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Anyone had any issues with Better Bottles as they age?

Yesterday I did a marathon 3-batch brewday. When we were transfered the wort into a Better Bottle we noticed wort running out of the bottom of the carboy. After a little panicking, a hastily cleaned backup carboy, and a gallon or so of sticky mess on the floor we got it transferred to a new home.

When I examined the Better Bottle there was a 2 inch crack in the bottom.

The Better Bottle is about 2.5 years old. It's never been dropped. I'm very careful with my equipment, so I don't believe its been mandhandled in any way. I use a brew hauler that snaps around the neck and usually carry it by that. I clean with Oxi+TSP.

Anyone have this happen? Is there a realistic lifespan on these things? Do I need to replace these things after a certain amount of time?
 
I've heard rumors of this issue but it hasn't happened to me yet. I heard the theory is that it's from sliding the BB across a rough surface (e.g. concrete floor) so that a tiny bit of material is removed. After enough time, they can crack. Also can happen if you're rolling it along the bottom outer edge to aerate. Like I said. it hasn't happened to me but those are the theories I've read/heard.
 
I've only heard of this happening when people aerate by tilting it on a corner and swirling the wort. The better bottle website says you should put a tennis ball under the bottle when aerating in that way. I personally used a soccer ball. If you didn't do that then I would send a message to the better bottle folks. I've read they can have some good customer service.
 
Are you sure someone didn't drop it without you knowing? I've got one with about 40 batches on it over a 6 year span with no issues. I find it hard to believe one of these would spontaneously crack...


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I too find it odd that it cracked. I do not have more than a year on mine; however, they just seem like they wouldn't crack. Are you certain the water you're using isn't over 140F? While it may not crack it, it could have melted a bit of the plastic and left it fairly weak.
 
Never added any hot water other than out of the tap (which is well under 140F).

I aerate with an O2 stone, so I don't tilt it at all.

I'm sure it wasn't dropped.

I just used it for a prior batch and it wasn't leaking. I cleaned it, sanitized it, and viola a 2 inch crack.

I was surprised. I assumed these things were indestructible. I just ordered a replacement.
 
Have you measured your tap water? Mine gets to about 146 pretty easily.
Really? I did appliance repair for years. Recommended temp for water coming into a dishwasher is 120F. Almost always the water temp is under that. I've never seen hot water in a home anywhere close to that temp. 30+ years of measuring too.
 
Really? I did appliance repair for years. Recommended temp for water coming into a dishwasher is 120F. Almost always the water temp is under that. I've never seen hot water in a home anywhere close to that temp. 30+ years of measuring too.

I do live in a Slumlord managed Boston apartment if that matters.
 
Hahaha I checked my water when I moved in to my apartment because it was really hot....mine is about 155...
 
I've heard that they can crack from being slid across the ground. I use milk crates to keep mine from sucking in the contents of the airlock, but it also protects against wear on the bottom.
 
I have had 2 crack on the bottom like yours. One issue is to never rock or swirl the carboy while it is full of beer. Also, the BB website warns against stress cracks from prolonged exposure to strong cleaning chemicals (oxy+tsp).

I love better bottles, and am now very careful to clean with just a gallon or so of properly diluted oxy & a small rag, and I never swirl or rock it when full without a tennis ball or something in the punt.


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