Brew kettle leaking

OUSooner · May 11, 2015

So I bought a new 10gallon brew kettle last weekend and figured what the heck I'll put a thermometer on it as well. 139 bucks later I find myself in the garage drilling a hole in my perfectly good $100 brew pot. So I get the new thermometer installed according to the instructions and I have a small leak. If I continue to tighten the bolts then the gasket gets pushed out from under the washer. Anyone else have this issue? Recommendations for a repair would be greatly appreciated. I was just thinking of adding another rubber washer.

Rockn_M · May 11, 2015

Try adding plumbers tape. This should solve any small leaks.

Gary_Oak · May 13, 2015

Silicone sealant it's heat resistant water resistant and most importantly flavorless and then I would try to put a tight fitting nylon washer in between

Hello · May 13, 2015

Gary_Oak said:
Silicone sealant it's heat resistant water resistant and most importantly flavorless and then I would try to put a tight fitting nylon washer in between

No, use teflon tape, @OUSooner . It is what should be used when you're using stainless fittings on a stainless kettle anyway. A couple of layers of teflon tape alongside the nuts, washers, and the gaskets should create the appropriate seal unless the hole itself is slightly too large. If that is the case then you may get away with a wide flat gasket if the hole isn't too much larger.

Overall caulk shouldn't be used to fix a leak and while the wort may be within the heat temp range of silicone, the fire beneath (if you're using propane or NG) will be hundreds of degrees higher and most likely out of the range of the high heat resistant silicone.

Use the right size hole, teflon tape, washers, gaskets, and nuts.

IslandLizard · May 13, 2015

+1^
Wort seeping along the threads maybe the cause of the leak.

The best way to use an O-ring like that is with a SS washer (shim) surrounding the O-ring. It retains the shape and seal function while tightening it. Some nuts and fittings have a groove for that purpose.