Lost volume in fermenter, but no apparent leaks...what could it be?

[FMWarner]

Hi all...

I'm still very much a beginner, I'm only making my second brew. I have a curious situation where I've lost 4L of volume in three days from the fermenter, and I'm kind of at a loss to figure out what's going on.

I'm making cider in a 30L plastic fermenter. Brew day was Monday, and today (Thursday), I noticed that I had 17L of liquid in the fermenter, down from my starting level of 21L.

* There was some liquid on the floor surrounding the fermenter, but only a few ounces - nowhere near what was lost in volume.

* The airlock was clean of residue and the fermenter did not have any liquid pooled in the lid or drip marks down the side of it, so it's not a violent fermentation. I felt around for leaks on the bottom, but couldn't find any and it's a brand new fermenter anyway, this is only my second brew.

* The spout was dry as was the floor directly underneath it, so I don't think it was a leaky spout.

* The airlock did have almost all of the liquid on one side of it, so I guess maybe evaporation is possible, although 4L seems a lot in three days.

I'm kind of at a loss to what might be causing this. My first brew didn't lose any volume at all. Right now I have the fermenter sitting on a towel outside so that it doesn't drip on the floor anymore and maybe I can tell from looking at the towel where a leak might be. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks so much,
Francis

 

[unionrdr]

It had to leak from somewhere. Maybe out the airlock? If you have a dog, maybe he slurped it up?

 

[Smeato]

There's nothing in the standard brewing process that could account for that much loss in volume. It must have came from somewhere (like a curious flat mate).

 

[DaNewf]

You wouldn't happen to have a teenage boy in the house would you?

Idiot teenage son: Dude, my Dad's making liquor in the basement!

Idiot teenage son's idiot teenage buddy: Dude! Let's go score some!

Idiot teenage son: Cowabunga! (or whatever idiot teenagers say these days)

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Sounds like you have in house quality control inspector.

 

[FMWarner]

Thanks, guys! No dogs or teenagers here, although there is a cat who would probably have burned the house down if he drank 4L of cider.

I did find a leak with my towel trick - there was one in the joint between the spout and the fermenter - kinda fooled me because I only felt the spout for wetness, not the joint.

Still have no idea about where that 4L went, though - I have hardwood floors, so I thought maybe for a moment it soaked through them, but the surface is intact and no warping. In any event, disaster has been averted - 12 hours since I tightened the joint and no wetness on the towel.

Thanks for the suggestions and the laughs!

 

[unionrdr]

They used to say barrel losses were the "angel's share". BS! We want our beer back!...