Keg pressure keeps climbing

[LovesIPA]

I've searched and I can't seem to find anything about this. I have a keezer that I just built for 3 corny kegs. I have two kegs in it right now. I'm using a 10 lb CO2 tank with a 3-way manifold. I essentially followed Northern Brewer's "how to build a keezer" youtube video.

What I've noticed is that the CO2 pressure keeps climbing up. I set it at 12 and a couple hours later it's climbed up to 30 or 40. I'll dial back the regulator, bleed off some of the pressure and check it again in a couple hours. This morning it was close to 50 psi because I didn't check it overnight at all.

Does this sound normal?

 

[Avocet]

My 1st question--do you have the co2 jug in the kegerator or outside? I am willing to bet it's inside with the cold, clammy, wet stuff.

 

[LovesIPA]

Yes, it's inside the keezer. The video I watched said it made no difference. Why does it?

 

[Avocet]

No its just the pressure will vary greatly from room temp to inside frig--I know my tank may read 500-600 in frig and will be 900+ at room temp......first----are you bleeding kegs "dry" of gas --with reg down to virtually no pressure---before you open regulator up? And are you running one reg or is the reg for each tank in-line? And do you have regs set up correctly? Most will only "regulate" toward one direction---but let 100% of pressure through other opening.

 

[zachattack]

It has nothing to do with the tank being in the keezer. That can cause the diaphragm to respond a little slower, and maybe it'll creep up a few psi the first couple days. But not to 50 psi, that's a bad regulator.

Assuming you aren't actually freezing the regulator, it sounds like a debris caught in the diaphragm. It's actually a fairly common problem. If it's new, you can exchange it for a working one, or you can try a quick procedure to "blast out" any debris in there. It's worked for a lot of people, here's an explanation on another thread:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/co2-regulator-creep-387313/

 

[AnOldUR]

How did you carbonate? If you used any of the bursting methods, CO2 could be coming out of solution to reach equilibrium again after you vent.

And if you don't have check valves on the lines to each keg you'll get back pressure from one keg going into the others (not a good thing.)

 

[Yooper]

How did you carbonate? If you used any of the bursting methods, CO2 could be coming out of solution to reach equilibrium again after you vent.

And if you don't have check valves on the lines to each keg you'll get back pressure from one keg going into the others (not a good thing.)

That was the first thing I thought of, too. While it's possible that it's the diaphragm in the regulator, it's more likely that the beer is overcarbed (by shaking or a higher psi than it is currently) and that's why the regulator pressure is climbing.

 

[zachattack]

That was the first thing I thought of, too. While it's possible that it's the diaphragm in the regulator, it's more likely that the beer is overcarbed (by shaking or a higher psi than it is currently) and that's why the regulator pressure is climbing.

You could be right, but due to the very high pressures he's seeing (50 psi!) I don't think this is the result of overcarbonation. Unless he set it to 50 psi and shook the keg like crazy, but I think that's pretty unlikely.

 

[LovesIPA]

Yesterday when I got up and it was almost at 50 I bled it off and set it back down to 14. I tasted the beer and it was quite flat so I can't see how the excess pressure is coming from the beer.

Check valves... Now why didn't I think of that. Can someone recommend a vendor or brand that work well?

The regulator is brand new. I have just one for the whole system. A future upgrade will be to use one for each keg but I spent all my money on stainless steel shanks and faucets.

I will try to clean the regulator out today and let you know what happens.

Thanks for all the help.