Keg hoses

[spbrhs07]

This week I'm going to be adding a keg to my kegerator setup and will be doing some regular maintenance as well. I've noticed with others that the gas lines are some kind of red hose and have also seen it at my local hardware store. Is there a difference in using this red hose vs a clear vinyl hose? I've always just used the clear hoses for everything and everything runs smoothly.

Also, does it make a difference how long the gas and beer hoses are?

 

[billym99]

Red gas hose vs clear gas hose wouldn't matter. Only difference between the two that I have seen in the past is the ID of each, the red that I use has an ID of 5/16", whereas most clear I've seen is ID of 1/4". All of my gas barbs are 3/8" so 5/16" ID is suitable for my system.

Length of gas line won't matter much, length of beer hose can matter a lot. The longer the beer line the more pressure you need to push the beer out to get a similar flow rate as with the same pressure and shorter lines. This works into balancing your system, you want a line length that is acceptable for what PSI you want to keep on your beer, the PSI that you keep on your kegged beer should keep your beers carbonated to your desired level. Of course the temperature the beer is kept at in your kegerator will determine what PSI you want to keep your beer at.

I set my system up like this:

1. I want all of my beer at about 2.5 volumes of C02, based on the styles I commonly make.
2. I want to keep and serve my beer at around 41 degrees.
3. This means I need to have about 15 PSI on my kegs to carbonate as well as maintain that level of carbonation.
4. Started with 8' of beer line on each tap, eventually trimmed to about 7' which gave me a nice pour rate.

 

[spbrhs07]

I had no idea the length of the beer line made a difference in pour rate! I think my beer lines are around 4ft which is probably why I've had problems with too much foam. No matter how hard I try to pour down the side of the glass I always end up with more than half foam...

 

[billym99]

Could be the line length -vs- the serving pressure. If the pour starts out all foam but turns clear after a few ounces it could be that you're under pressured (not enough PSI to keep CO2 in the beer that exists in the line) or that the lines are a little warm (tap tower?). Getting your keg system balanced and pouring great takes a little time but is worth the effort when you start getting perfect pours.

Good luck!

 

[spbrhs07]

Just put in 8ft hose. Problem solved

 

[b-boy]

Just put in 8ft hose. Problem solved

I'd go 10'-12'.

 

[day_trippr]

lol! Well, if he's happy he's happy

For the record, the only beer line length calculator combined with our favorite carbonation table used before buying beer line would save on tubing costs and cut down on dispensing anxiety...

Cheers!