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How to stop airlock gunk from getting in fermenter when moving fermenter... How to stop airlock gunk from getting in fermenter when moving fermenter...
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Old 07-21-2009, 09:08 PM   #1
Poincare
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Default How to stop airlock gunk from getting in fermenter when moving fermenter...
Hi. Searched for 'airlock', 'sanitizer', 'fermenter' and various combinations but couldn't find anything. Anyway, I've had my fermenter in a swamp cooler here:



and (I've had this problem in the past) when I move the fermenter the crude in the airlock gets sucked into the beer because of pressure or whatnot. Just wondering how people move their fermenters without all that gunk getting sucked into the fermenter?

Should I just give the fermenter a big squeeze and blow all that crude out the airlock, then move it, then put some new sanitizer water back in the airlock?

This is for getting the fermenter ready so I can transfer to bottles.
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Old 07-21-2009, 09:10 PM   #2
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Pop the lid a little to break the seal and take off the air lock.
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Old 07-21-2009, 09:13 PM   #3
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I have read that putting the fermetor in like a milk crate helps a lot as you lift the crate not the fermentor and do not get as much flex in the fermentor.

For me I ferment in a better bottle and swap over to one of their dry trap airlocks when I need to move the fermentor. It uses an internal ball valve to let air escape but not let outside air in.

http://www.rebelbrewer.com/shoppingcart/products/Better-Bottle-DryTrap-Fermentation-Lock.html

This airlock fits in a standard stopper so can be used anywhere you use a standard liquid airlock.
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Old 07-21-2009, 09:13 PM   #4
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Uhh.. won't that expose the beer to the outside air (by removing the airlock?!) and increase the potential for contamination?
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Old 07-21-2009, 09:14 PM   #5
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I don't get crud in my airlocks. I do fill them with vodka and if I get suck back, I don't really care. It just adds to abv.
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Old 07-21-2009, 09:22 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Poincare View Post
Uhh.. won't that expose the beer to the outside air (by removing the airlock?!) and increase the potential for contamination?
Removing the airlock does allow a very brief exposure to outside air and oxygen but it is minimal. Plus you have alcohol and hops in there which make for a very low chance of contamination. Usually if I am moving the fermentor I am getting ready to do a transfer to a different container anyway so the beer is going to see a bit of exposure to the outside air anyway unless you transfer in a closed loop system.

Also +1 for EdWort's vodka suggestion. I usually use vodka in my airlocks as well just in case.
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Old 07-21-2009, 09:23 PM   #7
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Ooohh, that better bottle with dry airlock looks sweet. Gotta slap one of those on my x-mas list.

So.... should I crack the fermenter lid a little to release some pressure in the fermenter so when moving it, ever so gently, it won't blow out...but then it woulc also suck outside air in from the crack in the lid....
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Old 07-21-2009, 09:29 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EdWort View Post
I don't get crud in my airlocks. I do fill them with vodka and if I get suck back, I don't really care. It just adds to abv.
+1000000000000
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Old 07-21-2009, 10:04 PM   #9
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dry airlock = aluminum foil

Beer is not fragile. Prior to bottling, the fermenter is a pretty inhospitable place. It is acidic, alcoholic, covered in a layer of CO2, and inhabited by tens of billions of yeast. Remember rule number one, relax.

As Loius Pastuer showed, just because a solution is exposed to air, it doesn't mean that bacteria are going to get in it. Microbes need a vector.
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Old 07-21-2009, 10:13 PM   #10
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I have starsan in my airlocks so if it gets in, it is sanitizer and nothing "gunky" and has no effect on my beer whatsoever.
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