How to figure out where my bucket is leaking CO2

[mtnagel]

I brewed 4 days ago. It was a 4 gal batch that I put into a 6.5 gallon bucket with an S shaped airlock. I used a fresh starter that behaved normally. If I press on the top of the bucket, the water level in the airlock moves. But I haven't seen any airlock activity. I'm 99% sure the beer is fermenting as I almost pass out from the CO2 in my chest freezer fermentation chamber when I open it. I plan to open it in a day or so to dry hop and I can check the gravity then. So I'm assuming the bucket is leaking somewhere, but I don't know where. Should I just replace the entire lid? The o ring around the airlock? Something else? Should I not worry about it? I figure it's not a big deal during the first few days of fermentation, but after I open and dry hop, I assume I want a good, airtight seal.

 

[Dixon9717]

Does it really matter? My buckets leak CO2 and the airlock is rarely active but I don't worry about it. What really matters is that no nasties get inside.

 

[cegan09]

Starsan in a spray bottle, start spraying. It will bubble at the leak points during active fermentation. Once fermentation is over you don't have the CO2 pressure to build bubbles.

 

[Batteman87]

Starsan in a spray bottle, start spraying. It will bubble at the leak points during active fermentation. Once fermentation is over you don't have the CO2 pressure to build bubbles.

This

 

[MuddyCreek]

I'm willing to bet it's leaking somewhere around the hole.

Yep. There's a hole or a crack somewhere and that'll be right around where the leak is. I'll bet my hat on it.

 

[bobeer]

ya, the ole soapy sponge trick should work. Dab it around where you think the leak could be coming from and look for bubbles that popup.