pressure checking cornies?

[thisgoestoeleven]

I picked up a co2 tank today and want to make sure the keg I bought holds pressure. How do I do that? Can I just fill the keg with water, carbonate it, and see if it holds without leaking? I'm brand new to kegging

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Connect the keg and pressure it up. Take it loose from the system and wrap teh chime with duct tape. The chime is the black (sometimes blue, green, even seen red) rubber handled bit on top. This creates a "bowl" out of the chime.

Fill the bowl with water and look for bubbles.

You can also get a pressure test kit for plumbing from Lowes/HD and modify it with a disconnect to use compressed air for maintenance checks rather than using CO2.

 

[DeafSmith]

Check it for leaks at 10 PSI as well as at 30. Sometimes if there is a small ding around the lid opening, they will hold pressure at 30, but leak at 10.

 

[Gunrunner]

I would change the gaskets because it is cheap and easy. Then just put some psi in it up to 15 or 30 give it a few days and purge to see if ther is gas still in it. I like the tape and water idea. Or just add a few gallons of water and then 30 psi disconnect and turn upside down and check for leaks.

 

[thisgoestoeleven]

I'm still a little confused. Do you leave the co2 connected and open the whole time for carbing and dispensing?

 

[jjotmo]

I'm still a little confused. Do you leave the co2 connected and open the whole time for carbing and dispensing?

Yes. If not the co2 will be absorbed and it would not carbonate. Also you need the co2 to push the beer.

 

[gnef]

Also, to test for leaks, do not add any water - it will carbonate over time, reducing the pressure, and at that point, you don't know whether the loss in pressure is due to carbonation or due to a leak.

I make sure the keg is dry, and pressurize it. I come back the next day and check the pressure.

I store empty kegs pressurized so that when I go to use them, I can immediately tell whether I need to check for a leaks.