leaky tanks

[bracconiere]

has anyone ever had to take a tank back because it leaks at the reg?

i replaced the tank washer, i turn the tank off, and kill the flow to the kegs and the main tank pressure guage, goes to zero after about 5 minutes....

 

[IslandLizard]

If it takes 5 minutes, it must be a very small leak.

Is there any damage/burr/dent to the tank's coupling flange?
Does the nut on the regulator stem tighten all the way down? I sometimes put 2-3 turns of teflon tape on the threads, not to seal, but to reduce resistance when tightening.

Plastic or fiber washer?
Is there an o-ring in the stem?

 

[bracconiere]

If it takes 5 minutes, it must be a very small leak.

Is there any damage/burr/dent to the tank's coupling flange?
Does the nut on the regulator stem tighten all the way down? I sometimes put 2-3 turns of teflon tape on the threads, not to seal, but to reduce resistance when tightening.

Plastic or fiber washer?
Is there an o-ring in the stem?

750psi in 5 minutes isn't THAT slow...yeah it's a tap-rite reg. and the rubber self seal o-ring has long given up the ghost....but with a washer it used to seal fine. i'll have to take a closer look at the tanks valve.....it's a steel tank with the annoying grove in it (what killed my self seal o-ring to begin with)

and yes it's tight on there, actually the first thing i tried....i might try wetting the tank washer with some veg oil, try again....

nylon washer

 

[day_trippr]

You should be able to carefully submerge the cylinder valve up to/including the coupler nut without dunking the rest of the Taprite reg. That should tell you something.

fwiw, recently I leak-tested all of my gas systems and one of them would not hold pressure overnight (charge up, close cylinder, wait overnight) and I found the regulator PRV was leaking (very slowly) at its threads. This was the first reg I ever bought, too, and it's been in constant use for almost 16 years now. Hence, I would not assume anything about anything

Cheers!

 

[bracconiere]

wait overnight) and I found the regulator PRV was leaking (very slowly) at its threads

i'll have to figure out where that is....my last reg i had to replace because it started leaking too.....i poured soapy water over the tank to reg valve and, no bubbling...if i put it on it's side in a plastic tote is the liquid co2, going to mess things up?

edit: just looked it up, got this one to replace my old leaky one back in oct 2014....time for another? only $60 bucks, and a tank of co2 lost is ~$30......

right now i'm keeping my tank shut off, and kegs shut off, only giveing them enough psi to push every few pours....

edit 2: do you know how to get the crappy o-ring out of a tap-rite? i tried, couldn't get it out, but it's shot...i'd like to try the thing with just a tank washer....

 

[RPh_Guy]

It's common for tanks to leak.
Just put a tray under it with some cat litter.

 

[bracconiere]

It's common for tanks to leak.
Just put a tray under it with some cat litter.

View attachment 654963

i'm mostly just worried about gas mileage, and green house gas emissions....lol

i don't want to carb and serve my beer with tanks to the keg ratings......

 

[6Tap]

That’s way too much lead for my beer!
My tank looks much different. [emoji482]

 

[bracconiere]

That’s way too much lead for my beer!
My tank looks much different. [emoji482]

i've heard the romans liked leaded wine...sweetness and mouthfeel.....

 

[day_trippr]

If you use a deep enough tub you won't need to lean the reg over far enough to push out liquid CO2 before the bits under concern are submerged...

Cheers!

 

[bracconiere]

If you use a deep enough tub you won't need to lean the reg over far enough to push out liquid CO2 before the bits under concern are submerged...

Cheers!

think i'm just going to buy a new regulator....at this point it's been a 5 year run, could be the prv, could be the o-ring, but the damn thing is leaking....at $60, that's four hours work..no biggie, just get a new one....

 

[bracconiere]

new regulator showed up today, installed... no leaks! so for $64.99 after 5 years, for $8 10 gallon batches, who says homebrewing isn't cheaper!


just remember if you get a taprite with a rubber o-ring, don't believe them when they say not use a tank washer, unless you only use aluminum tanks....


(and good thing i'm paranoid about leaks, would have cost me probably $90-100 if i didn't check)

edit: might have been the PRV don't know.....

edit #2: lol, anyone want buy a leaky regulator? i'll let it go cheap?