What's up with the airlock?

I am on my 5th brew (whoohoo!), and I have noticed 2 things:

1- I don't usually get any signs of fermentation till about 36-48 hours after I pitch the yeast.

2- Sometimes my airlock doesn't burp during fermentation - even though there is krausen. This just happened on my last brew, i checked to make sure I had a secure seal & that there was enough H2O in the airlock, but I have not gotten 1 bubble in 5 days!

So would making a starter help fermentation kick in sooner? I just bought a flask for my next batch. And is does it sound like air is escaping from somewhere? Though I don't know where it could be

make sure that your yeast is not out of date. also if you put the yeats in at a teampreature that is to high / low it could cause a problem with fermentation.

also with home brewing. it is a good idea to sit the water for 24hrs in a sealed container to get rid of any chlorine that would be in the water. its not good for the yeast... let me know how you go...

rohan said:

make sure that your yeast is not out of date. also if you put the yeats in at a teampreature that is to high / low it could cause a problem with fermentation.

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yeast was a Wyeast slap pack- date on package was 7/2005 so it was new yeast. Pitched at 76F

this is the case for most of my batches....

A starter would definitely decrease your lag times, but other factors contribute as well, such as pitch temp and aeration.

As for no bubbles in the airlock....If you're using plastic, there may be a bad seal on the primary lid or where the airlock attaches to the lid. If you're using a carboy, your stopper may not be seated properly or the airlock may not be seated properly in the stopper. I know you said you checked the seal but fermentation produces CO2...and it has to go somewhere. Some will go into solution in the beer and some will remain in the fermenter, but enough is produced during a full ferment that some must escape.

Having said that, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If your beer is fermenting and you're hitting your gravities, then who really cares where the CO2 goes right?

vtfan99 said:

If your beer is fermenting and you're hitting your gravities, then who really cares where the CO2 goes right?

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true- but i do like the bubbles. they make me happy

If you've got krausen, your beer is fermenting. You've got an airleak somewhere. Replace the bucket or use carboys.

I like the bubbles too, but I didn't want to be the first to admit it!!! Like Don Ho!!! Tiny Bubbles....... Oh wait a minute, that's in wine...... I need another homebrew!!

Don't worry, I think if you've got the kreusen (did I spell it right?) its fermenting and you'll be fine!
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Tim

Jill,
i know i have one 'primary' bucket that never quite seals properly, i now use it only to transfer water/liquor/wort, i couldn't find the problem but know that the lid isn't sealing effectively - so i'd suspect you've just got a bad bucket/lid combo.
for $20 a carboy is good insurance for your next batch, course you could always get another plastic fermenter, but the price diff is negligable (sp?) and the carboy's advantages far outweigh the plastic IMHO

thanks for the advice guys-

i may buy a 6.5 gal carboy for my primary, plus i just purchased a second plastic primary.