Turning off CO2 Once Keg Is Empty

beerman1000 · May 12, 2015

Hi,

I am new to kegerators and just finished my first keg. I am wondering if I need to turn off the CO2 as soon as a keg is empty or if it's ok to leave it on (assuming there are no leaks in the system)?

Additionally, I have two 1/6 barrels in the kegerator, so what should I do if one keg goes empty before the other one?

Thanks.

dammBrewer · May 12, 2015

Welcome beerman1000. You will find lots of help on this site.

I don't fully understand your question. But, if you have gas distribution (splitter) setup with valves for each line then yes, feel free to turn off the gas to the spent keg, have a moment of silence and start thinking of your next great brew

. On the other hand, if you don't (although I can't picture this initially) I certainly would not turn off the gas to the others.

Hope this helps...

brew_ny · May 12, 2015

when I kick a keg I remove the gas disconnect and shut that line off

I also clean my keg as some as possible

all the best

S_M

JonW · May 12, 2015

If you have no leaks in your system, it won't continue to use any CO2 with the keg empty. If you did have a leak, you'd know it whether your kegs were empty or full.

wilserbrewer · May 12, 2015

W/ sanke sixth kegs, you can either leave the gas on, or lift the sanke coupler on the kicked keg. Disengaging, or raising the sanke coupler will stop flow to that keg. Chance are if you had a leak, your tank would already be empty, and leaving the kicked keg connected to the CO2 will not use any more CO2 unless you have a leak...I typically just leave it till a replacement is ready....

Cleaning kegs asap is good practice, but I would just add "asap after removal from the fridge"

JonW · May 12, 2015

wilserbrewer said:
Cleaning kegs asap is good practice, but I would just add "asap after removal from the fridge"

Ditto this ^^^^^. The longer you let the keg sit, the worse it becomes to clean. I quite often add some water to the keg as soon as I pull it off so the bottom crud is soaked loose until such time I can clean the kegs (I do them in batches).

Hammy71 · May 12, 2015

As a general rule, when I blow a keg I turn off the gas to the that keg. Yes, a best practice is to remove the keg and clean immediately, but....when I'm in drinking mode...let's be honest, it's the last thing I'm worried about. I turn off the gas to the keg, just in case somebody opens the tap...and all your gas in gone. Like others have stated, if you have no leaks...it really doesn't matter.