Tap water in the airlock?

[85 Haro Designs]

Do you use tapwater in your airlock or sanitzed water, or any other "specialty water".

Just curious, I've never heard any mention of what type.

 

[HP_Lovecraft]

I've heard plain tap water, bottled water, boiled water, and sanitized solution.
Plus vodka, whiskey, and other high alchohol liquids.

I personally use vodka. Its naturally sanitized, and if it gets sucked in, there is nothing to harm.

nick

 

[s3n8]

I use vodka. I think tap water runs the risk of contamination, espescially if temp fluctuations cause some of the water to be sucked into the wort. I dont know what the level of risk is however. I would err on the side of caution and use vodka. I worry about sanitizer-laced water negatively affecting the yeasties if some hits the wort, although I have read that this shouldnt be a problem.

Someone who has been doing this longer please chime in and correct where necessary.

 

[brewt00l]

Many times I use whatever is most convenient...starsan, vodka or tap water. If it's for a long secondary or whathaveya, I don't use tap water.

 

[Alabama Brewer]

Since my brew consists of 3 gallons of tap water, I have never worried about tap water in the airlock. Never had any trouble.:rockin:

 

[EvilTOJ]

I normally use sanitized water from the brew, but if I forget, tap water works fine.

 

[Rick_R]

I use either vodka or Star San sanitizer, but if you use unboiled tap water for the brew, then tap water would probably be okay for the airlock. One thing I like about sanitizer is that if something somehow falls/floats into the airlock, if it gets sucked into the beer at least it has been sanitized.

Rick

 

[JamesKY]

I've always used tap water and never had a problem but I should probably be using vodka.

 

[Big10Seaner]

Cheap vodka seems to be the way to do it, that's what I use as well.

 

[MULE]

I've always used sanitized water. But, it looks like I have good excuse to buy some vodka now.

 

[reshp1]

+1 for vodka, if for no other reason than to get rid of the extra 5 o'clock vodka left over from our new year's party.

 

[riored4v]

vodka here as well