Co2 question

[AdamLucko]

I have a 10 lb tank

it had 8lbs in it. I put it in the keezer with my kegs at 3C-4C. It is now at 6.2 lbs. after 2 days in the keezer.

I found no leaks with the starsan at every single joint or possible leak area. Will the gauge vary with temperature?

(I had this happen with my 20lb tank which turned out to just be leaking... I changed all my orings on all my kegs and all the poppits. )

Thanks for any insight.

Adam

 

[pdietert]

Are you referring to the weight of the CO2 in the tank or the pressure of the CO2 on the regulator?

 

[wanders]

Will the gauge vary with temperature?

A pressure gauge reading will change with temperature yes. You'll know you have a leak if it continues to go down after the temperature equalizes.

 

[gcdowd]

Agreed with above. You'll know if you have a leak, after a few days, you'll have no Co2 left

 

[AdamLucko]

I am referring to the pressure indication on the regulator.

 

[surffisher2a]

The pressure in the tank will decrease the colder the bottle is.

If you want to test for a small leak you can keep everything hooked up and just turn the main valve on the CO2 tank off and see if everything still hold pressure for a couple of days without any gas flowing from the tank.

If you do this method above, make sure the system is equalized and the beer is fully carbed because your beer will absorb the CO2 left in the system and drop the pressure, making it look like a leak.

 

[ballsy]

As far as I know, cold temp cannot affect weight but can affect read on psi indicator.

 

[AdamLucko]

On average, how much co2 is used per keg? I had 8 lbs. I put them both in the keezer and then I had just under 6 lbs the next day. I am new and I have frustrated over this many times.

Also should I turn the co2 off if I am not drinking the beer? I assumed that it wouldn't matter as if there is no leak then there should be no pressure loss.

 

[AdamLucko]

Also. I am in Toronto. Is there any specialists or companies that do housecalls to take a look at my setup? I just really want it to work!

 

[gcdowd]

A 10 lb tank will usually get me through 8-10 kegs.

Edit: you can leave the co2 on.

 

[Smellyglove]

I just got my first keg and was wondering if I've used all that gas in just three-four days. I'm carbing one keg but the meter says I'm down to 50% of what it was when I got the Co2.

Would the meter pop up higher if I would set the Co2 room-temp? It's currently sitting in 4C.

 

[surffisher2a]

Don't worry about the pressure gauge for the CO2 tank. Its pretty much useless most of the time since its going to keep changing with ambient temp changes. Just as long as you are still getting gas from it you are good.

unless you have a leak or serving LOTS of beer I doubt you went through a whole tank in 3 or 4 days.

 

[Smellyglove]

Don't worry about the pressure gauge for the CO2 tank. Its pretty much useless most of the time since its going to keep changing with ambient temp changes. Just as long as you are still getting gas from it you are good.

unless you have a leak or serving LOTS of beer I doubt you went through a whole tank in 3 or 4 days.

I don't think I have a leak. It's been constand when I havend toyed with it.

But then I have to ask. How would I know when it's about to get empty? Does the gauge vary a lot?

If I would set it even colder, would it show a lesser pressure?

 

[surffisher2a]

Yes if you put the tank in the kegorator it will show less pressure. Just note, that less pressure doesn't equate to less gas available.

you will know its getting close to empty when one day the pressure gauge takes a nose dive from its normal position. That is when you are getting low.

 

[AdamLucko]

haha. smelly took over this thread! As for leaks. I actually jusent and got some gas nylon which is yellow for 3 dollars at home hardware (not water nylon which is white and about 50cents) and I wrapped every head on the keg in and out! It turns out that the orings were just not wide enough to stop all the gas from coming out. After spending about 20 minutes wrapping 5 kegs there is no longer a leak! I am soooooooo happy. I just hope I don't have to wrap them every time I take off the quick releases. But if I do I will find another solution.

Glug glug!

:cross:

 

[Smellyglove]

Haha! Sorry about the hijacking. I just didn't want to create a new thread since this topic was already active. I can see from my typing that this was after one beer to many.

 

[AdamLucko]

no prob! I like it when posts get large! I feel like part of the community!

 

[pdietert]

I just got my first keg and was wondering if I've used all that gas in just three-four days. I'm carbing one keg but the meter says I'm down to 50% of what it was when I got the Co2.

Would the meter pop up higher if I would set the Co2 room-temp? It's currently sitting in 4C.

Perpetuating the hijack. Weighing your CO2 tank will give you accurate usage. The pressure will go up and down depending on temperature but the only way the weight will change is by adding or subtracting CO2.