has anyone committed this siphon cardinal sin

**kappclark** · 07-03-2009, 04:23 PM

This AM, I am siphon-challenged. I normally do not have plms starting a siphon.

Today was different. Racking a Red Ale to secondary..normally I don't have a plme, byr I kept losing the siphon when starting, so...

I took the end of the hose and sucked on it until we had a flow.

Now, I am sure the beer will come out alright, but curious if anyone else has done this (and worried) ..

**rsmith179** · 07-03-2009, 04:28 PM

Yes... people have done this. It is not recommended as your mouth is just FULL of germs and bacteria. May not be a problem with this batch, but would not do this on a regular basis.

If you have a problem starting a siphon, try getting an auto-siphon. Also, the best way to start a siphon is to have a bucket of sanitizer near by and dunk the entire hose in the sanitizer. Make sure that the hose is actually full of water and then cover both ends with your thumb. Then, just dip one end in the beer and release the other end. I would recommend having a smaller bucket around to allow the sanitizer left in the siphon hose to go into that bucket, not the fermenter.

**MeatyPortion** · 07-03-2009, 04:31 PM

I've heard that siphoning after gargling with grain spirits is recommended. Never tried it though.

albannach · 07-03-2009, 04:31 PM

Good excuse to swish your mouth with some Russian holy water? (vodka)

I've heard someone recommend this but I've never tried it myself since I have an autosiphon.

albannach · 07-03-2009, 04:32 PM

Meaty portion, you type fast.

**MeatyPortion** · 07-03-2009, 04:37 PM

Great minds thinking alike and all that.

**kappclark** · 07-03-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsmith179

Yes... people have done this. It is not recommended as your mouth is just FULL of germs and bacteria. May not be a problem with this batch, but would not do this on a regular basis.

Make sure that the hose is actually full of water and then cover both ends with your thumb. Then, just dip one end in the beer and release the other end. I would recommend having a smaller bucket around to allow the sanitizer left in the siphon hose to go into that bucket, not the fermenter.

I think what is cramping my method is the extra-long SS racking cane I rec'd ..before I was using just tubing, and dumping first part to empty bucket, then staringht to secondary or keg once siphon was going..the cane is handy but seems to make this task more of a chore.

I think I will try a 2 port carboy cap with filtered tube to blow into..

**passedpawn** · 07-03-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kappclark

I think I will try a 2 port carboy cap with filtered tube to blow into..

I know lot's of folks do this, but I wouldn't risk it. If you don't want an autosiphon (which I love, BTW), you can just

fill your siphon tubing with water,
cap both ends with your sanitized hands,
stick one end in your beer, the other end LOWER than your beer.

The siphon will start on its own. I used to do this a lot, without problem. Maybe it is more risky than the blow, don't know. But I have heard the mouth is one SERIOUS source of bacteria, and I don't get it near any beer that I'm going to continue fermenting.

[edit] I see this was mostly redundant with an early post... sorry

**Arkador** · 07-03-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by passedpawn

I know lot's of folks do this, but I wouldn't risk it. If you don't want an autosiphon (which I love, BTW), you can just

fill your siphon tubing with water,
cap both ends with your sanitized hands,
stick one end in your beer, the other end LOWER than your beer.

The siphon will start on its own. I used to do this a lot, without problem. Maybe it is more risky than the blow, don't know. But I have heard the mouth is one SERIOUS source of bacteria, and I don't get it near any beer that I'm going to continue fermenting.

I did this all the time before I got an autospihon. I just had sanatized hands, and used tapwater...

SkiGladys · 07-03-2009, 05:57 PM

I've used my mouth to start a siphon a couple of times where I just got lazy and the beer turned out fine.

It probably had a higher likelihood of getting contaminated, but the chances still aren't that large.

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