If 5 ft of Bev Line isn't enough.....

[stp]

....then why do the kegging kits only come with 5 feet?

I just finished adhering my collar to my freezer and was wondering about this. I have everything I need to start kegging but I'm frustrated that I might have to alter the kit I got before I even start. Picked up a 2 tap system from keg connection (and very happy with the service btw), but it only comes with the 5 feet of bev line. From what I've read about kegging I will likely need around 10 feet to get the beer flowing out of the taps right.

So I'm wondering, what are the chances 5 feet will be good enough? Should I wait until my beer is carbed and try it, then if it's not go out and get longer lines. Or should I just replace the lines now because I will inevitably need them longer?
Anyone else already go through this?

Thanks for the tips.

 

[IffyG]

5 feet is plenty if you bleed off the pressure before you pour. I did that until I upgraded to multiple kegs.

 

[Yooper]

That's the million dollar question!

Mine came six feet.

To be fair to the seller, most charts will tell you that 5-6 feet is adequate. If you calculate the rise to the taps, the temperature, etc, they are probably right.

HOWEVER, my kegerator is 39 at the bottom, about 42 at the top where the taps are, and the faucets are warm for the first pour. So, those calculations aren't really all that accurate in our homes.

Experience just shows that the only disadvantage to longer lines is a bit of a slower pour. I never heard anybody say, "My lines are too longer- I want them shorter!" Usually it's the reverse.

 

[Bottenbrew]

I got 5 foot lines from Kegconnection and I have no foaming issues with my pour, guess I am just lucky.

 

[stp]

That's the million dollar question!

Mine came six feet.

To be fair to the seller, most charts will tell you that 5-6 feet is adequate. If you calculate the rise to the taps, the temperature, etc, they are probably right.

HOWEVER, my kegerator is 39 at the bottom, about 42 at the top where the taps are, and the faucets are warm for the first pour. So, those calculations aren't really all that accurate in our homes.

Experience just shows that the only disadvantage to longer lines is a bit of a slower pour. I never heard anybody say, "My lines are too longer- I want them shorter!" Usually it's the reverse.

Guess I'll give it a shot and see how the kit works as is. Going to get longer lines once the beer is ready will make me mad though, haha.

But, there's no way I'm bleeding the pressure every time. I didn't get this fancy setup/faucets and build the keezer only to lift the lid every time and do that.

 

[Bullbythehorns]

I was fine with the pick-a-nic taps, but when I went to faucets it was foam city. Rather than getting a longer hose, I enhanced it via this thread:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/cure-your-short-hose-troubles-100151/

The pour is slow, but it sure eliminated the foam problem.

 

[TonyR]

I was fine with the pick-a-nic taps, but when I went to faucets it was foam city. Rather than getting a longer hose, I enhanced it via this thread:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/cure-your-short-hose-troubles-100151/

The pour is slow, but it sure eliminated the foam problem.

Others have also said the pour was slower, but how much slower? Right now it only takes a few seconds to fill a glass with foam off my tower.

 

[kmat123]

When I ordered my keg kit from KC I asked them for all 10' lines and they had no problem modifying my order.

 

[Crinkle]

I was fine with the pick-a-nic taps, but when I went to faucets it was foam city. Rather than getting a longer hose, I enhanced it via this thread:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/cure-your-short-hose-troubles-100151/

The pour is slow, but it sure eliminated the foam problem.

Thesse things work great. I just put two in both of my kegs this weekend, and got beer to pour without huge amounts of foam! Crazy, right??!!?? Really, they are work the $1.05 a piece and super easy to install, IMO way better than adding extra lines that can get tangled, gunked up, and generally be a pain.

I didn't pay attention to how long it took to pour, but not so long that I was tapping my foot waiting for the beer.

 

[malkore]

Those dip-tube inserts are noticable. I put two or three in my kegs. One isn't quite enough, two usually cuts it.

One keg I put three in just to see.

Takes a good 10 seconds or more for me to pour a pint glass.

 

[Bottenbrew]

So am I just super lucky that my 5 foot hoses don't foam at all? It seems that most people have a hard with with just 5 feet.

 

[stp]

So am I just super lucky that my 5 foot hoses don't foam at all? It seems that most people have a hard with with just 5 feet.

What are you using as a kegerator? I'm converting a rather small (5cf) freezer so I'm wondering if maybe that will help the foaming issue.
If I would have done more research ahead of time I definitely would have asked keg connection to add longer lines just in case.

 

[MBasile]

So am I just super lucky that my 5 foot hoses don't foam at all? It seems that most people have a hard with with just 5 feet.

What's your temp and PSI?

I'll be checking out those inserts though! Anyone know if home depot or loses has them? I have the warm tap/line problem, so if I could pour beer (or let friends pour their own) without the small pour-wait a few seconds-full pour technique that'd be great! My lines are 5 or 6 feet with 13psi at 38*.

 

[ArcaneXor]

No problems here with 5-ft hoses and picnic taps (unless friends come over and they don't open the flow all the way up - then it's foam city).

 

[a10t2]

I think the standard of 5 ft probably comes from commercial bars, where the beer (unfortunately) tends to be served cooler than most home brewers would like. Standard beer carb level (2.4 vol) would be pretty well balanced with 5 ft of line (9 psi) at 36°F.

 

[wildwest450]

4 taps, 5 and 6 ft lines, pouring perfectly @ 42f.
Why worry about a problem before there is one??

_

 

[cruelkix]

4 taps, 5 and 6 ft lines, pouring perfectly @ 42f.
Why worry about a problem before there is one??

_

I'm with WildWest on this one. See if you have a prob and then go from there.

I'm just a comedy of errors over here.

1) I like my Beer COLD (I know I know .... style, flavor, blah blah) 34 - 36 * F
2) I like my Beer CARBONATED (I know I know .... style, flavor, blah blah) 15 PSI
3) I live in CO at 5300 ft.

My beer lines are 15 ft and I could almost deal with another ft or 2....

It all depends on your situation.