Co2 exposure

[Tonyb79]

I am currently fermenting my beer in my closet wich is right next to my bed. It has come to my attention that co2 gas is released when fermenting beer. Is this dangerous and does anyone else ferment their beer in their bedroom?

 

[bracconiere]

lol, stop now...never brew again! i've heard exhaled breath has co2 in it also.....

 

[Tonyb79]

Lol ok thanks... my biggest concern was the amount of co2 that was being released i don’t think we exhale that much co2!

 

[bracconiere]

could put a house plant next to your fermenter.......if it makes you feel better.....

 

[doug293cz]

It might be a concern. How many sq ft is your bedroom? See this thread.

Brew on

 

[Tonyb79]

could put a house plant next to your fermenter.......if it makes you feel better.....

That’s a great idea thanks

 

[Tonyb79]

It might be a concern. How many sq ft is your bedroom? See this thread.

Brew on

My bedroom is very small about 100 sq ft

 

[doug293cz]

My bedroom is very small about 100 sq ft

Then leave the door open while you are fermenting. That should be adequate to prevent CO2 build-up.

Brew on

 

[doug293cz]

could put a house plant next to your fermenter.......if it makes you feel better.....

This won't absorb a significant fraction of the CO2 given off by the fermentation. But if you want a plant, or several, it won't hurt.

Brew on

 

[bracconiere]

This won't absorb a significant fraction of the CO2 given off by the fermentation. But if you want a plant, or several, it won't hurt.

Brew on

feelings man.....the plant would need light to convert the co2 to o2 also.......lol

 

[Tonyb79]

Then leave the door open while you are fermenting. That should be adequate to prevent CO2 build-up.

Brew on

I can’t leave my door open because i have a cat and i don’t want hair all over my room but i have decided to leave my window open. Despite all my efforts my fire alarm is beeping so i think that alot of co2 is being built up! Thanks for all your help guys

 

[bracconiere]

I can’t leave my door open because i have a cat and i don’t want hair all over my room but i have decided to leave my window open. Despite all my efforts my fire alarm is beeping so i think that alot of co2 is being built up! Thanks for all your help guys

sure it's not a low battery?

 

[Tonyb79]

Not exactly sure but when i put it near where i’m fermenting wich is right next to my bed the light flicks on and it doesn’t do that anywhere else!

 

[bracconiere]

Not exactly sure but when i put it near where i’m fermenting wich is right next to my bed the light flicks on and it doesn’t do that anywhere else!

i ferment two 10 gallons batches at a time, never set off my fire alarm...?

 

[Tonyb79]

i ferment two 10 gallons batches at a time, never set off my fire alarm...?

That’s weird i’m gonna go to bed and check it out tommorow! Hopefully it is just low battery thank you for yo time!

 

[danimal92sport]

Going to bed??!! I’m going to have to check this thread first thing In the morning to make sure he posts a reply...

 

[Pkrd]

Definitely need a canary.

 

[VikeMan]

Despite all my efforts my fire alarm is beeping so i think that alot of co2 is being built up!

I've never heard of a fire alarm that detects CO2.

 

[Tonyb79]

I've never heard of a fire alarm that detects CO2.

Oh really all the Kidde brand fire alarms detect co2 i’m pretty sure!

 

[VikeMan]

Oh really all the Kidde brand fire alarms detect co2 i’m pretty sure!

You're thinking of CO (Carbon Monoxide), not CO2. (Some Kidde detectors detect CO. Some don't.)

 

[DVCNick]

The last commercial brewery tour I was on had about 9 huge (guessing 18 ft tall) fermenters just venting into the warehouse with no apparent special ventilation. I asked them about it and they said they've been doing it that way forever with no apparent issues.
So I decided my little 5-10 gal batches aren't going to represent any sort of risk at all.

Now if I open up my chest freezer ferm chamber after it has been closed for a while with beers going at high krausen, and stick my head in there... sure, it is almost all C02. Smells great but will get you light headed real quick. But that is in a very, very contained space.

No worries if you aren't locked in a very small freezer with the thing.

 

[doug293cz]

The last commercial brewery tour I was on had about 9 huge (guessing 18 ft tall) fermenters just venting into the warehouse with no apparent special ventilation. I asked them about it and they said they've been doing it that way forever with no apparent issues.
So I decided my little 5-10 gal batches aren't going to represent any sort of risk at all.

Now if I open up my chest freezer ferm chamber after it has been closed for a while with beers going at high krausen, and stick my head in there... sure, it is almost all C02. Smells great but will get you light headed real quick. But that is in a very, very contained space.

No worries if you aren't locked in a very small freezer with the thing.

It's all about room volume vs. amount of CO2 generated vs. amount of ventilation. The brewery is a very large volume space, most likely with some amount of active ventilation. Read this post. A small room, with no ventilation, can be a problem even with a 5-6 gal fermenter volume.

Brew on