Making a Blow off tube

TurtleMane69 · Jan 18, 2015

I just started my first home brew, Double IPA from brewers best. I just put it into primary fermenter and have the airlock on it. I have seen some stories of the lids blowing off and making a mess. I was thinking of making a blow off tube to prevent this. Can I use the flexible tube from my siphon for this? I've heard if theres plenty of room in the bucket it shouldn't be a problem but the only place I have to keep this is in the closet with all my clothes so I'd rather not risk it.

ChefRex · Jan 18, 2015

That should be fine if that's all you have, diameter is a little on the small size, are you planning on putting the hose on the body of the airlock? Or sticking the hose in the grommet?
If you are using a three part cut the "X" out of the bottom of the tube.
:mug:

TurtleMane69 · Jan 18, 2015

Do you have any recomendations as to using the body of the air lock or the grommeted hole? I am using the middle flexible tube of the three piece siphon. Its just a thin clear tube. The primary bucket I have it in a 7.8 and the total comes right up to the 5 gallon line so I think it should be fine. Like I said though I'd just rather no risk my clothes getting wrecked.

kh54s10 · Jan 18, 2015

What is the temperature in your closet. If you are comfortable it is probably too warm a fermentation temperature.

I know this does not answer your blow off tube question but you should keep the temperature of the wort in the mid to upper sixties F during fermentation.

Search "swamp cooler"

acarr160 · Jan 18, 2015

2.8 gallons of head room should be fine for an IPA. I wouldn't worry about it.

TurtleMane69 · Jan 18, 2015

that swamp cooler is clutch. My closet is at the high end of acceptable range for a IPA it looked like. I was thinking of just putting a fan in there but this seems very helpful

aprichman · Jan 18, 2015

With a IIPA it might be a good idea to have a blowoff tube ready or just put one on right now. You should be able to use the siphoning tube to connect directly to the stem of your 3 piece airlock. Keep in mind if it does blow off it's going to gunk out your tube which could be a pain in the butt to clean.