co2 leak in keezer system

[walker111]

Hi All. need some help as I burned through 2 10 pound tanks in a short while!
Have a 4 keg tap keezer I built. have a 4 way manifold. First time I found one off the valves on my manifold way the issue and replaced. Now after a week of vacation I come back and my new 10 pound refill tank is empty!!!
I tested all from manifold down to disconnects in water/sink last time to find no bubbles.
Will get tank filled today and try to diagnose ?????

I sprayed everything with starsan to look for leaks but nothing.

Maybe hit it at 50 psi and spray again?
Will check all keg orings and lube again.

The one thing I will mention is that 2 out 4 of my beer lines have gaps with no beer and when I did pour one I could see bubbles showing suspension of co2. After a glass is poured next day has gaps again in the line.

Think it is these 2 kegs as the culprit?

Thanks

 

[b-boy]

Usually, if you have a leak in the liquid side, you'll get a puddle of beer. The gaps might be from CO2 off-gassing from the beer in your lines.

The best way to troubleshoot this type of leak is to isolate each part of your system, pressurize, turn off the CO2, check for leaks, then move onto the next part of the system. Eventually you'll find the culprit. If you do it right, you won't lose much CO2 in the process.

First - retighten everything. You'd be amazed how connections can loosen up over time.

Next disconnect all your kegs and close any gas-side valves in your system. This includes the CO2 tank, any manifolds, and any shutoff valves attached to your regulator.

Starting at the CO2 tank, pressurize it, turn off the CO2, and walk away for a few hours. Come back and look at your CO2 gauge. If it's 0, you have a leak somewhere between your regulator and manifold. Re-tighten, re-pressurize, turn off the CO2, walk away, and come back in a few hours. Keep doing this until there's no more leak.

Now, open one valve on your manifold, pressurize the system, turn off the CO2, and walk away like before. Come back and look at your CO2 gauge. If it's 0, you have a leak somewhere between your manifold and keg #1. It could be the manifold valve, the gas line, or the gas-in QD. Re-tighten, re-pressurize, turn off the CO2, walk away, and come back in a few hours. Keep doing this until there's no more leak.

Do this for each line in your system.

If it all checks out, you probably have a leaky post, a bad seal with your QD, or a leaky keg lid. Test 1 keg at a time till you find the post, QD, or lid that's failing. Retighten, replace parts, and you should have a leak-free system.

The nice thing about this approach is the you shouldn't lose any CO2. the bad thing is that your kegerator might be unavailable for a few days while you're tracking down the leak.

 

[IslandLizard]

Look at the suggestions given in this recent thread.

Also search for others, there are a bunch of on topic links on the very bottom of this page.

Or search in Chrome:
site:homebrewtalk.com c02 leak

Also search that way for gas leak, empty tank, etc.

 

[IslandLizard]

Gas leaks really suck.

Excellent pointers from @b-boy. Here are a few others:

• Always open the tank valve all the way, not just one turn.
• Those red handled shut off/check valves should always be in a 90° position, never in between.
• I noticed one of those was leaking when turning or touching it. I replaced it since. They have my full attention as leaky suspects now.
• Make sure there is a nylon/plastic flare washer between all metal to metal MFL surfaces. Most MFL QDs have a plastic tippy built in, which is the flare washer, so no extra is needed there.
• Be systematic, as @b-boy said. You'll find it.
• Most parts can be submerged in water, except the regulator and the dials.
• There should be a plastic washer on the input stem of the regulator where it screws onto the tank. If it's a fiber washer, replace with a plastic one, once and for all. Leaks in that (high pressure) area are usually fierce and easy to find, but small ones not always.

Good luck with your hunt!

 

[walker111]

Thanks all for the tips. I do have the washer between regulator and tank. I have done some reading and I have Teflon tape on this connection and many say not to do this. maybe that is an issue?

I know that the manifold check valves have to be 90 degrees or leaks occur as I found this in the sink in my earlier test.

I will exchange tank after work today and begin at the top and take the tape off and spray for leaks around regulator and tank and note pressure.

Will reseat lids on all the 4 kegs again and lube and go one at a time.

Appreciate the forum.
thanks

 

[Master]

Figured I'd add in here, vs starting a new thead, as I had a new to me leak on an established system.

2 year old KegCo 3 tap system, that I added a couple CO2 whips to for carbing up the on deck kegs. Two regulators, one feeds a 4 whip manifold, other has a WYE with 2 whips on it.

This weekend, my CO2 tank was dead after 2 kegs carbed and maybe 3 served. It's a 20 pound tank. Yeah.

Soap everything. Can't find anything. A couple suspect red handle checks but nothing positive. My garage is noisy between Fridge, Chest Freezer, Furnace, AC, Water Heater and everything else.

It was quiet.. I kept on getting a HISSSSSSSS very quiet.

The Bourdon tube (thing inside a pressure gauge) had started leaking. I hadn't soaped the gauges.

20 plus years working with compressed gas as a Welder, Pilot, Mechanic, and Oilfield Engineer. Never seen a gauge leak like that without a dramatic overpressurization or mechanical damage.

But it's something to check.