Blow Off Top -- Help!

[kyoun1e]

Folks,

So it's been about 40 hours since I pitched the yeast. Was out with friends late last night, came home, took a peek at the airlock. Nothing. Woke up this morning, figured to start panicking about inaction and...BAM!

Bubbles galore and it's streaming down the side! Holy crap this thing is going nuts!

So, now I've got to deal with this. Take a look at the pictures.

Many of you have already indicated that I should stick a tube in the airlock and run it to a sanitized bucket of starsan. Any idea in looking at the pictures what size tube I need?

Also, I have a problem. I'm not sure I can even deal with this today. The homebrew shop isn't open for a few hours and due to father's day obligations I'm not sure I can get there. What could I do in meantime to minimize any risk?

And what is the risk of doing nothing here?

First I was concerned about potentially no action. Now I'm concerned there's too much! This hobby is nuts. Love it!

Thanks in advance.

 

[Murphys_Law]

Put some foil in star san to set over the top so you can remove the bung and air lock to clean and re-sanitize. I'd also soak some paper towels in star san and carefully wipe the top and neck of the carboy. If you can spray some star san on the neck area w/o getting into the opening that may help, as well.

Given you don't have anything to make a blow off right now you may have to do this once or twice more! Just be mindful of sanitation and you'll be golden! I've had to do that a few times myself.

I can't remember off the top of my head but I think you need 5/16 tubing to make a blow off using those types of airlocks (just remove the cap and "bobber" and slip the hose over the airlock).

Looks good!!

 

[RedlegEd]

Folks,

So it's been about 40 hours since I pitched the yeast. Was out with friends late last night, came home, took a peek at the airlock. Nothing. Woke up this morning, figured to start panicking about inaction and...BAM!

Bubbles galore and it's streaming down the side! Holy crap this thing is going nuts!

So, now I've got to deal with this. Take a look at the pictures.

Many of you have already indicated that I should stick a tube in the airlock and run it to a sanitized bucket of starsan. Any idea in looking at the pictures what size tube I need?

Also, I have a problem. I'm not sure I can even deal with this today. The homebrew shop isn't open for a few hours and due to father's day obligations I'm not sure I can get there. What could I do in meantime to minimize any risk?

And what is the risk of doing nothing here?

First I was concerned about potentially no action. Now I'm concerned there's too much! This hobby is nuts. Love it!

Thanks in advance.

Hi. Like I told you in your other thread....relax! This happens a lot and isn't the end of the world. Remove the stopper and bubbler, wipe down the mouth & neck of the carboy with a clean paper towel soaked in Starsan, and cover it with sanitized foil. Then, thoroughly clean your bubbler and stopper, sanitize thoroughly, spray the carboy mouth with Starsan, and reinstall the bubbler. Since you didn't put your location in your profile, I can only assume there's a big box home improvement store near you. They might sell food safe 1/2" ID vinyl to make a blow off tube. I think now you understand about headspace and blow off tubes
Hope this helps. Ed


ETA: @Murphys_Law beat me to it. I use 1/2" ID tubing and it works fine.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Yup, that's why we suggested a blow off tube yesterday do you have any tubing on hand, such as for a racking cane? You could take the airlock off and put a sanitized plastic glass or foil over the neck of the carboy (sanitize that too just to be safe) and that will hold until you can what you need. Enjoy the day!h

 

[TallahasseeBrew]

the risk is that if it plugs completely, the airlock will pop off, or in extreme cases, pressure could build and break the carboy.

If you don't have tubing to go over the post inside the airlock, I guess the best you can do is clean the airlock and resanitize it and reinstall it, and keep doing that every couple hours.

 

[RedlegEd]

Look at the bright side...you had it in a tub where it didn't make a mess on SWMBO's floor, and the stopper didn't blow out and splatter yeast gunk all over your ceiling, walls, and furniture. See, it's all good! Ed

 

[Braufessor]

this is what multiple people were suggesting you do in your other threads:

Retry on photo link:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/brass-hose-barb-to-connect-blow-off-tube.282996/

 

[kyoun1e]

Hi. Like I told you in your other thread....relax! This happens a lot and isn't the end of the world. Remove the stopper and bubbler, wipe down the mouth & neck of the carboy with a clean paper towel soaked in Starsan, and cover it with sanitized foil. Then, thoroughly clean your bubbler and stopper, sanitize thoroughly, spray the carboy mouth with Starsan, and reinstall the bubbler. Since you didn't put your location in your profile, I can only assume there's a big box home improvement store near you. They might sell food safe 1/2" ID vinyl to make a blow off tube. I think now you understand about headspace and blow off tubes
Hope this helps. Ed


ETA: @Murphys_Law beat me to it. I use 1/2" ID tubing and it works fine.

Thanks much again.

Doing this now. Assume having the sanitized tin foil on the top for a bit while the bung dries (so it can stick) is not a problem.

Question: By doing this now, will this eliminate this risk of taking place again? Or could this keep happening during this phase?

Going to boogie over to the brew store at noon and look for a tube...among other things (like a bigger carboy).

 

[RedlegEd]

Thanks much again.

Doing this now. Assume having the sanitized tin foil on the top for a bit while the bung dries (so it can stick) is not a problem.

Question: By doing this now, will this eliminate this risk of taking place again? Or could this keep happening during this phase?

Going to boogie over to the brew store at noon and look for a tube...among other things (like a bigger carboy).

Yes, it probably will happen again, so you can leave the sanitized foil on for a while, or do what @hoppy2bmerry suggested, use a sanitized plastic glass to cover the mouth of the carboy. CO2 and Krausen will come out, nasties won't go in. Ed

BTW, welcome to the obsessioN!

 

[GoeHaarden]

the risk is that if it plugs completely, the airlock will pop off, or in extreme cases, pressure could build and break the carboy.

If you don't have tubing to go over the post inside the airlock, I guess the best you can do is clean the airlock and resanitize it and reinstall it, and keep doing that every couple hours.

Yes, it will blow that airlock off and spray beer to the ceiling.

kyoun1e, this has been an emotional week for you. haha. RDWHAHB. Brew on

 

[jd1984]

Don't go to a brew store to get tubing. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and get it. If you remove and clean the airlock, take it with you to make sure you get the right size. It should be 1/2" ID but it'd be better to make absolutely sure.

 

[kyoun1e]

Yup, that's why we suggested a blow off tube yesterday do you have any tubing on hand, such as for a racking cane? You could take the airlock off and put a sanitized plastic glass or foil over the neck of the carboy (sanitize that too just to be safe) and that will hold until you can what you need. Enjoy the day!h

I have what looks is a very small siphoning tube. No way that fits on the airlock.

Sunday morning sanitization underway. Paper towels...tin foil...small glass...spray bottle. Didn't realize how important these items would end up being this weekend. Lol.

I actually think one of my beer flight glasses would fit nicely over the top of the carboy.

I'm going to proceed this way:

1. Sanitize and put tin foil on while airlock dries.
2. Have the sanitized glass on hand and ready.
3. Search for some tubing today.

 

[kyoun1e]

Don't go to a brew store to get tubing. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and get it. If you remove and clean the airlock, take it with you to make sure you get the right size. It should be 1/2" ID but it'd be better to make absolutely sure.

That's a good idea.

Can the tin foil or the sanitized glass on top of carboy stay on instead of the airlock for a decent amount of time? Which is the better option?

Only reason I ask is I'm stuck in my daughter's gymnastics meet for 3 hours and I doubt I'll be able to deal with the tubes for several hours. Need the best stop gap measure for now.

Thanks

 

[GoeHaarden]

That's a good idea.

Can the tin foil or the sanitized glass on top of carboy stay on instead of the airlock for a decent amount of time? Which is the better option?

Only reason I ask is I'm stuck in my daughter's gymnastics meet for 3 hours and I doubt I'll be able to deal with the tubes for several hours. Need the best stop gap measure for now.

Thanks

I'd just replace the airlock for now...

 

[kyoun1e]

Ok, airlock drying.

Hoping this works for now. This jar fits snuggly over the mouth of the carboy. Sanitized the hell out of it. Wiped down everything with sanitized paper towels.

 

[kyoun1e]

Ok, well, I don't think putting the airlock back on is an option. Minutes after putting the glass on, it now looks like this. Have to think this is going to have to do for now.

Can this sit like this for say, 5 hours, until I can deal with it?

I have to be in a gym watching my daughter do cartwheels for hours...

 

[GoeHaarden]

It's going to be fine...go enjoy your family!

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

That's a good idea.

Can the tin foil or the sanitized glass on top of carboy stay on instead of the airlock for a decent amount of time? Which is the better option?

Only reason I ask is I'm stuck in my daughter's gymnastics meet for 3 hours and I doubt I'll be able to deal with the tubes for several hours. Need the best stop gap measure for now.

Thanks

In this stage of fermentation the gas is flowing out so by keeping the opening covered so bugs and microbes don't easily get in is effective. Some people find that the occasional fruit fly or ant can make its way under foil on a starter... The glass (which will move to release gas and rattle) provides enough weight to keep craw lies out. I had a Hefe a while back that blew the bung with the airlock twice... That's why I always start off with a blowoff tube now. This will be fine as long as you keep things clean and sanitized, enjoy your day, enjoy your family the beer should be okay.

 

[kyoun1e]

Ok, rushed to the homebew store, drove 30 minutes back and forth, got the tube, set it up.

Look good?

One question: Should the tube that goes in the sanitizer be submerged in the sanitizer solution? Or no?

Need an answer quick...have to get to this gymnastics meet!

Thanks

 

[Mihkelj]

Submerged.

 

[kyoun1e]

Submerged.

Ok done.

Doesn't look like the hose is going anywhere. Bung sticking despite it being a little damp with starsan solution.

I assume that if this is good to go, I don't futz with this until fermentation is over. That is, leave this setup alone vs. trying to put a normal airlock in place.

Thanks

 

[RedlegEd]

Ok done.

Doesn't look like the hose is going anywhere. Bung sticking despite it being a little damp with starsan solution.

I assume that if this is good to go, I don't futz with this until fermentation is over. That is, leave this setup alone vs. trying to put a normal airlock in place.
Thanks

You can, or after the krausen has dropped, you can pull the tube and put the bubbler back on as it will just gently burp for a few more days. either way works. Ed

 

[Murphys_Law]

Looks to me like you and your little friends are making beer!

Hope the gymnastics event went well and you had a great day with the kid! That's the important part of the day!!

 

[kyoun1e]

Well, things seem to be progressing. Looks like this contraption is working.

There is just a TON of activity in this hose down to the gallon jug of starsan solution. Whoever recommended putting another container around the jug...good idea! It's starting to overflow there.

Also noticing the top of the carboy foam getting brownish in color.

Hoping I can now just chill out and let this thing sit for a while. I'll be more than happy to do absolutely NOTHING for a few days.

Assuming the next week or so is uneventful, I'll be planning my bottling attack. More questions to come! Been thinking about maybe doing some bottles, but also growlers...maybe even a keg. I don't love the idea of bottling 48 beers. And if this first batch is a little off, will be easier to dump it.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[Brownalemikie]

Welcome to the forest of home brewing.....just be careful that you don't get lost in the forest

 

[Morrey]

LOL....I'll bet you will be a blow off tube user from now on out! I use BO tubes for everything from start to finish.

As you expand your operation (most usually do), think in terms of increasing the headspace in your fermenters. A 6 gallon carboy with 5.5 gallons for wort gives very little room for krausen expansion. I updated my fermenters to 7.8G pails before finally moving into SS conical fermenters. If you end buying additional fermenters in the future, think in terms of a bit more headspace.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

That brown stuff is just fine it will stick to the carboy and that's were you want it, it is bitter. Once you get this one finished and conditioned you can relax and have a homebrew.

 

[kyoun1e]

Is there any chance that tube gets clogged up?

It's getting pretty nasty in there.

 

[TungstenBeer]

Is there any chance that tube gets clogged up?

It's getting pretty nasty in there.

There is definitely a chance of that happening. Whenever I brew a big beer - imperial stout, barleywine, etc - even 5 gallons of fermenting wort in a 6.5 gallon container blows off like crazy. For this reason I have two blowoff tubes and two buckets of starsan (I actually use old growlers) for blowoff at the ready. That way when I need to change, I just do a quick swap and can go clean the dirty one after.

You certainly don't need to have two, but it wouldn't hurt to do that - or at least take it off daily and clean it to be safe.

 

[kev211]

Just came here to say I told you so (in a fun, non-criticizing way, mind you). Told you, that you didnt have enough head space!

Good job on the blow off though. Looks like crisis was averted.