Beer gas leak driving me craxy

[robumba]

Well the title says it all. I like making stout so bought a dedicated beer gas set up. But I have a leak somewhere but cannot for the life of me identify it. I don’t think it’s the keg because I have dispensed regular beer w co2 without a problem.

With the beer gas cylinder attached to my dual gauge regulator I open the tank and pressurize the gauges without an obvious audible leak. Then I turn off the tank pressure. There is no visible drop in pressure on the outlet pressure gauge. But by morning the tank pressure gauge (high pressure gauge) has dropped to zero. This means there’s a leak, right? But I don’t see it w soapy water sprayed all over it.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[day_trippr]

This means there’s a leak, right?

I would say yes, that indicates there's a leak.

You need to leak-check all of the bits threaded into the regulator, like PRVs, outlet valves, gauge stems, etc. I once had a similar set of symptoms as yours and eventually found this:

That was an "oem leak" right there
I had to remove the PRV, re-tape it and install it. Then all was well...

Cheers!

 

[robumba]

I guess I’ll do another soapy water test I guess.

I’m tempted to dunk the thing in the bathtub to find the stupid leak!!

 

[Agent]

Good for you to pay attention. I hooked up my very first beer gas cylinder and found it down 90% in two days due to a leaking keg.

Don't be shy with the soapy water.

 

[James_AZ]

I guess I’ll do another soapy water test I guess.

I’m tempted to dunk the thing in the bathtub to find the stupid leak!!

mine fits in a 5g bucket, turned out to be the little screw in top of the ball lock connector.

 

[robumba]

Yeah I can see how that might happen. And actually it would seem pretty hard to diagnose a leak where the gas in piece connects to the keg. But I dunked the gas in connector into a cup of water and no bubbles for me.

 

[jdauria]

Hate when there is that one leak you can't find. Happened to me once. Newly filled CO2 tank emptied out overnight. I would up filling a brew bucket with water, put keg in upside down with CO2 attached, no bubbles. Wound up being a leak at the manifold, which bubbled like crazy when I dipped that in water.

 

[YeastFeast]

Is was a gas ball lock cover for me!
Never thought the leak would come from there. Very difficult spot to spray down with soapy water too.

 

[pvtpublic]

StarSan in a spray bottle is the way to go

 

[Willy]

Is was a gas ball lock cover for me!
Never thought the leak would come from there. Very difficult spot to spray down with soapy water too.

View attachment 857611

The cracked ball lock and the super tiny pin leak on the regulator are the two biggest culprits in ... Didn't see it ... Leaks. Otherwise ... It is probably on the corny lid not seating properly. Just use a little dish soap and water in a spray bottle - keep hunting until you find it.

 

[Ballaratguy]

There are so many places to check. Dip tubes around the flair, o rings, pressurise the system and wiggle the hose around your connections (could be a slight split in the hose) if using those grey double o ring push in connectors move the hose around (I’ve had them leak if there not straight from the connection. I don’t use them any more)
I’m also in the habit of turning of the gas bottle and removing all connections from the kegs when I leave my brew shed. I still can’t find any leaks but my system is always showing no pressure when I return

 

[wepeeler]

Plumbers tape on every thread! Also, I had leaks on every air system I had when I switched over to duotight fittings. The newer fittings work best when the evabarrier tubing is twisted into the fittings. I found that out the hard way...

 

[Willy]

There are so many places to check. Dip tubes around the flair, o rings, pressurise the system and wiggle the hose around your connections (could be a slight split in the hose) if using those grey double o ring push in connectors move the hose around (I’ve had them leak if there not straight from the connection. I don’t use them any more)
I’m also in the habit of turning of the gas bottle and removing all connections from the kegs when I leave my brew shed. I still can’t find any leaks but my system is always showing no pressure when I return

Take each corny keg... Fill with CO2, 15 psi.
Wait. I bet you may have a pin leak in a corny that is draining everything. Check each keg and see if it holds pressure or if it slowly leaks.

When you do your tests ... Begin at the tank... To the regulator... Etc and work your way down the line to see if you can find it.

But I betcha it is a micro slow leak corny keg.

 

[wepeeler]

CO2 system leaks are frustrating!
https://www.brewhardware.com/category_s/1992.htm

 

[day_trippr]

If y'all go back and re-read the OPs post, they are seeing pressure loss with the regulator output valve closed.

Cheers!

 

[hottpeper13]

I found these leaks to be at the fitting between tank and regulator. I replaced the gasket and used keg lube. Keg lube is your friend and I use it on all my connections.

 

[JohnDBrewer]

My most frustrating leak was the valve, you know those little 180-degree valves. If it was all the way open or closed, or pretty close, no leak. But anywhere outside of that range it would leak. So it would leak sometimes and then I'd go weeks no issue.

 

[day_trippr]

^That^ reminds me: always open a tank valve to its limit so as not to rely on the stem packing.

Cheers!