BIAB New Guy

[mark1964]

Hi,
I've just signed up to this sight today so not to sure how it all works yet. I'm just setting up my equipment to start brewing in a bag. Any advice would be fantastic. I have a 78 lt kettle. I just finished building a counter flow chiller. Love YouTube!. purchased a dial thermometer and ball valve tap. Just finished drilling a couple of 1/2 inch holes in the kettle and ready to install them.
Well Just spent the last 90 minutes trying to stop the leaks from them both,
Does anyone have any suggestions?
MV

 

[soccerdad]

I assume that at this point you are asking about the kettle leaks more than the BIAB method. Yes? Did you get a stainless steel nut to tighten the thermometer and the ball valve to the kettle? Does it have a groove in it on the kettle side (inside) to fit a high temp washer?

 

[mark1964]

Yes I am mostly asking for advice on the leak. The ball valve came with a hex nut with a groove, a orange high temp silicone washer a stainless washer and a black o ring. I installed the high temp washer on the inside with the grooved side against the high temp washer. On the outside I have the o ring washer against the kettle and the stainless washer against the o ring. I also wrapped Teflon tape around the thread between the 2 washers. This slowed the leak to a drop every 20 min or so. I'm only using cold water at the moment.
The dial Thermometre also came with a hex nut but with no groove and also came with a black o ring washer which is a jock because it's the same size as the hole in the kettle, so it doesn't really do anything. It also came with one flat silicone washer. This leaked like a sieve. I've taken this one back off. Not sure what to do? Maybe I should get some more silicon washers for this one, what they suppliers doesn't seem to work. Very frustrating! Any thought anyone?
MV

 

[soccerdad]

I would try taking the washers and gaskets OFF of the valve on the outside and see what you get with just the gasket and grooved nut on the inside (that's how mine are attached .. no leaks)

For the thermometer you may want to reach out to these guys - https://www.brewhardware.com/category_s/1849.htm

 

[cooper]

Also if you're using rubber washers try not to overtighten them and see if that help with the leaks. I had that problem and when I loosened them up a bit the leaks went away.

 

[mark1964]

Ok thanks, I will try both ideas fellas. But I'll need to find a retailer that sells brew hardware a little closer to home SD. I live in Australia. Cheers

 

[mark1964]

One down one to go. I purchased some differing types of silicon o ring and flat washers
What ended up working is starting from the outside. I used a stainless washer then an orange silicon o ring up against the kettle then lots of Teflon thread tape around the thread that Is in the kettle wall, then on the inside I started with the same o ring as the outside then the stainless hex nut with the groove against the o ring. Also I didn't over tighten it. It's been 24 hrs and no leaks. Next I'll work on the dial thermometer. Unfortunately the hex nut that came with that doesn't have a grooved side.