Missing centerpiece: 3-piece fermentation lock

[HopHead10]

Somehow I misplaced the centerpiece to my 3-piece fermentation lock. I brewed a batch last night of a black IPA. Is this going to ferment okay without the centerpiece in the ferm lock or do I need to go get a new one ASAP?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ChshreCat]

If you have some tubing, you can connect it to the inside post of the airlock and put the other end in a jar to make a blowoff tube.

If not, just cover the top with sanitized foil and you'll be just fine until you can get to teh LHBS. That'll keep bad stuff out and let the CO2 escape.

 

[HopHead10]

Thanks.

I have the top to the ferm lock, its that center piece in the middle of the lock that floats around that is missing.

Any advice?

 

[Yooper]

Thanks.

I have the top to the ferm lock, its that center piece in the middle of the lock that floats around that is missing.

Any advice?

Cover the airlock hole with sanitized foil until you can get a new piece. It's crucial. Or use a blow off tube and forget the airlock. Stick a large piece of tubing in the hole, and stick the other end in a pitcher filled with water and a bit of sanitizer to cover the end.

 

[ryandlf]

Without the middle piece of the airlock anything in the air can come floating right down into your beer. You'd probably be ok until the next day though.

 

[HopHead10]

Uh oh, I've been fermenting this without that piece for almost 24 hrs. Think the batch is ruined?

 

[blizzard]

Uh oh, I've been fermenting this without that piece for almost 24 hrs. Think the batch is ruined?

It's not ruined. Active fermentation will create CO2. The positive pressure will keep anything from falling in. You want to put the foil or tubing over it so that it is protected when fermentation dies down.

 

[HopHead10]

Phew, thanks yeast!

I just found my centerpiece so hopefully I am saved : )

 

[theredben]

I have made DIY "cones" out of tinfoil before when this happened to me. Now I own extra airlocks.

 

[ThePearsonFam]

yup, for a $1.50 a pop, I bought like 10 of 'em. Worth it.

If you ever do employ a blow-off tube, make sure the fermenter is physically higher than the jar holding the sanitizer and other end of the tube. If not, you may siphon sanitizer into the beer,

 

[ChshreCat]

Just get some foil over the top for now!

 

[jjbrew]

I had a bubbler blow off a few months back and it had nothing on top for at least 24 to 36 hrs. I replaced it and had no problems at all the co2 on top kept out the bad o2.