This is my first time brewing. I used an extract kit, went by the instructions. The first day after the 3-piece airlock was moving constantly. when I checked it today (2nd day) it is not moving at all. Is it ok? I'm not sure how long the airlock is suppose to move.
How long should airlock move
- Thread starter fmark1116
- Start date
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There is no exact time and airlock activity, or lack thereof, is not an indication of finished fermentation.
When you brew, from the day you pitch you need to really let the beer be and let that yeast work. Do not continue to open carboys and buckets. Take a reading after 7 days at the bare minimum. You should have krausen forming and that krausen will drop. At that point I will take a reading. If I cannot see the krausen because I am using a bucket, I wait at least 7 days before I touch it.
Brewing, a hobby of patience and drinking. Drink while you wait.
When you brew, from the day you pitch you need to really let the beer be and let that yeast work. Do not continue to open carboys and buckets. Take a reading after 7 days at the bare minimum. You should have krausen forming and that krausen will drop. At that point I will take a reading. If I cannot see the krausen because I am using a bucket, I wait at least 7 days before I touch it.
Brewing, a hobby of patience and drinking. Drink while you wait.
I am using a bucket for this. after I put it in the bucket with the airlock in I put it in a backroom so it couldn't be disturbed. So far all I have done is looked at the airlock to see if it had changed. I did read in the instructions that I should check it in 7 days and possibly move it to the carboy for at that point for another 7 days.
Great. Unless you're going to age it for a bit, I would leave it in primary. No real need for secondary if you're going to bottle in a few weeks.
Sounds like things are going fine and you'll have a good beer.
Sounds like things are going fine and you'll have a good beer.
I am fermenting two different beers (Hefeweizen and an IPA) and they both act differently. The Hefeweizen went crazy for about 3 days and died off while my IPA just has been steadily going at it with airlock activity. From what I read and have been seeing, just because there isn't airlock activity doesn't mean it's done fermenting. Best way is to take a gravity reading and check the numbers. Good luck and brew on!
DurtyChemist
Well-Known Member
First.......relax, dont worry, have a homebrew (or just another beer) and leave it alone.
I'd guess you used a dry yeast which might have fermented fast. No air lock activity is fine. If the water level is high enough to prevent air from passing in/out without moving the air lock than you're fine. I'd personally focus more on the temperature than anything. As long as it's 70 or lower just leave it alone for the next 3 weeks.
oh, and I'd suggest planning your NEXT brew during this time. Your first one is great but when you have nothing to follow it up you're dry for another month.
I'd guess you used a dry yeast which might have fermented fast. No air lock activity is fine. If the water level is high enough to prevent air from passing in/out without moving the air lock than you're fine. I'd personally focus more on the temperature than anything. As long as it's 70 or lower just leave it alone for the next 3 weeks.
oh, and I'd suggest planning your NEXT brew during this time. Your first one is great but when you have nothing to follow it up you're dry for another month.
Gameface
Well-Known Member
An airlock should move until the pressure inside the fermenter is roughly equal to the pressure outside the fermenter.
