First time kegging - excessive foam

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latProd

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My nr 1 fear has come true.
I read as much as I possibly could about this and followed every suggestion to the letter.
I got a cornelius ball lock, 3m 3/8 tubing ( 9.8 feet), PSI is set to approx 10-12. its been carbing for about 10 days now at 4 celsius (39 f)
I ordered all of it from a german specialist site, so im pretty confident the parts are quality (tap, regulator, hoses etc) .
I tried at first with a picnic tap, 100% foam, no matter what. So, now that i got my refridgerator kegerator done, i tried with a quality tap instead, and 100% the same.
If i open either one of them all the way up, its just foam city. (yes i know how to pour, it doesnt make a difference)
I can deal with leaks or faulty parts etc, but my number one fear was this foaming issue.
and murphys law ofcourse dictates that this is the issue i am stuck with.
Everything else is 100% spot on. Beer tastes great, no leaks, etc.
I just dont know where to begin troubleshooting. I'm at a total loss.
 
latProd said:
I got a cornelius ball lock, 3m 3/8 tubing ( 9.8 feet), PSI is set to approx 10-12. its been carbing for about 10 days now at 4 celsius (39 f)
Click to expand...

Is that 3/8" ID tubing on the liquid side? If so, you'd need an insanely long length of it to balance against the serving pressure.
 
VikeMan said:
Is that 3/8" ID tubing on the liquid side? If so, you'd need an insanely long length of it to balance against the serving pressure.
Click to expand...
It's a bit of a complicated situation. Im norwegian, i live in poland, and i bought all this from germany... anyway.
I can't seem to find 3/16 beer lines here. So I asked them to just send me whatever they recommended, and this is what I got:

https://www.ich-zapfe.de/bierzapfen/bierschlauch-3-8-nw-6-3mm-meterware/a-452278/it says "3/8 NW 6,3 mm"
It's all connected with john guest adapters.
I reacted to how thin they looked compared to all the videos I've seen from different american instructional youtube videos and this forum
But i was hoping the inner diameter would be the same and therefore be ok.
Because of language issues I can't find "non pvc food grade" beer lines, so i trusted this german firm to hook me up with the right product.
Ordering from all these amazing american homebrewing sites isnt possible (and it would take forever to get here).
If by some miracle you could point me in the right direction I'd be overjoyed.
 

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Can you order from a Norwegian brew shop or a Swedish one like Brewgoat.se? Or even Amazon?

You want 3/16” (5 mm) ID and 7/16” OD vinyl tubing, plus the right disconnects. A basic setup would have ball lock quick disconnects with barbs and hose clamps.
 
Last edited:
latProd said:
It's a bit of a complicated situation. Im norwegian, i live in poland, and i bought all this from germany... anyway.
I can't seem to find 3/16 beer lines here. So I asked them to just send me whatever they recommended, and this is what I got:

https://www.ich-zapfe.de/bierzapfen/bierschlauch-3-8-nw-6-3mm-meterware/a-452278/it says "3/8 NW 6,3 mm"
Click to expand...

My German isn't great, but those seem to be 9.5mm outer diameter. The inner diameter is either 3/8" or 6.3mm. 3/8" and 6.3mm are not even close to each other, so who knows what it really is?

ETA: 3/8" and 9.5mm are very close.
 
VikeMan said:
My German isn't great, but those seem to be 9.5mm outer diameter. The inner diameter is either 3/8" or 6.3mm. 3/8" and 6.3mm are not even close to each other, so who knows what it really is?

ETA: 3/8" and 9.5mm are very close.
Click to expand...

6.3mm inner i guess. I attached a picture of the tube, did u get a chance to look at it? Am i screwed and need to order new tubing or?
Man if I knew just getting the right tubing was gonna be so complicated I might have held off on this
 
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McKnuckle said:
Can you order from a Norwegian brew shop or a Swedish one like Brewgoat.se? Or even Amazon?

You want 3/16” (5 mm) ID and 7/16” OD vinyl tubing, plus the right disconnects. A basic setup would have ball lock quick disconnects with barbs and hose clamps.
Click to expand...

Sure I can do that, they ship to europe.
But when i take a look at this f.ex:
Hose 3/16 for beer or gas. Sold per meter.
or
https://www.olbrygging.no/slanger/100184/slange-od-3-16-passer-til-john-guest-hurtigkobling


They look the same as what I have.
Did u check the picture i attached? Its literally the only tube u can get here, and every brew-related place sells the same thing.
 
They look the same superficially but if you had them in hand, you'd see the difference in the inner diameter, which is the critical measurement.

Below is the translated text from the Norwegian link you posted. The ID is too narrow (1/8" = 2/16"). You want 3/16" inner diameter. It's not terribly complicated; you have to match that specification. Outer diameter (OD) is not as critical, because the beer passes through the inside of the tubing.

Outer diameter approx. Ø4.8 mm (3/16 ")

Inside diameter approx. Ø3 mm (1/8 ") <-- TOO NARROW

Sold in running meters and price is pr. meters

Here is an American Amazon link to what I have installed in my keezer:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E6BCXQ8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
My vote would be new tubing. John Guest adapters are good quality. I like push to connect fittings. The line looks pretty big and the walls look pretty thin. If you want to keep those lines, they will have to be quite a bit longer.
 
McKnuckle said:
They look the same superficially but if you had them in hand, you'd see the difference in the inner diameter, which is the critical measurement.

Below is the translated text from the Norwegian link you posted. The ID is too narrow (1/8" = 2/16"). You want 3/16" inner diameter. It's not terribly complicated; you have to match that specification. Outer diameter (OD) is not as critical, because the beer passes through the inside of the tubing.

Outer diameter approx. Ø4.8 mm (3/16 ")

Inside diameter approx. Ø3 mm (1/8 ") <-- TOO NARROW

Sold in running meters and price is pr. meters
Click to expand...

Haha jesus christ. So, it seems to be the inner diameter of my tubes are 6 mm, which is too wide, yes? and 3 mm is too narrow.
so inner should be 4.8 mm I am guessing? Just need to find those then. THanks for spoon feeding me this info as I am pretty thick. Never really worked with tubing before so this is all new.
 
Jtvann said:
My vote would be new tubing. John Guest adapters are good quality. I like push to connect fittings. The line looks pretty big and the walls look pretty thin. If you want to keep those lines, they will have to be quite a bit longer.
Click to expand...

Thanks man, I was afraid of that. Why these guys sent me 3m of this tubing is beyond me.
 
Your tubing is 3/8" or 9.5 mm on the inside. It's literally twice as wide as it needs to be.

In your web browser, type this in the URL bar:

0.375 in = mm

...and it will tell you the conversion. Do that with any values.

I believe you can use 5 or 6 mm ID tubing, based on what I saw on the Norwegian site (I can't read Norwegian but... :)).
 
By the way, my settings are nearly the same as yours, and with this ID tubing I have 2.5 meter runs (8 feet). 2.5-3 meter tubing lengths per keg will work well with 12 psi at 4-5ºC.
 
McKnuckle said:
Your tubing is 3/8" or 9.5 mm on the inside. It's literally twice as wide as it needs to be.

In your web browser, type this in the URL bar:

0.375 in = mm

...and it will tell you the conversion. Do that with any values.

I believe you can use 5 or 6 mm ID tubing, based on what I saw on the Norwegian site (I can't read Norwegian but... :)).
Click to expand...

Hehe thanks, I appreciate it my friend. I will see if i can
McKnuckle said:
By the way, my settings are nearly the same as yours, and with this ID tubing I have 2.5 meter runs (8 feet). 2.5-3 meter tubing lengths per keg will work well with 12 psi at 4-5ºC.
Click to expand...

OK, nice. Just need to get the proper sized tubing and i guess im good.
Thank you!
 
McKnuckle said:
By the way, my settings are nearly the same as yours, and with this ID tubing I have 2.5 meter runs (8 feet). 2.5-3 meter tubing lengths per keg will work well with 12 psi at 4-5ºC.
Click to expand...

By the way, thanks for the link to the swedish site, these dudes are hooking me up with the right setup now.
 
Fantastic! There's a Swedish YouTube brewer named Dr. Hans who is sponsored by BrewGoat, which he mentions frequently. That's the only reason I know about them. Very glad to help.
 
McKnuckle said:
Fantastic! There's a Swedish YouTube brewer named Dr. Hans who is sponsored by BrewGoat, which he mentions frequently. That's the only reason I know about them. Very glad to help.
Click to expand...

Haha Yeah I've watched some of his videos actually! Anyway, the guy hooked me up with the same system he uses at home, which is john guest 3/8 -> 3/16 adaptors, and 2 meters of 3/16 tubing to go inbetween the 3/8. He says it works perfectly, so here's to hoping!
 
BTW if you still have foaming issues with properly carbonated beer a flow-control faucet can help a lot.

If it's convenient for you to buy from Germany I can only recommend this place (that I am in no way associated with other than having been a customer in the past):

https://www.zapfanlagendoktor.de/
 
Vale71 said:
BTW if you still have foaming issues with properly carbonated beer a flow-control faucet can help a lot.
Click to expand...

I'll second that. I carbonate my beers "to style," and that used to mean swapping out beer lines with each new keg. Then I replaced my keezer faucets with flow control perlicks, and it has made life a little simpler.
 
I've just bought my first keg and expect to use it in about a months time with my next brew. I've only got 3/8" tubing so I may also need to get the smaller tubing if i get the same problem with foaming. Luckily I also bought a flow control tap just need to sort out my options on fitting it.
 
BigDave1303 said:
I've just bought my first keg and expect to use it in about a months time with my next brew. I've only got 3/8" tubing so I may also need to get the smaller tubing if i get the same problem with foaming. Luckily I also bought a flow control tap just need to sort out my options on fitting it.
Click to expand...

3/8" ID tubing just isn't workable in a homebrew dispensing setup, i.e. with reasonable line lengths. I strongly suspect that even a flow control faucet would meet its match, i.e. not be able to provide the smooth restriction needed. That said, I haven't tried it that way.
 
BigDave1303 said:
I've just bought my first keg and expect to use it in about a months time with my next brew. I've only got 3/8" tubing so I may also need to get the smaller tubing if i get the same problem with foaming. Luckily I also bought a flow control tap just need to sort out my options on fitting it.
Click to expand...

Ugh, yeah, I can't find any 3/16 tubing here in Poland, so I had to order mine from Sweden, along with john guest adapters. I promise you, the flow rate with 3/8 is like a damn waterfall, it can fill a glass with foam in 2 seconds. Not doable. I'm super happy I posted here and found a solution. @VikeMan correctly pointed out that 3/8 just isnt gonna work unless you have like 20-30 metres of it or something ridiculous.
 
latProd said:
Ugh, yeah, I can't find any 3/16 tubing here in Poland, so I had to order mine from Sweden, along with john guest adapters. I promise you, the flow rate with 3/8 is like a damn waterfall, it can fill a glass with foam in 2 seconds. Not doable. I'm super happy I posted here and found a solution. @VikeMan correctly pointed out that 3/8 just isnt gonna work unless you have like 20-30 metres of it or something ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Looks like I need to do a bit more shopping then :mischievous:
 
Vale71 said:
BTW if you still have foaming issues with properly carbonated beer a flow-control faucet can help a lot.

If it's convenient for you to buy from Germany I can only recommend this place (that I am in no way associated with other than having been a customer in the past):

https://www.zapfanlagendoktor.de/
Click to expand...

https://www.nalewaki-do-piwa.pl/kompensator-kran-piwny-kran-stal-nierdzewna/a-452884/
I got this, it translates as "tap with compensator"... maybe thats flow control?
 
Yes, the lever on the side indicates that it's a flow-control faucet. That's the lever you'll adjust to fine-tune the flow resistance.
 
Vale71 said:
Yes, the lever on the side indicates that it's a flow-control faucet. That's the lever you'll adjust to fine-tune the flow resistance.
Click to expand...

I had no idea. Yes, it's my first time kegging but jesus christ i feel like a dumb sonofabitch.
 
VikeMan said:
3/8" ID tubing just isn't workable in a homebrew dispensing setup, i.e. with reasonable line lengths. I strongly suspect that even a flow control faucet would meet its match, i.e. not be able to provide the smooth restriction needed. That said, I haven't tried it that way.
Click to expand...

Your assumptions are correct, I tried the flow control at different settings, no matter how slow the flow is from the faucet, its foam city.
 
bracconiere said:
there's this?

https://www.ebay.pl/itm/DuoTight-EV...524852?hash=item3fc9611e74:g:INoAAOSwFGxdTZsB
still better then the 1/4" i was using for years.....just have to convert 0.197" to what ever

according to this:

you'd need like 18 feet for 12psi

http://www.mikesoltys.com/2012/09/17/determining-proper-hose-length-for-your-kegerator/
i have no idea if that's affordable. but you should be able to get two taps out of it....
Click to expand...
Yeah, but the total price of that is absolutely insane. I managed to find some at a swedish homebrew site, so I'm sorted once it gets here. I definately learned alot about tubing, so atleast that's something. Thanks :)
 

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