Sealing a fermentation bin lid.

[venquessa]

Hi,

I would like to get my airlock to work. The bin holds enough pressure to puff the lid up and a sharp push down on it, does make the airlock bubble. However, even though I confirm, by sight, smell and gravity that fermentation is well under way, with visible churning, the airlock only shows positive pressure with about a 1/3" of imbalance. It has never bubbled.

I can think of various ways to seal the lid, but the two I would consider are:

Silicon sealer - Trouble with this is it is actually not a bad glue in a tight space and I'd be worried I might not get the lid open again without damaging it.

Hot Glue (on cool setting). This should not melt the lid on the cool setting and as long as I do not leave it to harden fully I should be able to peel the lid open carefully, breaking the glue and leaving the remaining glue as a seal.

Does anyone have another other easy options?

EDIT Liquid rubber? (used for waterproofing electronics etc).

 

[two_hearted]

What type of fermenter are you using? I'm not sure what a "fermentation bin" is. Are you using a stopper? Perhaps its the wrong size.

 

[unionrdr]

Almost sounds like your airlock has an obstruction. You said the lid was bulging,but no co2 is escaping. So it's likely not the lid,but the airlock.

 

[SittingDuck]

Agree on the airlock being the likely problem. If the lid is bulging (and I assume you mean a bucket lid), you are getting at least some seal, and should see some airlock action. What type if airlock are you using?

 

[brewchick3]

I don't think you wanna glue your lid on. That should never be necessary. Even if CO2 is escaping from the lid, fermentation will still occur you just won't have the visible gauge of the airlock to go by. I would agree you may want to buy a new airlock and see if that helps. And are you referring to a bucket with a lid as the "bin"? Also, have you filled your airlock with solution just up to the fill line? Wondering if there is too much solution in the airlock.

 

[unionrdr]

Yet another likely possibility. Too much liquid in the airlock could def cause it not to let the centerpiece float up & allow the co2 to escape...

 

[kh54s10]

I agree with checking your airlock. I had one that popped out of the bung a couple of times. I then looked at the bottom and there was an extra chunk of plastic on the bottom. It had never been trimmed off in the factory and no air could pass through it.

Secondly, why worry about bubbling. That only means that gasses are passing through. You could get proper fermentation and have no bubbling.

If you must seal it you could stretch Saran Wrap tight around the lid edge.

Warning if your airlock is blocked this may blow the lid right off the fermenter.

 

[SittingDuck]

Overfilled airlock was my first guess too. That's why I was asking the type.

And please don't glue your lid on, especially if the airlock isn't working right. CO2 escaping at the seals won't hurt your beer, but pressure build-up from CO2 not escaping at all could be a big problem.

Or worse, you could glue your beer in and not get it out! The horror! I can't even imagine it. I have to go think happy thoughts now.

So, yeah, no glue.

 

[unionrdr]

Yup,that could be the result,airlock missle. Def better pull that thing & have a closer inspection.

 

[venquessa]

If I push the lid down sharply the airlock bubbles as it forces co2/gas up through it. So it is working and the grommet (which I installed) has some seal, as does the lid. I think the trouble is the lid is able to leak faster than the beer is producing gas, so it just seeps out rather than go through the lock.

The airlock is a single piece one like:
2pk airlock / bubbler for homebrew & winemaking | eBay

I currently have it filled to the middle of the lower spheres (I think it's meant to be filled to the middle of the middle sphere) and still no bubbles. Beer is definitely fermenting as I can visually see it if I peel back and peek in the lid and a sniff as soon as you open it generates a "Wooow!" exclamation due to a big whiff of alcohol and CO2.

 

[kh54s10]

Again, you have fermentation. It does not matter if the airlock bubbles or not.

Too little liquid in the airlock is not a problem either. Just watch it to make sure it does not evaporate entirely. Even then what can infect the beer cannot "fly" through the airlock.

 

[venquessa]

<childish voice>But I want my air lock to work, it's cool!</childish voice>



Saran wrap appears to be a US brand, but it got me to thinking about this stuff...

1 x PTFE PLUMBERS THREAD SEAL TAPE PLUMBING JOINT OILSWATER SOLVENTS 12m x 12mm | eBay

 

[venquessa]

Errrr.... KISS.

I could of course wrap the bucket lid with cling film... or hell, celotape/scotch tape! Would of course need replaced when I come to take a sample.

 

[SittingDuck]

That's for sealing threaded joints, like on pipe. Unless your lid screws on it won't help.

Two points: 1, are you sure you just didn't miss active fermentation? Did the airlock bubble before? It doesn't bubble all the time.

2. If you really want to see fermentation and bubbling, don't try to figure out how to seal a leaky bucket, swap your bucket for a carboy with a tight seal.

I would try a new airlock first, though. I still think that's the problem.

 

[msujack]

If its working properly, who cares if the airlock bubbles? I would leave it alone. My airlock doesn't bubble much if at all, but the beer comes out good. If you take SG readings and ferment and then bottle by that, what does having a bubbling airlock help with?

 

[venquessa]

Bucket versus carboy... I thought that one through and decided to stay with the bucket.

The carboy is much harder to clean. Will need a large funnel to fill. Is much harder to move around without buying a special handle.

Though I do like the idea of them being tightly sealed and... transparent.

 

[unionrdr]

His lid is bulging,& the co2 can't escape. I still think it's got to be the airlock.

 

[venquessa]

Two points: 1, are you sure you just didn't miss active fermentation? Did the airlock bubble before? It doesn't bubble all the time.

Well, I pitched it at 26C around 10pm. Nothing much had happened by 8am the next morning, but when I got home from work (7pm), the lid was puffed up (even with the airlock) and was covered on the inside with brown scum. I didn't pop it open at that point but did push the lid and the airlock bubbled as I did.

Unless the main grunt of the frementation happened in those 11 hours.... for most of that evening I was sat beside the bin at the PC and never heard any "plops" or seen any bubbling.

The surface last night when I peeked in was visibly churning and bubbling.

Anyway, I'll double check the airlock tonight and maybe try cling film'ing around the bucket lid to seal it.

 

[unionrdr]

Make sure you didn't fill the airlock past the little line modled into the side. Also,pull it to check for molded in obstructions. I still think that's it if it's visibly frmenting & making co2. Especially since the lid bulged up with unvented co2. It won't hurt the beer to pull the airlock out for a quick look with all the gas in there.

 

[SittingDuck]

If its working properly, who cares if the airlock bubbles?

Agreed. I ferment in a variety of buckets, and could care less if the CO2 comes out the airlock, around the lid, or is magicked away by helpful elves, as long as I can open the bucket in a few weeks and find beers.

 

[kh54s10]

The carboy is much harder to clean. Will need a large funnel to fill. Is much harder to move around without buying a special handle.

NEVER move a filled carboy with a handle that attaches to the neck. They are not designed to do that and can lead to a trip to the ER!

 

[venquessa]

Trip to the ER! I have nightmares about spilling a 25 litre bucket of beer! I live in a rented duplex appartment above a cafe. Spilling a carboy or bucket would result in:

a) A new carpet.
b) Telling the Cafe downstairs to shut off their electric.
c) Paying potential business loss damages for item (c)
d) Paying for them to clean the bear off the ceiling/walls/floors

etc. etc.

So.. thanks, good to know you can't move a carboy with the handle... it's something I would have attempted.

I even now only half fill my bucket in the bath tub and move it to it's permenant location and fill with sausepans of water so I don't have to move it and risk that flimsy handle poppnig or snapping.

 

[venquessa]

It bubbled! I put only a tiny bit of water in it, check the bung and lid seal and ... emm... gently roused the bucket. 20 minutes later and "bloop". Been doing one every few minutes.

Not exactly exciting is it?

It raises a question though. My fermentations (the 3 I have done) all seem to have an energetic start and then just chill way out and slow down. Nudging the bin usually sets them off again, but they've all been a bit like that. Is it normal?

 

[unionrdr]

yeah,it's normal. The airlock bubbling slows down or stops after initial fermentation is done. then it slows down till it gets down to FG.