Plastic Big Mouth Bubbler Sealing Problems

[bondra76]

I switched out all my carboys for the big bubblers. I do like them – a lot…..But I am frustrated with a few things as well.

1) The lid just sucks. I am not getting bubbling on my airlock either. I did finally get it on my last batch but I had to push the stopper down REALLY hard into that middle plastic hole for it to start. I’ve also noticed that turning of the lid really tight does not ensure a tight seal. For some reason I’m able to turn it even a little more after a few days. It’s like it becomes unlocked somehow.

2) The glass is thin – although I did buy the harness and the harness actually protects it adequately. I could see how if you skimped on the harness that the glass would really scare me.

3) The lid again – needs a spot for thermowell

4) The manufacturer needs to make replacement lids and distribute them.


I’m so frustrated with the lid that I am thinking of trying to design one myself. Everything else about the bubbler is fantastic.

 

[LLBeanJ]

Serious question... What's the purpose of seeing airlock bubbles? These vessels are clear, are they not? You can actually see the beer fermenting right in front of you. What does a bubbling airlock tell you that the beer itself doesn't?

I'm only asking because I've not used an airlock on my primary fermenter for the past year and a half and stuff a thermowell in the airlock hole instead. When I want to check it's progress, I just look at the beer. That tells me way more than an airlock ever could.

 

[Homercidal]

Serious question... What's the purpose of seeing airlock bubbles? These vessels are clear, are they not? You can actually see the beer fermenting right in front of you. What does a bubbling airlock tell you that the beer itself doesn't?

I'm only asking because I've not used an airlock on my primary fermenter for the past year and a half and stuff a thermowell in the airlock hole instead. When I want to check it's progress, I just look at the beer. That tells me way more than an airlock ever could.

I ferment in buckets and can't easily see the beer and I also think the airlock doesn't tell much...

It's fun to watch when you are starting out, but after several batches you ignore it.

This reminds me I should check that Hazelnut Porter I brewed last weekend. I never checked to see if it got started!

 

[LLBeanJ]

I ferment in buckets and can't easily see the beer ...

True, but this thread specifically concerns the plastic Big Mouth Bubblers and posters appear to be concerned about the lack of an airlock seal.

Incidentally, I also primary in buckets. I don't snap the lid. If I want to see what's going on, and I often do, I just lift the lid, take a gander, and set it back down.

 

[Merzeone]

Im also having an issue with a tight seal on my BMB, Now granite there are breweries that use open fermenters and have great luck.
I have no worries of infection from my lid not being completely sealed, the problem is and I think most would agree is the product received isn't as the product described for purchase. Its obviously at this point a design flaw/oversight. I guess the deeper look is if something as simple as a sealing lid doesn't work properly what else could be flawed ? Easiest solution, Use something else. But I like the design and concept and just would like to see it get fixed.

 

[bondra76]

Just a random note that might help someone out - I took my lid and drilled a couple holes in it. One for an airlock and one for a thermowell. I put grommets in both and I do believe I have an airtight seal around those holes. HOWEVER - when I put the lid on for fermentation, I've found the center hole leaks if it only has that small plastic cap on it. That small plastic cap does not hold an airtight seal.

Just sharing my experiences to help someone else out maybe

 

[bd2xu]

Using my new plastic 6 gallon BMB for the first time today. I got the 2-hole lid, seemed like it would be a nice way to take samples. However, the solid stopper they sent me won't even stay down in the hole. I can push it down as far as it goes, let go, and it slides right back up. It's one of the plastic universal ones (like this: http://www.homebrewing.org/Universal-Carboy-Bung-Solid-Stopper_p_1388.html) going to try to replace with a different style: http://www.vinofabb.com/Sold_stopper_7.jpg.

As far as the sealing, as long as you're having a good primary then lots of CO2 is being produced and how it escapes is not that important, whether through the airlock or between the white and blue parts of lid. As long as CO2 is moving out, nothing should be coming in. But I may start to worry if i leave in primary for a month or so. That's when I'd want a better seal. I know there's a still CO2 being made and a blanket over it, but I'd feel better with stronger seal.

I Really like their 5 gallon design for secondary, because they are so slim i can fit more in my ferm chamber (chest freezer), but not going there until I can get a good seal...

Seems like ALL this needs is a simple silicon ring to go between the blue and white parts. That would solve that, then need to get the stoppers tight...

I also noticed the 6.5 stopper is too small. I can push it all the way in if i pushed hard enough it would go through... will probably just got get some #7 rubber ones, both solid and ported to see how they work.

 

[bondra76]

lemme know how your research goes I'm curious

 

[flars]

I have the 6.5 gallon plastic Big Mouth. The small universal stopper fits well in the single hole lid. This is the stopper size recommended by NB.

 

[bd2xu]

The universal stopper(hollow on the inside, more plastic than rubber kind) is what they sent me but it keeps popping out. The holes are the same size on the two hole lid so I'd think this would happen on the single. I just jammed it in as hard as i could, anymore and i'd be afraid of flexing the white lid. I watched the stopper sit there for a second then start to move and POP. It actually popped out and landed back on the hole, but tilted sideways. Forgetting about these stoppers...

I switched to the single hole lid for now until i can get some #7 hard rubber stoppers. I also found a #7 hard rubber ported stopper i bought for my 1 gallon jug (cider) and am using it with airlock. I'd definitely go #7 vs 6.5, you could literally push the 6.5 ALL the way through.

 

[bd2xu]

I got some of the hard stoppers and they work perfectly fine. I brewed an Irish stout and fermented in this bubbler for my first batch. I saw plenty of airlock activity, so I think I had a good seal. All in all very happy with the design, I do need to get haulers for them as I now have a dedicated fermentation chest freezer. Need a way to lift in and out.

 

[hezagenius]

I put 2 layers of sanitized saran wrap between the opening and the white lid on my plastic 6.5g BMB. Seemed to get a better seal.

I spread the wrap tightly over the opening, put the white lid on, and then pulled the wrap up so that I could get the screw down lid on. After tightening it up, it seemed like the seal was good. At least better than without the saran wrap. Then I took a knife and made a decent hole in the wrap so gas could be released.

So far so good on my first batch. It's been 3 weeks since pitching and I just did my first round of dry hopping.

It looks like it is keeping its seal. When I push in the sides a little on the BMB, the air goes out of the 3 piece airlock and the water levels on the inside and outside of the center post don't go back to equilibrium. Before I used saran wrap, the water would find equilibrium in just a few seconds so there was clearly air flowing both in and out of the fermentor.

 

[ndlancer54]

Used keg lube between white top and plastic fermenter and I was able to see the airlock work the way I like without needing to make any further adjustments. Able to get activity within 12 hours

 

[J2W2]

I'm late to the party, but I just got a plastic 5-gallon BMB to use as a secondary when I dry hop. I have an IPA in it, inside a mini-fridge right now, I get a strong hops hit whenever I open the door, so I'm guessing it's leaking a little.

I like the keg lube idea (although that stuff is a real pain to get cleaned up), but it's a little late for this batch.

I ordered this strap wrench from Amazon for $4.99 - it's large enough to go around the lid (on the 5-gallon BMB anyway). I tried it tonight and I was able to tighten the lid a little more. I'm not sure if it's enough to get an air-tight seal, but it's better than I can do by hand.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J4DGIKA/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[Bluemarshbrewery]

I also have had sealing issues with my plastic BMB's. I like the ease of cleaning and light weight. NB and midwest have to be aware of the issue. Disappointed they have not recognized or addressed issue. What has worked for me is using a 1 gallon zip lock bag. I cut the bag into 2 panels, trace out the seal using the white lid and sanitizing. I make the seal about 1/2" larger then the white lid. You can put a hole before or after sealing the bubbler closed. The hole does not have to big, just enough to let the air through. I like the idea of using silicon food grade lube and will try that out on my next brew.
I know during primary it does not make much difference but I like to know my processes are under control. Gives me confidence in my brewing. Just my 2 cents.

 

[okiedog]

I see that Northern Brewer has a new, re-designed glass big mouth bubbler. It sounds like they addressed most, if not all of the issues that I had with the old design. It is more expensive, but if the improvements were done right, I might be interested in trying the new design.

 

[Ostrich_Egg_Brewing]

A proper seal with the BMB will become a major issue if you cold crash like I do. As the CO2 condenses, it will begin to create a vacuum. If you have a poor seal, your BMB will begin to draw air (oxygen) from outside. I'm sure everyone knows, this will not be good for the long term life of your beer.

 

[effinsyv]

Has anyone tried to put a bead of a food grade sealant around the rim of the fermenter? I'm thinking like a food grade silicon or RTV or similar. Then when you screw the lid down, it would seal better. I'm thinking of getting one but haven't come to a conclusion on how to better seal it as some of my beers condition for quite a long time.

 

[BlackDog-Brewery]

I just received a notice there was a new post to this thread. I started I similar thread awhile back when the plastic Big Mouth Bubblers first came out.

I was hoping there was someone that finally posted a solution. But unfortunately not.

These fermenters are a piece of crap. They do not seal, and show no signs of air lock activity even after a few days of pitching US-05 !

They are only good for fermenting wine kits (which aren't so critical when it comes to inlet leakage of ambient O2)

After running out of fermentation vessels to prepare for my Fall Seasonal brews back in August, I reached for the large mouth again, but this time I tried to wrap 1" wide Teflon tape around the edge of the white disk before tightening down on the blue retainer ring. It was a complete waste of time.

Cheers

 

[J2W2]

I am currently cold crashing in one right now. I followed the suggestion of making a seal by cutting a ring out of a Styrofoam plate. I placed that ring on top of the white plastic lid (between that and the blue ring). I also used the strap wrench I had posted earlier to really crank the lid down before I filled the BMB, and based on the one-piece air-lock I installed, I have an air tight seal.

I agree that it is difficult to seat a rubber stopper perfectly, especially if it is wet from sanitizer (I have the same issue in my glass carboys). I have a silicone stopper that really fits tight, even when wet. Does anyone know if they make a drilled silicone stopper for air-locks? I think that would work well if I could find one.

The main reason I wanted to post was because I just received a catalog from Midwest Supplies, and they are now showing a replacement lid for all the Big Mouth Bubblers (plastic and glass). This one sits inside the throat of the Bubbler and has a silicone seal. I can't tell exactly from the picture, but I assume it replaces the white portion and you still use the blue ring to tighten it down. I haven't ordered one yet, but I plan to for my next batch.

 

[passedpawn]

Since Midwest and Northern Brewer are all the same now, I checked the NB site and there's the same product. I might just pull the trigger on the plastic version of this fermentor now.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/big-mouth-bubbler-universal-lid-single-port

I am currently cold crashing in one right now. I followed the suggestion of making a seal by cutting a ring out of a Styrofoam plate. I placed that ring on top of the white plastic lid (between that and the blue ring). I also used the strap wrench I had posted earlier to really crank the lid down before I filled the BMB, and based on the one-piece air-lock I installed, I have an air tight seal.

I agree that it is difficult to seat a rubber stopper perfectly, especially if it is wet from sanitizer (I have the same issue in my glass carboys). I have a silicone stopper that really fits tight, even when wet. Does anyone know if they make a drilled silicone stopper for air-locks? I think that would work well if I could find one.

The main reason I wanted to post was because I just received a catalog from Midwest Supplies, and they are now showing a replacement lid for all the Big Mouth Bubblers (plastic and glass). This one sits inside the throat of the Bubbler and has a silicone seal. I can't tell exactly from the picture, but I assume it replaces the white portion and you still use the blue ring to tighten it down. I haven't ordered one yet, but I plan to for my next batch.

 

[passedpawn]

I just bought some of them. We'll see. I am not feeling good about the future of better bottles, and I need to replace mine with something - they are showing some wear.

 

[patchedboard]

Instead of using a bung I bought extra petcocks for my blow off tubes. Then I sealed them by trimming the gasket that comes with them to fit in the bung hole. I noticed that the bmb still seemed to leak, so I used some food grade silicone on the top of the blue ring where the plate mates up to it and then on the top of the bmb where the plate mates to the carboy. In retrospect I could have probably just used the silicone on the carboy. Hope this helps anyone in the future.

But ya, they leak like a siv. Probably not a big deal during primary, but in secondary if you have any temp drop they will suck air in, which might draw in wild yeast/bacteria.

 

[Newsman]

Instead of using a bung I bought extra petcocks for my blow off tubes. Then I sealed them by trimming the gasket that comes with them to fit in the bung hole. I noticed that the bmb still seemed to leak, so I used some food grade silicone on the top of the blue ring where the plate mates up to it and then on the top of the bmb where the plate mates to the carboy. In retrospect I could have probably just used the silicone on the carboy. Hope this helps anyone in the future.

But ya, they leak like a siv. Probably not a big deal during primary, but in secondary if you have any temp drop they will suck air in, which might draw in wild yeast/bacteria.

Hmm.... food-grade silicone on the top.. makes sense. I bet you could make a ring of food-grade silicone on the underside of the white "plate" and it would work as well.

 

[passedpawn]

Hi guys. I worked out a solution to the sealing problem with the BMB (using that thing above, which didn't work on its own dammit).

Big Mouth Bubbler- Solution to the bad lid seal problem

 

[Yesfan]

Bummer about the new lids. I guess they are meant to be pushed in place like a bung? I had the impression they replaced the white plate of the two piece lid. I thought you still had to use the blue ring with the new lid.

I have some edge trim from McMaster that my company uses. I tried it various ways (line the top of the carboy, around the white plate, etc) but seems stuffing it inside the blue ring might work best. I had to really crank down on the lid to get it screw onto the carboy's threads as the trim is thicker than a flat gasket (another idea I have). Here's a pic.

I'll try it this weekend when I brew and report back. I'm sure Passedpawn's method is easier, but I already had the trim on hand.

Anyone know of a work around with the old gaskets for the original glass BMBs? NB states those gaskets won't work with the universal lid. I was thinking of using them between the white plate and the blue ring.

 

[J2W2]

I recently kegged the Altbier I had in my siphonless bubbler. That's the one I made a gasket out of a Styrofoam plate and I put on top of the white plastic portion of the lid. I had also tightened it down as much as I could with a strap wrench.

When I first opened the spigot, it started sucking air rapidly through the one-piece airlock I had installed. If it wasn't 100% airtight, it had to have been very close.

I think making the Styrofoam gasket and cranking the lid down created a nice seal. I still plan to check out the new lid, however.

 

[BlackDog-Brewery]

When I first opened the spigot, it started sucking air rapidly through the one-piece airlock I had installed. If it wasn't 100% airtight, it had to have been very close.

Hi J2W2,

As one of the founding fathers of this thread, I applaud you for finally finding a solution to this ongoing problem.

Just like Volkswagen has lied on its emissions reports, I can believe a company would mass distribute a product (before doing at least a few months of testing within the brewing community) knowing that their best customers would jump on it.

I'm not saying your solution doesn't work. Thank you for sharing. Its just that they beat me down to the point where I am willing to spend the $6 to try the 6 gallon fermenter for something other that wines.

My next order with Northern Brewer will also include their solution to the problem. I'm not happy that I have to pay to try it, but for $6 do we really have any choice?

Thx again J2W2 for sharing your solution.

Cheers & 17

 

[Owly055]

I don't want to be "that guy", but I think you guys are worrying a bit much about having a perfect seal on your primary fermentors.

I'm not sure there is a concern for Secondary fermentors either. Having s very tiny leak in a static environment is not the same as having a leak under pressure.

I agree with this......... I used to fret about fermenters that didn't seal well, and I've had more that didn't than I have that did, and I've not had a single infected brew in 106 batches, so I simply don't let it worry me anymore. That said, it is a commercial product, and it should work.

H.W.

 

[passedpawn]

I agree with this......... I used to fret about fermenters that didn't seal well, and I've had more that didn't than I have that did, and I've not had a single infected brew in 106 batches, so I simply don't let it worry me anymore. That said, it is a commercial product, and it should work.

H.W.

I agree, it's not a big deal, but all things being equal, I'd like to have the fermentor that seals. I agree with not letting it worry you (all of you). But I don't agree with settling for less than perfection. OCD is a bitch!