When to start with a blow-off tube?

[tiggy]

Is there a general rule of thumb on when to start a fermentation with a blow-off tube?

I'm a relatively new brewer preparing for my third batch. The first, a porter, bubbled out of the airlock and created a small mess. The second, a red ale, never got anywhere near the top of the carboy. If I'm at risk of a blow-out, I'd rather be prepared and start off with a blow-off tube than have to clean up a mess later.

Thanks!

 

[glenn514]

I err on the side of caution, and ALWAYS begin fermentation with a blowoff tube. It makes me less nervous!

glenn514

 

[TipsyDragon]

a blowoff tube is cheap insurance. use it ever time and don't worry.

 

[GRHunter]

Immediately

 

[azscoob]

I now start 100% of my batches with a blowoff tube, had a batch a while ago that blew off within hours of pitching, after that mess its better to be cautious than cleaning up!

 

[steinsato]

I've never been sure myself. I just brewed a Imperial IPA with a OG of 1.070. I used a half gallon starter and thought for sure I'd had a mess on my hands. I put a blowoff tube in the Ale Pale and then put the ale pale in my bathtub. And of course with that much precaution it didn't blowout at all. My general rule from now on is if the OG is over 1.070 I'm going to use a blowoff tube. Although if I go back and look at notes I'm sure I'll find that I've needed a blowoff tube for smaller beers. A lot of it probably has to do with what yeast you are using.

 

[olllllo]

I only wear my seatbelt when I think I'm going to get in an accident.

 

[GRHunter]

This was a 1.042 OG beer. The time frame between the two photos is about 2 hours. Always use a blow off tube!

 

[midfielder5]

-from the beginning, especially when fermenting a wheat beer

 

[cedar_lake]

I'm totally new at this stuff. My first batch, a NB Wheat Beer, I went with an airlock and everything was fine, but the brew closet was right around 60 degrees. On my second batch, NB Cream Ale, the brew closet was warmer, more like 65 and I decided to go with a blow off. Good thing, because there was foam in that tube within 36 hours and the fermentation was going crazy. I'll probably always start with a blow off tube from now on.

 

[munche]

I used one on my most recent batch, after my Dunkelweizen flooded the airlock 3x and spilled beer in my fermenterator. I'm buying more tubing so I can run all blow off/all the time.

 

[tiggy]

Thanks all for the responses! Sounds like a blow-off tube right from the start is always a good idea. (And much better than soaking dried porter off of my bathroom counter again...)

 

[JJL]

One other consideration is size of the tube. The pictures posted here show a 3/8" or 1/2" blowoff tube attached to the airlock. It is often recommended that you use a 1" tube stuck directly into the opening of the carboy itself. It reduces the chances that the tube will get clogged with krausen material.

 

[axr]

+1 on JJL's response with the 1" tube. It fits perfectly and forms a great airtight seal.

 

[Spaceball1]

I'm probably going to start brewing some bigger beers in my next couple of batches, so I'll probably want to get a BO tube rigged up. Problem is, I have a pail fermenter. What type of tubing & stopper should I use?

 

[glenn514]

Spaceball1:

Step 1: Take your fermenter lid...WITH grommet...to the hardware store.
Step 2: Test fit various diameters of tubing into the hole WITH the grommet.
Step 3: Purchase 4-5 feet of tubing that fits tightly.

Now, you are ready to run that blow-off tube directly into some receptable with water in it. Or, you can take the three-piece airlock to the hardware, and do steps 2 and 3 with the small tube in the base piece of the airlock. But then, you still have the airlock to worry about!

HTH!

glenn514