new to kegging help

[irishwater]

I am worried about getting beer in my gas line. I do not have a check valve yet. If you could give me some pointers, tell I can get a check valve. I would also like to hear your way of force carbonating? Is chilling needed?

 

[Jaybird]

chilling is not NEEDED but if you want to save time and Co2 I would crash cool to like 38 degF then add the gas. beer can only get into your gas line if you tip your keg over with it connecetd. The gas line dosent have a dip tube and should never come in contact with your beer. I have been kegging for around 4+ years and I dont have a check valve. I just bleed off the gas a bit before I connect my gas line.
Cheers
JJ

 

[irishwater]

Jaybird thank you :rockin:

 

[Jaybird]

Jaybird thank you :rockin:

Cheers
JJ

 

[yeqmaster]

well that pretty much sums up that... Just for some assurance... I have kegged many times and never had a problem with beer getting into the gas line either. you should be fine. When force carbonating... I usually throw it in the mini fridge and just turn on the gas at designated pressure right away. The next morning, I check it and since the temp drops you have to readjust the pressure. Then wait a couple days and you've go it! Unless in a rush, I prefer this method much more than just cranking the pressure up and shaking it. You have more control over how much you carbonate it. I sometimes crank to 30 just to get it started but then just let it chill, and equalize on its own.

 

[jdoiv]

US plastics sells some nifty little check valves that you can put in. They are pretty cheap and you can order them directly over the internet. Run a search and you should be able to find the part numbers. Probably a $3 fix including hose clamps.

 

[discgolfin]

Well..I have red gas line but at the very end I put a clear line....I force carb and never see it go back up..I think the only really way to do it is hook the gas to the beer side(ball lock). this will shoot beer right into your reg. for sure..so in ball lock just be careful which side u hook up..I use blue O rings on my gas post and black o rings on my beer post to help remind me in case I am dumb and fail to look for in and out..:fro:



Jay

 

[drunkatuw]

chilling is not NEEDED but if you want to save time and Co2 I would crash cool to like 38 degF then add the gas.
JJ

You don't save any co2 buy cooling the beer first, do you? You do need a higher pressure because the co2 will not absorb as easily into warm beer, but it's still the same amount of co2. 2 volumes of co2 is 2 volumes of co2 whether you had it hooked up at 20psi at 60 degrees or 6psi at 38 degrees. And I'm guessing that it would carb in the same amount of time as well. The only place you'd save time is that you wouldn't have to wait to cool it down to start drinking (unless you like room temperature beer).

 

[irishwater]

Thank you for all your info. One more question. If I lay my keg down sideways in my fridge to chill it the stand it upright to force carb. Am I running a risk of beer up my line. Sorry for all the dumb questions. I just want my first kegging to be enjoyable