Airlock or not?

[jacksbrewery]

I am relatively new to the kit homebrew scene. Have a standard fermenter barrel with sealed lid with airlock. Having just put a brew on, the instructions recommended leaving the fermenter lid loose, is this advisable or is it best to seal the fermenter lid with airlock in place or do as destructions suggest and leave lid loose?

Cheers!

[burgo]

I did a Coopers Stout, known for it's exciting fermenting activities. My airlock lid was on so tightly that the fv lid buckled, fortunately caught it and loosened it in time before she erupted, from now on my airlock lid will be loose.

Not sure on the technical side of things but this was my experience.

[Hoodlum]

my feeling on this is that once the pretty enthusiastic fermentation has quietened down a bit, and there's insufficient CO2 being thrown out to protect the wort, then get it under an airlock.

I need to modify my bin lid for a bubbler, but have managed to brew without ever placing the lid onto the bin properly

[Ditch]

once the pretty enthusiastic fermentation has quietened down a bit, and there's insufficient CO2 being thrown out to protect the wort, then get it under an airlock.

Pretty much agree with that. Except there's probably a lot more CO2 laying in there than we are able to discern. But it won't hurt to pop an air lock on, Once the eruption's subsided.

Personally? I use my air lock hole to thread the flex of my ('fish tank') heater through. Thus what I do now is based on the old 'sling a damp towel over the open FV' method - which worked fine for years. I just plonk a J Cloth, soaked in Sod Met and wrung out, on top of the hole where the wire comes out.

Never going to be air tight, of course. But I figure that residual CO2 and the fumes off the SM moistened cloth combine to make a pretty uninviting environment for nasties. Works for me, anyway

[martyn142]

I'm similar to Ditch. I use an immersion heater, the flex of which runs through a rubber bung. I push this in firmly so the airlock hole is filled. However, I crack open the lid on the FV and I leave it like that all through fermentation. I don't think there is any risk at of infection since the lid is on to all intents and purpsoes, it just isn't popped shut.

My general advice though is to make sure everything is clean and sterilised when making up the kit - after that so long as you don't allow anything to drop into it you should be fine.

[Hoodlum]

Yeah, I also use an imersion heater, although my towel is draped over the flex with the lid laid on top of the towel

Inclined to agree that cleanliness is paramount to preventing infections, AND resisting the newbie urge to peep under the towel everyday at the joy that is fermentation.

The smell in my little fermenting shed with the towel draped method is delicious.

[brysie]

haha.

resisting the newbie urge to peep under the towel everyday at the joy that is fermentation.

i hear ya.