Auto-Siphon Fail ... am I F'd?

[wgpubs]

So was dry hopping my Double IPA to a secondary fermenter with an auto-siphon and the thing did not work! Tried several times but ended up having to simply keep pumping until the entire beer was moved over. Noticed the beer foamed up pretty good because of this which I guess means I let in a ton of air and/or shook things up moving it over with all the pumping.

So a few questions:

1. Am I screwed?

2. What causes and auto-siphon to fail? The tubing was on tight and I could never get it going. My guess is something with the inner gasket but I dunno.


Anyhow, beer and **** all over the kitchen floor. I'm pretty angry about the whole thing and just want to know if the $$$ I poured into this thing is wasted given I had to use the auto-siphon in the way described above ... OR ... if I should hold out hope.

Thanks - wg

 

[el_caro]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. I know nothing about auto siphons but this just reminds me how great it is that I have never had to used a siphon in brewing.
Score one for the bucket or the Aussie fermenter with a good old fashioned tap of the bottom.

 

[broadbill]

why didn't you start the syphon another way?

If you had foam/bubbling, there is a chance for it to be oxidized and for a lower shelf life. I guess its something you'll have to see what happens...

 

[BamaRooster]

Subscribing

 

[bomberman]

I don't own an auto-siphon so I am not much help there, but the bubbling you saw could be nothing more than dissolved co2 escaping from the roused beer. Even if it were air bubbles I doubt there was any serious harm. I've seen quite a few threads on here about failed auto-siphons and the consensus is usually RDWHAHB.

 

[beerman0001]

How much lower was the receiving vessel then the original one?

 

[Wvbrewer77]

It may become oxidized, but theres alway the chance it won't. I would proceed as usual ans see how it is. If it turn out ok that is good, if not its a lesson learned.

 

[Bubba]

How much lower was the receiving vessel then the original one?

Your secondary must be below your primary for the syphon to work.

 

[Calichusetts]

I've never had an issue with an auto-siphon...how did it not work, when you pumped, would the beer come up at all? I'm guessing the inner gasket is no longer producing a seal

 

[chezhed]

Tubing may look and appear tight but often isn't. It can deform easily from laying around and gets out of round. Even the tiniest gap will suck air and cause it to stop the siphon.
Clamp it...I use plastic reusable "Tyton" clamps. I had this happen so that's how I figured out the answer . My beer was fine. If it affected the shelf life, I couldn't tell....it never lasts long enough usually to find out...and I kegged the batch with force carb CO2 that I put in on the IN side.

 

[beergolf]

I've never had an issue with an auto-siphon...how did it not work, when you pumped, would the beer come up at all? I'm guessing the inner gasket is no longer producing a seal

My auto siphon leaks a little at the inner gasket. I just take a little wort and put it above the gasket. Problem solved.

 

[wgpubs]

why didn't you start the syphon another way?

If you had foam/bubbling, there is a chance for it to be oxidized and for a lower shelf life. I guess its something you'll have to see what happens...

In retrospect that is what I should have done. Late at night and heat of the moment ... wasn't thinking with all my frustration I guess.

 

[wgpubs]

How much lower was the receiving vessel then the original one?

It was much lower. Primary was on a table and the secondary on the floor.

 

[wgpubs]

I've never had an issue with an auto-siphon...how did it not work, when you pumped, would the beer come up at all? I'm guessing the inner gasket is no longer producing a seal

That is what I'm guessing. Just purchased it and this was the first run. My advice is for folks to test their auto-siphon first (I will in the future).

Beer was coming up but only as I pumped. Noticed beer getting above the inner gasket ... so looking back that is what seems to be the problem.

 

[tv187u]

The inner gaskets tend to warp a bit if they are stored within the outer tube. Make sure you pull it apart when it isn't in use and hang it up so nothing is pushing/touching the gasket. Also, a little starsan on top of the gasket while it is in use should block off any air getting in.

 

[drainbamage]

My auto siphon leaks a little at the inner gasket. I just take a little wort and put it above the gasket. Problem solved.

Good idea. I noticed my auto-siphon was starting to get a weak seal while bottling my last batch. I'll have to try this next time.

 

[beerman0001]

Damn that sucks have used mine for over 20+ beers and never a prob. Have you tried it again with just water?? would be interested to know if maybe it was getting clogged by the trub.

 

[wgpubs]

Damn that sucks have used mine for over 20+ beers and never a prob. Have you tried it again with just water?? would be interested to know if maybe it was getting clogged by the trub.

Yah. Same thing. Wish I would have tested with just a bucket of water first. Anyhow, hopefully things still turn out well. I have no idea if my fears of ruining this batch of beer are justified as I'm not really sure what there is to worry about.

 

[beerman0001]

Drink it fast if you are worried. The mind has a way of telling us something is bad if we think it is going to be.

 

[dankev]

Wish I would have tested with just a bucket of water first.

How did you sanitize the siphon and tubing? I sanitize mine by siphoning some star san right before I use it. That also functions as a test to make sure it's working properly.

 

[bhaff]

Bummer. Regarding testing your siphon I usually mix my disinfectant in my bottling bucket then clean my siphon by siphoning disinfectant into my carboy to try and clean the inside of the siphon. Seems to test the siphon and cleans it.

 

[wgpubs]

How did you sanitize the siphon and tubing? I sanitize mine by siphoning some star san right before I use it. That also functions as a test to make sure it's working properly.

Used a bucket with water and BLC .... simply pumped sanitizer through the auto-siphon 3-4x ... never long enough to verify it was working.

 

[flars]

My last racking from carboy to bottling bucket I had the same problem, air in the siphon tube. I always have some Star San solution on top of the siphon cane within the housing tube. No bubbles there. Looked at the other end of the siphoning tube. I remembered it had slipped on very easy for the intial setup. Cut off an inch. Wetted with Star San slipped back on tight fit. No more air bubbles in the siphon tube. Even dairy quality hoses will become out of round over time. The oval shape allowed air to be siphoned in under pressure while racking my brew.

 

[wgpubs]

How did you sanitize the siphon and tubing? I sanitize mine by siphoning some star san right before I use it. That also functions as a test to make sure it's working properly.

Used a bucket with water and BLC .... simply pumped sanitizer through the auto-siphon 3-4x ... never long enough to verify it was working.

 

[wgpubs]

PROBLEM SOLVED:

1. Inner gasket was not leaking. Replaced the inner tube with gasket and all was good.

OTHER TIPS:
1. Use a few drops of Star San to seal the inner gasket
2. Do not apply to siphoning tube too far up on to the auto-siphon's inner tube ... will create leaks.

Thanks to all for the advice and suggestions. Bottled the beer last weekend ... tasted fine so I think despite all the mishaps the Imperial IPA will serve its purpose.

 

[wgpubs]

My last racking from carboy to bottling bucket I had the same problem, air in the siphon tube. I always have some Star San solution on top of the siphon cane within the housing tube. No bubbles there. Looked at the other end of the siphoning tube. I remembered it had slipped on very easy for the intial setup. Cut off an inch. Wetted with Star San slipped back on tight fit. No more air bubbles in the siphon tube. Even dairy quality hoses will become out of round over time. The oval shape allowed air to be siphoned in under pressure while racking my brew.

Great advice. Thanks