Air pockets in keg line.

[scottballz]

Hey guys,
I have been having problems with one keg in particular. It seems I'm getting air pockets in the line. one at the post and one at the faucet. the same thing happened with a ginger beer I made that was hooked up to another faucet but was in the same keg which makes me think it is something wrong with the keg itself. I also just replaced the line and put in a brand new Perla faucet. you can see the air pockets in the picture.

-The line itself is only about 6 ft long
-the beer is a homemade chocolate stout
-I forced carbed 2 days ago at 25psi for 1 min while rocking it at 42 f
-I released the pressure from the keg before hooking it up to 9 psi for serving
-the temp in the kegorator is 42 f.

I really dont think any of this is playing a factor but just in case this is hopefully all the info. I also have an IPA on tap that I did the exact same way on the tap next to it which is pouring just fine.

 

[j1n]

Might be the out post on the keg.

 

[Zepth]

If I had 2 guesses the first is that there was a temperature swing somewhere in the works and co2 is coming out of solution as a result. The second guess would be that although you still released pressure in the headspace the beer is overcarbed as compared to the 9psi set and forget. In the event of the latter disconnect the regulator, purge headspace a couple times, then try again later.

 

[COEBRA]

The poppet or o ring on the out post could be going bad allowing air to seep in when the tap is opened.

 

[scottballz]

The poppet or o ring on the out post could be going bad allowing air to seep in when the tap is opened.

Thats what im thinking too. I'll start there and deduce. thanks for the help fellas. cheers!

 

[day_trippr]

A pressurized system is not going to suck "air" in. If there's a problem with the hardware, it's going to be the O-ring under the Out dip tube flange is compromised or outright missing, allowing CO2 in the keg head space to be injected into the beer stream.

Worth checking, but I think in this case the problem lies elsewhere.

There's no telling exactly how many volumes of CO2 are in that beer right now, given the way it was carbonated. But whatever it is, if the dispensing pressure is not sufficient to maintain that carbonation level, CO2 will break out of solution.

As well, if the beer line temperature is appreciably higher than the temperature at the bottom of the keg, CO2 will break out.

The solution/avoidance to those problems: carbonate rationally, and have an air-stirring fan to keep the temperature differential from bottom to top of the cooler as small as possible...

Cheers!

 

[Zepth]

A pressurized system is not going to suck "air" in. If there's a problem with the hardware, it's going to be the O-ring under the Out dip tube flange is compromised or outright missing, allowing CO2 in the keg head space to be injected into the beer stream.

I agree with the pressurized system not having a vacuum to outside air. I am not sure if that missing / damaged o-ring would cause a CO2 injection. If it were missing I'd be more concerned about CO2 leaking from that location from between the post and dip tube, then coming out the bottom of the post threads. I don't trust the threads on my kegs to be air-tight in any way.

 

[day_trippr]

[...]I am not sure if that missing / damaged o-ring would cause a CO2 injection.[...]

Well, be sure, because it totally will. It could also cause gas to leak around the riser threads, but we're not chasing leaks here right now

Again, that wouldn't be the first on my list in this case...

Cheers!

 

[scottballz]

So I replaced the o rings on the out post and everything is all good. Thanks for the help guys. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1425324234.427490.jpg

 

[COEBRA]

So I replaced the o rings on the out post and everything is all good. Thanks for the help guys. View attachment 260428

Awesome! That's happened to me too. That's why I suggested it.

I would ask for an apology from day_trippr but it's all good :thumbup: I'll just such my tongue out at him/her and say "Told ya so!" lol! That's why this forum is all about. Being able to collaborate with other brewers! Glad you got it figured out!

 

[WayFrae]

I just bought some new kegs and one of them is doing this exact same thing. I have never taken them apart or anything. Am I able to change or adjust the o-ring with the beer still in the keg? Or should I transfer to another keg to fix it?

 

[day_trippr]

[...]I would ask for an apology from day_trippr but it's all good :thumbup: I'll just such my tongue out at him/her and say "Told ya so!" lol! That's why this forum is all about. Being able to collaborate with other brewers! Glad you got it figured out!

LOL! You really still believe that was AIR BEING SUCKED INTO THE BEER LINE?

The "air pockets" were CO2 getting past a bad Out dip tube O-ring.
He replaced the O-ring, problem solved.

No apology deserved.

Education, yes. Apology? No...

Cheers!

 

[passedpawn]

LOL! You really still believe that was AIR BEING SUCKED INTO THE BEER LINE?

The "air pockets" were CO2 getting past a bad Out dip tube O-ring.
He replaced the O-ring, problem solved.

No apology deserved.

Education, yes. Apology? No...

Cheers!

The oring on the OUT POST has air on one side and beer on the other. A leak there should result in a keezer full of beer by the morning (ask me how I know, times about 5).

The oring on the beer-side dip tube has CO2 on one side (in the headspace of the keg) and the beer line on the other side. So, a leak in that oring would result in CO2 in the beer line.

I'm assuming day_tripper is right here, but maybe the OP can clarify.

 

[passedpawn]

I just bought some new kegs and one of them is doing this exact same thing. I have never taken them apart or anything. Am I able to change or adjust the o-ring with the beer still in the keg? Or should I transfer to another keg to fix it?

Sure, you can change orings any time. Just release the gas (some kegs have relief valve), pull the offending hardware, to the change, replace. Don't worry about the beer losing carbonation, that won't happen during the 5 minutes it takes to change an oring. If you are worried about O2 intrusion (and if you drink your beer really slowly), just purge with CO2 after you've closed the keg up again.

 

[COEBRA]

LOL! You really still believe that was AIR BEING SUCKED INTO THE BEER LINE?



The "air pockets" were CO2 getting past a bad Out dip tube O-ring.

He replaced the O-ring, problem solved.



No apology deserved.



Education, yes. Apology? No...



Cheers!

Not SUCKING air... I think we are talking about the same O-ring using different words. Technically it's under or inside the "out post" so I was also right. I agree that it will allow CO2 into the line FROM THE DIP TUBE O-ring UNDER THE OUT POST. No education needed here this time. 😎

 

[WayFrae]

Sure, you can change orings any time. Just release the gas (some kegs have relief valve), pull the offending hardware, to the change, replace. Don't worry about the beer losing carbonation, that won't happen during the 5 minutes it takes to change an oring. If you are worried about O2 intrusion (and if you drink your beer really slowly), just purge with CO2 after you've closed the keg up again.

Awesome thanks!! It turns out the spring some how got stuck under the o-ring. Now my pours are perfect. I have been trying to figure it out all week and everyone was saying that my beer was overcarbed. So glad I found this thread!

 

[day_trippr]

Not SUCKING air... I think we are talking about the same O-ring using different words. Technically it's under or inside the "out post" so I was also right. I agree that it will allow CO2 into the line FROM THE DIP TUBE O-ring UNDER THE OUT POST. No education needed here this time. 😎

The poppet or o ring on the out post could be going bad allowing air to seep in when the tap is opened.

English is hard...

Cheers!

 

[COEBRA]

English is hard...

Cheers!

All that cold weather up there must be making you grumpy...