Fermenting Bucket Lid

[kp37]

First time brewing solo! Making a porter-did the boil last night and transferred into the fermenting bucket. It's been more than 24hrs and have had no bubbling in the airlock! Should I be concerned? I noticed that the lid just kind of sits on top of the bucket. It's not a tight fit. Is this my culprit? I do have a good 1 1/2 inch head on top. Not sure if things are going along as they should be! Worst part is, they were out of hydrometers when I got the kit so I need to pick one up still. I wasn't able to measure with it prior to putting in the yeast! I just was really excited to get it going!

 

[masterosouffle]

You're absolutely fine, bubbles are a terrible way of measuring fermentation.it sounds like you have a perfectly normal fermenting wort. If you want to see bubbles you will need a tight fitting lid, but this won't improve your beer at this stage. If you choose to secondary, then I would look more into tight fitting lids to protect your beer as there won't be nearly as much co2 being produced and therefore forcing off other gases and nasties.
Well done on your first beer! It's a slippery slope from here on in!!!

 

[jazzbass]

Try putting a little more force down on the lid to
see if you can hear a click.

It should take a little effort to put on and off.

 

[duboman]

Try putting a little more force down on the lid to
see if you can hear a click.

It should take a little effort to put on and off.

+1, some of these bucket' lids really need to be pressed on and it should click: then, good luck prying it off, get a bucket tool

 

[homebrewdad]

Most commonly asked question on the forums. Bubbles mean nothing. Nada. Zilch. ESPECIALLY when using a bucket, which make notoriously poor seals.

One tiny little crack in the seal = path of least resistance, so CO2 escapes there, rather than your airlock. Beer is fine, you just don't get a fun airlock.

The only way to know for sure that you have fermentation is by taking agravity reading with a hydrometer. Foam, no foam, little foam... bubbles, no bubbles, few bubbles - all of these are irrelevant.

 

[kp37]

Thanks everyone! Really went to town on the lid but no luck! Was a little concerned about contaminating it so I'm going to try again once it's empty. Going to get the hydrometer today. Hopefully I'm still good to go! Thanks again!

 

[homebrewdad]

Thanks everyone! Really went to town on the lid but no luck! Was a little concerned about contaminating it so I'm going to try again once it's empty. Going to get the hydrometer today. Hopefully I'm still good to go! Thanks again!

Relax, you're fine. CO2 pressure coming out means nothing bad going in - just leave the lid alone, and give that beer some time.

 

[kp37]

My husband got the lid snapped in place! It's bubbling like crazy-which I know isn't a good way to measure, but since it's my 1st batch, it makes me happy! Thanks again!

 

[helibrewer]

My husband got the lid snapped in place! It's bubbling like crazy-which I know isn't a good way to measure, but since it's my 1st batch, it makes me happy! Thanks again!

Excellent...I use a rubber mallet on those lids