Normal CO2 tank behavior or leak?

[opalko]

I'm new to kegging and started with one keg attached to a 20# tank about a month ago. A couple of weeks ago I moved my setup to a 7cf freezer with a 2nd keg and a 3 way gas distributor from NB. So far, so good. I then added a 3rd keg to the setup last week that only had 3 gallons of beer in it. After that, I noticed the temperature was rising slowly in the freezer, so I cranked the temperature controller down. I must not have had my glasses on when I did it and 2 days later the thermometer in the freezer read 30F and the CO2 tank was empty! Where did the gas go?!

I should add that I checked for leaks as I added each keg, not finding any.

So my question is,
1) do I simply have a leak somewhere I didn't find? -or
2) did the 3 gallons in a 5 gallon corny do me in with all that extra headspace using up more CO2? -or
3) is 2 1/2 kegs the normal amount a 20# tank will carbonate?
4) something else completely!?

If it is a leak, is there one place more likely than another I should be looking? All of the poppets are new, gas line new, regulator new, o-rings new...

Cheers

 

[samc]

1 yes
2 no
3 no
4 ?

My 5# tank will do way more than what you did and still have plenty left. So 20# should last you a long time. Leaks can happen many places and I've found the best way is to immerse whatever you can in a water bath to look for bubbles. Dry everything off after. For the other areas you need some soapy solution, better yet the stuff they sell in a welding shop for leak detection.

If it is a leak you would know when you open the lid of the freezer and stick your head inside your nostrils will get that burn. Be careful as it could cause some issues if you take too big a whiff.

btw - that's why I prefer 5# tanks so if a leak happens I don't have an extra 15# floating around.


Check that the QD's are not flopping around on the keg posts. Put some keg lube on the o-rings.

 

[weirdboy]

You have a leak. In fact I would guess you might have multiple leaks.

There's a LOT of places for leaks to occur. Make sure every connection is tight. If you have check valves on all your regulators, one way to help you find a leak is to pressurize the system, then turn off the gas at the cylinder and turn your check valves off, and see where the pressure drops.

 

[ksbrain]

How do you know the tank is empty? If you're going by the high pressure gage, don't! It's empty when you can't hold your 12 PSI any more.

 

[opalko]

The pressure at the regulator reads 0?

 

[j1laskey]

I found wrapping any connection with plumbers tape before tightening the hose clamps help. Also, I agree with samc....check the OD valves. They can become lose over time if you are moving your kegs around to accomidate more space in the fridge.

 

[Walker]

How do you know the tank is empty? If you're going by the high pressure gage, don't! It's empty when you can't hold your 12 PSI any more.

+1 here. The high-pressure gauge on the regulator is totally useless, so if that is what you are basing your "It's empty" comment on, then you are probably OK.

 

[opalko]

Turning the regulator screw in/out makes no reading difference on the "regular" pressure gauge, not the high pressure one.

 

[Walker]

and no gas hisses out when you press the little peg up inside the quick connectors?

 

[opalko]

Let me check!

 

[opalko]

Nope, no hiss. Empty.

 

[Walker]

yeah, that sucks. Sounds like you definitely have a leak.

After you get it refilled, hook everything up and spray every connection point down with starsan if you have it... soapy water if you don't have star san. Any leak will be detectable via the bubbles growing large where the gas is escaping.


For reference on your tank lifetime, I have a 5# tank and brew/drink about 25 batches a year. I only need to get that tank refilled every 6 months.

If I had a 20# tank, I would probably only have to refill every other year.