Concern about my mead

[alaktheman]

I have been bulk aging my mead for about 2 years and have noticed that my air lock is pulling in the solution in it. I was wondering if anyone knows or has an idea why it is doing this.

it is in a glass carboy and the temperature stays around the same.

 

[JDWebb]

Pulling in the solution, you mean the solution in the airlock is going into the must? Sounds like a vacuum inside the carboy, or if the mead is going up into the airlock, your carboy is either too full, or you have fermentation still going on or both.

 

[alaktheman]

the solution in the air lock is being pulled into the carboy.

 

[imasickboy]

Even a small temperature change of a couple degrees can cause this. I don't know where you are located, but here in the northern hemisphere, it's winter, so I would expect it cooled a little bit, even if you haven't noticed a change.

 

[bernardsmith]

I wonder if what is happening is that the volume in your carboy has dropped (why that is I am not sure but I can see often happens with my carboys) and when the volume drops there is a tendency for the liquid in the airlock to be pulled towards the carboy to compensate for the reduction in pressure.

 

[alaktheman]

Alright I'm just trying to make sure there is nothing wrong with my mead. thanks

 

[JDWebb]

He's right about the change in air pressure and temperature, I am watching the volume level in my 5 gallon carboy rise and fall. When we racked, we were about 5 inches from the bottom ot the first ring on the neck, so I added a bit of Chardonnay wine to bring the level to about 1 inch from the bottom of the airlock bung. It rises and falls from day to night with temp changes and pressure changes with the weather. I have reduced the amount of liquid in my airlock, but keep an eye on it daily. I am retired and can sit in my chair and stare at it all day long.