Blow off hose

[mrgrimm101]

Theres about 5 gallons fermenting in my carboy right now and the airlock started to overflow. I read that I would need to remove the airlock and put in a blowoff hose.

I attached my hose to the bung and let the other end go into a plastic jug with some iosan solution.

It seems to be doing the trick, however, I am now concerned that the foam buildup in the hose may get clogged.

I dont want the pressure to build and blow the hose off of the bung, and I also dont want it to start feeding back into the carboy.

Should I remove the hose and clean it or will it be ok to leave as is?

 

[tschafer]

You can clean the hose if it'll make you feel 'safer', but you'll be fine as is.

 

[mrgrimm101]

Not if its not necessary. I just didnt know if the foam would build up and become more solid and block the flow.

I should have mentioned that this is my first brew so I'm very new to this process.

 

[tschafer]

Nope, your good. Looks good and smart to have the blow off tube ready to go…Wish I did the first time I needed one…messy

 

[mrgrimm101]

Actually i got lucky. My equipment kit came with a hose and it fit when i tried jamming it into the bung. It wouldnt fit over the airlock. :sly:

 

[mrgrimm101]

In the future I may just bypass the airlock entirely and rig this up.

 

[Spookgolds]

With as little headspace as you have in there, I would recommend using a blowoff tube every time. You only need it for the first few days and then you can take it out and put your airlock back on. Then let the hose soak in PBW and that gunk will rinse right out of there.

 

[mrgrimm101]

Awesome thank you!

 

[Flboy]

FYI, cover that plastic jug with tinfoil, awesome yeast for your next batch!

 

[Setesh]

FYI, cover that plastic jug with tinfoil, awesome yeast for your next batch!

Not unless he removes the Iosan first

 

[Flboy]

Oops, missed that. My brain read Starsan!

 

[kh54s10]

In the future I may just bypass the airlock entirely and rig this up.

That is the idea!! I only use my airlocks with wine in secondary or if I need one of my blowoff tubes for the next batch.

You might also take the loop out of the hose where the excess yeast could get thick and clog it. My tubes just arc from the top of the fermenter into the catch jug.

And if you are worried about suck back raise the fermenter in relation to the catch jug.

 

[mrgrimm101]

I moved the hose around so it had more of a downward flow. Im still slightly concerned about the foam going back into the carboy.

It looks like the foaming has slowed down a lot now (72 hours in the fermenter) so im thinking of putting the airlock back on it in the morning.

 

[hmmmbeer]

I moved the hose around so it had more of a downward flow. Im still slightly concerned about the foam going back into the carboy.

It looks like the foaming has slowed down a lot now (72 hours in the fermenter) so im thinking of putting the airlock back on it in the morning.

You would be fine to put the airlock back on at this point as long as the aggressive stage has passed, if not, keep the tube in.
I've done exactly what you are doing on several of my beers and all have turned out just fine without any suck-back nor did the hose get hard... after all, its like water running, it wont clog as long as there is air flowing.

Congrats on your fist brew! Welcome to the family!

 

[mrgrimm101]

Thank you, much appreciated.

 

[mrgrimm101]

Alright I removed the tube and put the airlock back on. It definitely seems to have calmed down a lot. It is bubbling much slower.

I have 2 questions:

1.) Do I need to put iosan in the airlock or would regular water suffice?

2.) I let the hose and jug soak in cleanser and then in sanitizer and they still have the foamy, fermenty smell. Is the smell going to stick around or am I just not doing enough to get rid of it?

 

[Valtyr]

Alright I removed the tube and put the airlock back on. It definitely seems to have calmed down a lot. It is bubbling much slower.

I have 2 questions:

1.) Do I need to put iosan in the airlock or would regular water suffice?

2.) I let the hose and jug soak in cleanser and then in sanitizer and they still have the foamy, fermenty smell. Is the smell going to stick around or am I just not doing enough to get rid of it?

I always use cheap vodka in my airlock. You should be fine using sanitizerl

I've never noticed a smell in my blowoff tubes. I usually run hot water through them, then soak them in cleaner, and then rinse them again.

 

[mrgrimm101]

I always use cheap vodka in my airlock. You should be fine using sanitizerl

I've never noticed a smell in my blowoff tubes. I usually run hot water through them, then soak them in cleaner, and then rinse them again.

It's the same smell that it gives off while it was aggressively foaming for a couple days. The hose seems to have retained some of the pungent smells. I'm sure I just have to let it soak in cleanser for longer. I will try that after work today.

 

[hmmmbeer]

Alright I removed the tube and put the airlock back on. It definitely seems to have calmed down a lot. It is bubbling much slower.

I have 2 questions:

1.) Do I need to put iosan in the airlock or would regular water suffice?

2.) I let the hose and jug soak in cleanser and then in sanitizer and they still have the foamy, fermenty smell. Is the smell going to stick around or am I just not doing enough to get rid of it?

Your good to use tap water but I also like to use cheap Vodka (if it does go inside it just gives me a bump in alc.;really nothing you would notice though). Vodka doesn't evap. as quickly (I don't think I've ever had any missing while using it... ok, I might drink it after I'm done with it) :rockin:

 

[FB12]

Welcome to the addiction brother!! Good responses from these guys. Just a side note: you can bypass the bung & use a piece of 1" tubing directly into the carboy. No chance of clogging & easier to clean IMO.

 

[kh54s10]

I find the smell of the beer stays in the blow off tube some. I don't worry about it too much, I just make sure it is clean before storing. Then I give it a good rinse and sanitize before using again.

 

[Spookgolds]

Alright I removed the tube and put the airlock back on. It definitely seems to have calmed down a lot. It is bubbling much slower.

I have 2 questions:

1.) Do I need to put iosan in the airlock or would regular water suffice?

2.) I let the hose and jug soak in cleanser and then in sanitizer and they still have the foamy, fermenty smell. Is the smell going to stick around or am I just not doing enough to get rid of it?

Water is perfectly fine for a short time (2-3 weeks). Anything longer I would use cheap vodka.

The smell on your hoses and jug probably won't go away, but it won't affect anything moving forward.

I use 1" hoses which fit perfectly in the mouth of the carboy. About 4' long and I put some sanitizer in a 5 gallon bucket and drop the end of the hose in the bucket. Makes things easier to clean up.