S-shaped vs 3-piece airlock

[Baldy_Beer_Brewery]

For primaries, I don't give a crap. For secondaries I like the single piece as I feel I can gauge the pressure in the fermenter by the difference in fluid heights in the two chambers.

As for cleaning, I've had massive blow-off go through a single piece and an overnight soak in bleach water left it clean as a whistle.

 

[demonrichie]

when i got my S airlock it looked simpler then the 3 piece... aqlso my friend had all s styles with no issue so i didnt want to mess with a good thing. hasnt let me down yet

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

For secondaries I like the single piece as I feel I can gauge the pressure in the fermenter by the difference in fluid heights in the two chambers.

The difference in fluid heights (and 'back' pressure inside the fermentor) is only based on the amount and density of the fluid in the airlock. It may look kind of like a manometer but it's not.

 

[bsdx]

without trying to recap all of the earlier points, here are the ones that matter most to me.

S type pros:

- louder bubbling if you like to listen, lets you use your ears to
verify if one or more are still working without focusing on each
- easier to see, looks more exciting
- you could more easily put a balloon on top if you wanted to visually
see some gas output

S type cons:
- still two pieces if you count the cap
- some caps fit too tightly
- when I switched to them I was told it was harder to clean,
but I've never had to scrub one. I figured it was cheap enough
I'd just replace it if it needed scrubbing. However, I went back
to the 3 piece for now because I submerge my airlocks for
cleaning/sanitizing and its a pain to get all the air out or
all the liquid out. Or all the vodka out when you are done.

3 piece pros:
- quieter if you need peace
- shorter so your fermenter might fit in a smaller spot and less
chance of hitting the handle on the plastic pail (think of a cabinet
or a small chest freezer)
- can attach a hose in the middle of the airlock without pulling
the whole airlock out
- 85 cents at LHBS, I buy lots of spares

3 piece cons:
- seems to evaporate vodka in the airlock quicker, I have to top
them off every couple weeks
- have to locate more pieces if taken apart for cleaning/storage
- 2 of the 3 pieces are more fragile

 

[QuixoticDevice]

I like the S-shaped kind, but mainly for their aesthetics. They make a more pleasant sound and, I admit, I enjoy having that little reminder that there's beer in the works. Though, I had a batch belch foam through one at one point and getting the crud out of that center chamber was an enormous pain. I realize I could have bought another one for a buck, but I'm cheap and the LHBS was closed so I sat over the sink with a mandolin string, hot water, and bleach scraping and rinsing for a the better part of an hour... Got it sparkly clean eventually though. I now have a couple of 3-piece ones that I use when I need an easy blow-off tube connection for kreuzen-heavy primaries.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

There is a huge opportunity for creativity here. I want a Belching Barney airlock dammit.

 

[Mateo]

I have both. I fill my airlocks with vodka and I find that when I am finished with the airlock the 3 piece one is almost like a shot glass and the vodka is much easier to drink. The S-Shape one is much more difficult. Other than that I have noticed no difference.

 

[zymurgy101]

I have both. I fill my airlocks with vodka and I find that when I am finished with the airlock the 3 piece one is almost like a shot glass and the vodka is much easier to drink. The S-Shape one is much more difficult. Other than that I have noticed no difference.

LOL No caviar, I assume?

 

[gratus fermentatio]

It seems like in most pictures I see, everybody is using the 3 piece airlock, which is the only kind my LHBS had for the longest time. However, I like the S-shaped ones.

They are cheaper, less pieces to lose (lost piece of a 3-piece inside a primary one time) and, saving the best for last, they eliminate the concern for suckback.

So why does everybody have the 3-piece if they're more expensive and less useful? Is it because they are easier to clean? The only benefit I can imagine is that if you get wort in your airlock it's not a problem w/ the 3-piece.

Just curious.

I like the S type airlocks because the 3 piece type will create a vacuum & suck the liquid into the carbouy if there's enough of a temp/pressure change. The S type doesn't. Regards, GF.

 

[AnOldUR]

As for cleaning the "S" type, I take the diffuser of the kitchen faucet and hold the opening tight up against the spigot to create a seal. Hot water forced through the airlock will usually clean out any blow off gunk if you catch it while it’s still moist. If not, a soak on oxiclean does the job.

 

[Mateo]

LOL No caviar, I assume?

I snack on caviar only when I am fishing as it doubles as bait. I like the red ones you get at Bass Pro Shops.

m.

 

[bredstein]

Has anybody compared the bubbling rate of the s-type vs three-piece airlocks? Do they allow the same amount of bubbles per unit of time to escape from the carboy/bucket/whatever? Ideally, one has to use a T-connector and attach both at the same time to compare

 

[Scooby_Brew]

It seems like in most pictures I see, everybody is using the 3 piece airlock, which is the only kind my LHBS had for the longest time. However, I like the S-shaped ones.

Simply said: the S-shaped sucks a$$ because the water from the airlock can easily get sucked-in inside the fermenter when you pick up the bucket or try to remove the S-shaped from the fermenter. The design of the 3-peace airlock prevents this from happening.

 

[rack04]

Simply said: S-shaped suck a$$ because the water from the airlock can easily get sucked-in inside the fermenter when you pick up the bucket or try to remove the S-shaped from the fermenter. The design of the 3-peace airlock prevents this from happening.

Sound like you are filling it too much. I have never had this problem. In fact, the s style airlock is the only one I use when I cold crash because it doesn't suck in the sanitizer under vacuum.

 

[unionrdr]

I like the 3 piece airlock for the previously stated reasons. But the "S" type sucked back on my 1st brew. The liquid always seemed to want to stay on the right side as well. I'd tend to think the 3 piece holds a tad more pressure. Maybe it's just me. I never loose the pieces either...

 

[makomachine]

S-shaped for lagers in primary, 3 pce for ales and cold crashing, kegs for lagering.

 

[Germelli1]

With what could/has been summed up in one post this is now like the great toilet paper debate...

Doesn't matter, its all preference and people have irrationally strong opinions

 

[Rivenin]

i've broken the S type ones pulling them out of the bung, so now i wont use them. other then that, the S ones were more entertaining to watch for sure!

 

[capcrnch]

Blow off tube, then after it calms down, switch to whatever one you have.

For the record, the toilet paper should always go OVER and not under. It's just silly to go under.

 

[bredstein]

For the record, the toilet paper should always go OVER and not under. It's just silly to go under.

No way! It's just ugly when it goes over. And it takes more space. Aesthetically, going under is the only way to go.

 

[Hang Glider]

...And it takes more space...

?????

 

[bredstein]

?????

I meant to say that when the paper is closer to the wall it hangs in a more accurate way and occupies less space in the bathroom.

 

[rack04]

Blow off tube, then after it calms down, switch to whatever one you have.

For the record, the toilet paper should always go OVER and not under. It's just silly to go under.

If you have little kids around the house you really need to have the paper go under. My daughter emptied a whole roll in less that 10 seconds.

 

[edmanster]

If you have little kids around the house you really need to have the paper go under. My daughter emptied a whole roll in less that 10 seconds.

luckly im over the whole toilet paper deal with little kids but with this full house it always seems im the one stuck on the pot with the empty roll..lol

 

[Clann]

My wife likes the tp to be under but I like over. Luckly our toilet paper holder holds two rolls side by side so one over and one under

 

[AnthonyC]

Definitely over.
1) Designs on the TP are inside-out if you do it under.
2) Look at the way nice hotels do their toilet paper. Always over with a little triangle often folded on it.
3) I have no kids, but I would think kids in the house would make "over" a necessity. Easier for dirty hands to grab the paper instead of smearing up the wall.

 

[IrishBrewer74]

I do the 3 piece because they are easier to clean and install blow off.... Pretty much everything already posted here. And oddly enough they are cheaper at my LHBS (northern brewer).

 

[hmmmbeer]

Old post, new to me... I use both as well as a blow-off hose. Hose for high grav. 3-piece on lower grav./1st ferm. but still easy to clean over the S- type. Then the S type on secondary/lager or long aging brews.... oh and I also like to use vodka in my air-locks to kill anything, just in case I get suck back.

 

[Aunt_Ester]

Get rid of your S-locks. They're a pain to clean and if you ever get a bug in the s-lock it can sour several brews.

 

[AnOldUR]

Get rid of your S-locks. They're a pain to clean and if you ever get a bug in the s-lock it can sour several brews.

Shame they don't sell OxiClean in Virginia Beach.