Sucking Down CO2...

[Scooter13]

Question to experienced keggers:

I have a 5# canister...I have been carbing my beers with the CO2, but I am almost going through the ENTIRE thing a 5 Gal batch???? Is this normal, and I need to get a bigger canister next time, or am I screwing something up...

Or maybe I need to just go back to priming....? But the general consensus seems to be that artificially carbing with the CO2 is better...

tks

 

[BuffaloSabresBrewer]

You have a leak somewhere. Youll have to check your whole set up out.

 

[chillHayze]

A 5 lb should last 6-10 kegs carbed and served. Leak check time!

 

[splat]

whats the best way to check your whole system out for leaks?

 

[Professor Frink]

Some soapy water around all your seals works well for finding any leaks.

 

[sittingturbo]

You could squirt all your lines, fittings, keg with water, like checking tires for a slow leak... Have not started keggin yet, but I've read a lot... Have you rebuilt your kegs lately.

 

[Kevin Dean]

Fill up the tub, dunk the whole thing in there. That's who I find my leaks.

 

[Scooter13]

That's kinda what I thought....I feel dumb now for posting it, but I checked my initial set-up (Regulator, gauges, etc...) and everything checked out...

I did read that artificial carbing would suck down some CO2....But I kinda knew it wasn't THAT much...

Thanks everyone....

 

[david_42]

Once you've got you rig setup, the only likely leak is at the regulator/tank nut. Seven years of kegging and still when I hook up a fresh tank I'll isolate & pressurize the regulator, then shut the tank off. If it's holding pressure after 24 hours, ok.

 

[zstewart123]

do you have a gasket between the tank and the regulator? I drained mine the other day because the gasket was missing. opps!

 

[MA_Brewer]

I'd been pretty good with no leaks for a long time until a month or so ago - one of the QD's on a corny was not seated all that well - and it dumped 1/2 a tank into the fridge. I could smell/feel it when I opened the fridge one day.