there's a lot of resistance, there's something wrong with it.

Incidentally, although some people do use airlocks when fermenting beer, it isn't strictly necessary - you could just loosen the lid of the fermenter until the fermentation quietens down a bit - the yeast head and the blanket of CO2 gas will protect the brew.

[Jim]

I'll check that out - i know there is a very slight leak, but not enough to deal with the pressure thats in there at the moment

I'll try detaching it and filling again. What's the best way to seal the bung whilst I'm changing the airlock? Just cover it with cling-film or something similar?

Also, at what point is it worth starting to check the SG? - I don't see the point at the moment as it's only 24hrs into the fermentation and all is going well. I checked it at the start and it was in the correct range.

Kev

I'd wait at least 3 or 4 days, before there's any chance it'll be nearing completion.

[Shoit]

Kev, yes, that's right. (EDIT your previous post, that is)

Incidentally, although some people do use airlocks when fermenting beer, it isn't strictly necessary - you could just loosen the lid of the fermenter until the fermentation quietens down a bit - the yeast head and the blanket of CO2 gas will protect the brew.

Oh, i hadn't realized that! I'll not worry too much at the moment then! Maybe it's easier just to loosen the lid! Rather than having a load of froth in the hallway.

[Prozac]

is the top section pushed into the bottom section? I think it sort of loosley sits in the bottom rather than being fitted snugly.

Like Jim says, it seems beer is slightly more robust than wine.

[Ska_J]

If you happen to have an old computer mouse somewhere I read the suggestion (quite possibly on this site) that you pop the tracking ball, sanitised, where the airlock would normally go. Seemed like a good idea to me, not sure how effective it would be, but since we're talking about unfastening the lid I'm sure it would be good enough. I imagine a marble or anything similar would do the job too.

Airlocks might not be strictly necessary, but I've just started and the excitement of all that bubbling going on in the first 48 hours were worth the cost alone!

J