JR_Brewer
Well-Known Member
Last January I got a kegerator, and after a year of experience, some good, some bad, I wanted to post some lessons learned for the potential keggers out there. For background, I've got a 2 tap (dual Perlicks) kegerator that has room for 3 kegs. I'm not going to recap the many articles about kegging (all the magazines and websites have some helpful guides for getting started). I'll try to add the details that the magazines didn't cover, or what I read but didn't follow when I got into it.
In the first 3 months I was kegging, I think I went through 3 or 4 5-lb CO2 tanks due to leaks in the system. So, hopefully you can avoid a monthly run to the welding shop to pick up more CO2. Since then, I've gone nearly 6 months on a tank, and I generally go through 1 keg a month. Here's what I learned:
1. Buy new O-rings for ALL used kegs. I wrongly assumed that when you buy a used keg that's been pressure checked the o-rings are ok. That's no guarantee, and a new set of rings is cheap.
2. Buy a 2nd CO2 tank at the beginning. I made the mistake of not having a spare ready when I ran out of gas. I've since bought one. Go ahead and get it up front.
3. Get keg lube and use it.
4. Pressure check your system. When you fill a new keg, use high pressure to help seal the keg. Crank the pressure up, lift the handle and pull up. When you're first connecting your system, spray the tubing and pressurized parts with star-san, and watch for bubbles that indicate pressure leaks.
5. There's no single standard size wrench for removing keg posts. I have 3 different kegs each uses a different size wrench to remove the posts. I know there are 5/8", 11/16", 3/4", and 7/8" posts out there (if not more). Make your life simple and check this out before you buy so you can standardize you collection. Also, you'll need a 12 point socket/wrench, not just a standard hex.
6. It's nice to have room in your kegerator for one more keg than you have taps. You'll have a spare keg cold and ready when you kick one. This is especially nice at a party.
7. I did not buy a fancy line cleaning device. I thought about it, but here's what I do. When I empty a keg, I clean it using oxy-clean, and run the soapy solution through the lines using CO2 to pressurize it. Then I rinse and then fill it with star san, and then run that through the lines. Scrub the taps, and it's good to go.
Overall, kegging is great. It's easier than bottling, there's no need to save and clean bottles, and there's nothing like a fresh draft homebrew. If you have space and a budget for kegging, I highly recommend it.
Ok, hope that helps, happy kegging!
In the first 3 months I was kegging, I think I went through 3 or 4 5-lb CO2 tanks due to leaks in the system. So, hopefully you can avoid a monthly run to the welding shop to pick up more CO2. Since then, I've gone nearly 6 months on a tank, and I generally go through 1 keg a month. Here's what I learned:
1. Buy new O-rings for ALL used kegs. I wrongly assumed that when you buy a used keg that's been pressure checked the o-rings are ok. That's no guarantee, and a new set of rings is cheap.
2. Buy a 2nd CO2 tank at the beginning. I made the mistake of not having a spare ready when I ran out of gas. I've since bought one. Go ahead and get it up front.
3. Get keg lube and use it.
4. Pressure check your system. When you fill a new keg, use high pressure to help seal the keg. Crank the pressure up, lift the handle and pull up. When you're first connecting your system, spray the tubing and pressurized parts with star-san, and watch for bubbles that indicate pressure leaks.
5. There's no single standard size wrench for removing keg posts. I have 3 different kegs each uses a different size wrench to remove the posts. I know there are 5/8", 11/16", 3/4", and 7/8" posts out there (if not more). Make your life simple and check this out before you buy so you can standardize you collection. Also, you'll need a 12 point socket/wrench, not just a standard hex.
6. It's nice to have room in your kegerator for one more keg than you have taps. You'll have a spare keg cold and ready when you kick one. This is especially nice at a party.
7. I did not buy a fancy line cleaning device. I thought about it, but here's what I do. When I empty a keg, I clean it using oxy-clean, and run the soapy solution through the lines using CO2 to pressurize it. Then I rinse and then fill it with star san, and then run that through the lines. Scrub the taps, and it's good to go.
Overall, kegging is great. It's easier than bottling, there's no need to save and clean bottles, and there's nothing like a fresh draft homebrew. If you have space and a budget for kegging, I highly recommend it.
Ok, hope that helps, happy kegging!