C02 leak somewhere

[rdignard]

I have a new keg system (1 month) and already went through 20lbs of C02. I have replaced all the orings on both kegs (ball lock) and used keg lube on each one. I know there is no leak before shut off valves on the regulator setup. I have used starsan and tried a soapy water solution to check for leaks but unable to find any. I have a new fully charged C02 tank, if I pressurize each keg to 12 psig and just shut off the valves wait 30 min and turn on the valve I hear c02 flowing into the keg. My thinking is that if the system is sealed it should not flow, since it is there must be a leak.
Until I find where this leak is coming from I am shutting off the valves and when I want beer I turn them on, problem with this is that if the kegs are not under pressure I loose carbonation. Has anyone had similar issues?

Thanks



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[maierhof]

I had been hunting down a co2 leak in my beer fridge for over 6 months - until I checked the actual connection to the tank. I wrapped the tank threads in just a little teflon and away went my problem.

Here are some tricks that I have used for you to help figure it out.

Sometimes these leaks are so small that they can only be detected under water and after a while sometimes...

Take the keg off the co2 system (unhook the ball locks) and see if it holds pressure - beer in or not makes no difference. If it doesn't hold the pressure after a few days - you know it is in the keg. Sometimes the pressure release can be unscrewed just a little bit and cause this. Test it by pulling it all the out and spinning it until it is tight. Hex wrench tighten your posts too - if you can unscrew them by hand obviously this is not good. Just trying to hit all the main problems I have had.

If it does hold - move on to the next culprit. (and drink a celebratory beer too I might add =;>)

Take a clear plastic tub and fill with water - flat deep pan like - not a bucket which is too small of a diameter - and put each connection of your system in there under the water for up to about 20 min - watch really carefully leaks like this are sometimes hard to see. I have never actually done this with my regulator - too scared to screw it up - so be warned. Maybe I am wrong on this but the reality of rebuilding my regulator is just not something I want to do. Take your keg and put it in there upside down too if it is the keg and you can't figure out where it is coming from. This should help you...

One of my main early problems was with barbed connections when you take them off - sometimes the blade you use cuts the barbs (I know I know dont use a blade) and puts a hairline into the barb and ruins it. So check that connection too underwater.

If you do it this way - you should find it pretty quickly.
If you don't - let us know... maybe someone up here has got a solve.

 

[grathan]

You could buy a manifold with valves enough for all your kegs. Then shut each keg off except one and see how long the gas holds with the tank off.

I have this one keg where the lid leaks a when keg pressure gets under 6psi. Took me a couple years to find it.

 

[acidrain]

Are you opening the Co2 bottle all the way? Those bottle valves have a seal that seats when you open them all the way.