Fermentation Lock Leaking water into Fermentor

YooperBrew said:

I'm guessing that you pitched the yeast a little warm, and covered the fermenter. Now it's cooling off the rest of the way, thereby creating a vacuum and sucking in the airlock fluid. This will happen until the wort in the fermenter cools completely. You could keep refilling, knowing that it won't harm the beer, or loosen up the lid so you break the vacuum and keep it loose until it stops. Or, you could pull out the airlock and stick in a piece of cotton or foil over the space (sanitized, please) until it stops and then stick the airlock back in.

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pavyaz19 said:

Yooper, thank you very much. It's been over 2 hours now so I think the temperature has dropped to the appropriate degree. The water in the lock also seemed to level off at about 1/4 full. I added 1/4 of vodka to it and will keep a close eye on it for the next few hours.

Thanks again and go Wings! (I'm from Toledo, moved to Burbank, still a HUGE Wings fan... and oddly enough, always spend a week every year in the U.P. - always on South Manistique in Curtis for the traditional family vacation!).

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YooperBrew said:

My husband is from Manistique. For fun this past year, we went to Chamberlain's for dinner, during our "bird camp" which is right in the area, closer to McMillan. We don't own that camp- our good friend does. All 3,000 acres. The first night of "bird camp", we go out for dinner. Since nothing is open at all at that time of year, we ended up at Chamberlain's. That's on the south shore of Big Manistique Lake, I believe.

The reason I guessed why your airlock liquid was disappearing is because it happens to me when I do that, or when I try to chill the fermenter for a cold crash, to lager it, or in a big temperature change. Or..........maybe I have a hidden camera and can see you???!!? :cross:

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