S-shape Airlock with Black spots inside (Mold?!)

[gnresende]

Hi.


A few days ago, I saw that the 2 S-Shaped Airlocks have a few black spots inside...

I tried to put them in a sanitization solution (chemipro oxi) for some hours and after that I tried to wash it with some water (garden hose with some pressure) but it seems hard to clean this spots.

I saw a lot of threads that says that the 3-piece airlock are easier to clean... now I understand why... :cross:

Do someone have a suggestion to clean the Airlock?

 

[Venari]

Ive heard others say good things about a 24 hour soak in a mixture of pbw and oxyclean free.

 

[gnresende]

Hmm...

Is pbw better cleaner than chemipro oxi?
I didn't knew pbw but I saw a video and it seems a good choice.

Maybe if I pump some hot hot water through the Airlock it can eliminate the residue.


I am waiting to clean the airlock to make my first IPA...

 

[kombat]

Aren't they like $1.75/ea.? I just have a bucket of them and throw out any that appear to be getting too old.

 

[gnresende]

But they are not old... they only have a few black spots that I need to clean.
I have only made 3 batches with them.

 

[kombat]

What do you fill your airlocks with when using them?

 

[gnresende]

A sanitizing solution - chemipro oxi.

 

[kombat]

Hmm. I use StarSan and have never had an issue, but common sense would dictate that if you left them damp for a while with plain water, they'd likely eventually develop some sort of mold inside them.

 

[gnresende]

I tried to pump some hot water but it didn't remove the mold...
It seems that I am gonna buy the 3 piece airlock.

It's easier to clean that kind of airlock, right?

 

[Venari]

much easier to clean. You can reach all areas with your finger.

 

[augiedoggy]

did you try a brush? home brew shops sell beer line brushes that would work...or a pipe cleaner/// the 3 piece ones are better IMO too...

 

[gnresende]

No... I don't have a brush that fits the airlock.
I will try to get one that fits in the airlock.

 

[kombat]

I've stopped using my 3-piece airlocks, as I've found they suffer from "suck back" during fermentation (when the "cool" cycle of the fermentation chamber turns on) and cold-crashing. After 1 suck back, the air lock no longer provides protection from oxygen and debris, not to mention I kind of want to minimize the amount of StarSan in my beer. S-airlocks allow air to flow both ways, prevent any dust or microbes from making it through the airlock, and don't leak StarSan into my beer.

 

[IslandLizard]

You could tie a small wad of cotton to a string and pull that through back and forth until the spots are gone, it needs some friction. Use a cleaner/detergent with it, like PBW or Oxiclean, etc. Then rinse and sanitize.

Sanitizers are not cleaners. Cleaners are not sanitizers. You need to use both, and you can't sanitize unless it's clean.

 

[hottpeper13]

First I store all my airlocks in starsan, second,if you only fill the 3 piece upto the slots in the shuttle,it will protect and also not suck back.

 

[gnresende]

Tonight I will try to clean it up with cotton. I left the Airlock on the sanitizing solution for the last 2 days...

I had a similar problem with the PVC tube that I use to transfer to a secondary bucket before bottling. I used a Bike brake wire with cotton to go through the tube. But the brake wire can't do the S-Airlock curve. It isn't that flexible.

 

[Venari]

Seems to be a lot of effort for something you can replace with the coins found under your couch cushion.

But as long as we're offering solutions...have you tried the pipecleaners you can find in any arts n crafts store?

 

[kombat]

First I store all my airlocks in starsan, second,if you only fill the 3 piece upto the slots in the shuttle,it will protect and also not suck back.

I'm not sure how that's possible. The issue with the 3-piece airlocks is, if the pressure inside the fermenter drops below the external pressure (such as during cold crashing), then the "vacuum" inside the fermenter sucks the liquid from the airlock until air can flow through and equalize the pressures again. Thus, you've "sucked back" at least a little of the liquid. If none of the liquid got sucked back, then that just means it was never protecting the beer in the first place, since air is able to freely flow past the airlock without going through the liquid.

Am I missing something?

 

[Venari]

How does an S shape airlock prevent contamination if it's allowing air into the fermenter during suck back?

 

[kombat]

Because the air is being pulled through the liquid (sanitizer, alcohol) in the airlock, which kills any contaminants.

 

[hottpeper13]

Kombat, if you fill the 3 pc so the sanitizer is only to the top of the slots it will allow the gas to escape but when suckback begins the sanitizer has to get to the top of the column and by then the slots are exposed relieving the vacuum, thus no suckback.