Can a plastic bucket just break?

[p_p]

Hi all,
I am fermenting in a brewferm plastic bucket which I routinely lift out of the mini fridge for dry hopping, etc.
I've been diong this for some time, no issues ..... But it occurred to me that if that bucket was to break, I would ruin the kitchen and quite likely end up in the dog's house.
The bucket seems sturdy, though I wonder if any of you have heard of or experience bucket failure... Just wondering

Thanks

 

[hagar]

Handles would be my only concern. I've had handles go on me, but never the bucket itself.

 

[treacheroustexan]

I used to work for a company developing similar HDPE buckets. The biggest issue I saw was just cracking at the bottom (gate) if you drop it. I've never seen one just "break".

 

[jekeane]

Anything is possible. If it happens its probably a sign god hates you.

 

[blackschnauzer]

Haha I know what you mean. All my brewing is done in the garage or outside, I have had many spills and accidents. If they happened in the house I would be in big trouble. Just be careful!

 

[Homercidal]

I would not stress about it. The probability of a bucket leaking any significant amount would probably come from a crack, and not spill beer all over.

Remember that some people still ferment in Glass carboys, and they are a LOT more likely to shatter impressively, causing a major spill. Your significant other might not be as mad since there is a chance they will be rushing you to the ER to have them stitch your hands back together!

 

[p_p]

Got it! Provided I don't drop it, it shouldn't break.
Thanks for your replies

 

[madscientist451]

I used to use a bucket with a spout for fermenting. I figured when its done, I could just gravity drain to the bottling bucket.
More than a few years went by and everything was fine until one day the closet I was using as a fermentation "chamber" had a strong smell of Fuller's
London Pride Porter Clone. The Beer had finished a few weeks before, but I was too busy to bottle it.
All 5 gallons soaked into the wooden floor and sub-floor. The house is already 100+ years old, so it has probably seen worse abuse. The bucket didn't break, the spout just suddenly came apart.
So I'm not using any more buckets with spouts for fermenting.
Its really better to replace plastic brewing items before they have a chance to break. My Old fermenting buckets became storage for grain and brewing items.

 

[myndflyte]

Handles would be my only concern. I've had handles go on me, but never the bucket itself.

Every time I life a full 5 gallon bucket, the handles breaking always runs through my mind.

 

[IslandLizard]

I used to work for a company developing similar HDPE buckets. The biggest issue I saw was just cracking at the bottom (gate) if you drop it. I've never seen one just "break".

The 2 plastic handle mounts are my biggest worry for cracking or snapping off when carrying a 6.5 bucket filled with 5.5 gallon of wort or beer. Going down or up the steps with them adds another dimension to that dreaded scenario.

So when testing filled buckets you've never seen those handle mounts fail? Even over time?

I've had 2 smaller (2-2.5 gallon), much older plastic buckets I used for weighing grain just crack into pieces while lifting and pouring grain from. Apparently they had become very brittle with age. White #2 HDPE.

 

[treacheroustexan]

The 2 plastic handle mounts are my biggest worry for cracking or snapping off when carrying a 6.5 bucket filled with 5.5 gallon of wort or beer. Going down or up the steps with them adds another dimension to that dreaded scenario.

So when testing filled buckets you've never seen those handle mounts fail? Even over time?

I've had 2 smaller (2-2.5 gallon), much older plastic buckets I used for weighing grain just crack into pieces while lifting and pouring grain from. Apparently they had become very brittle with age. White #2 HDPE.

If you're concerned even a little bit I'd replace them with age. Better safe then sorry since they're cheap! But I've honestly never seen any handles break. The handle mounts (lug area) have always been very reliable from my experience. The buckets come out of the molding machine super hot, and the handles are applied while the plastic is still flexible. Once it cools the handle is pretty much stuck in there. HDPE is such a strong material it's really hard for it to break, even in the handle area. Not saying it isn't possible, but I've never really experienced it.

 

[p_p]

The 2 plastic handle mounts are my biggest worry for cracking or snapping off when carrying a 6.5 bucket filled with 5.5 gallon of wort or beer. Going down or up the steps with them adds another dimension to that dreaded scenario.

So when testing filled buckets you've never seen those handle mounts fail? Even over time?

I've had 2 smaller (2-2.5 gallon), much older plastic buckets I used for weighing grain just crack into pieces while lifting and pouring grain from. Apparently they had become very brittle with age. White #2 HDPE.

May I ask how old were those buckets that broke?

 

[jleiii]

Sun exposure will degrade plastic buckets and then they break easily although this could take years of exposure. Old recycling buckets commonly have this happen.
If your garage is very cold and you drop an empty bucket it's possible that could break as well as they get more brittle when cold.

 

[IslandLizard]

May I ask how old were those buckets that broke?

The 2-2.5 gallon ones were definitely over 15 years old, possibly 20 to 25. One originally had chlorine (pool) tablets in it. Never noticed they had deteriorated so much.

The plastic had become hard and brittle, non-pliable. Didn't notice it until one day a big chunk broke out of the top when pouring weighed grain out. Lots of grain ended up on the floor of course. It was easy to break other pieces off, like a Stacy's pita chip.

Another bucket was much larger, like 8-9 gallons, the kind they use as salvage containers when shipping/transporting packed liquids and other chems. Those are very heavy, thick plastic. Same thing happened, huge chunk snapped out the top/rim area. Must have been similar age.

It's possible they were exposed to (summer) sunlight for extended times in the past, but not the last 15 years.

To test plastic buckets, I'd say try to squeeze the top together a bit. If flexible/pliable chances are they will be good. If they crack, then be glad you tested them.

I did write the manufacturing dates on all my fermentation buckets. The codes are pressed into the (outside) bottom, but the little "clocks" are hard to read and decipher.

 

[MaryB]

I would be swapping out fermenting buckets every couple years anyway. They get fine scratches that can hold infections.