Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Do I need to fill the airlock ?  (Read 8198 times)

Offline JKL

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 182
Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« on: May 09, 2011, 11:06:39 am »
Good brew day yesterday.  We worked out most of the kinks in the new system.  Pumped 11 gallons of O'fest into the Freezementer.  That's right,  NO MORE CARBOY LIFTING!  I put on freezer on wheels....best brew gadget to date.  Anyway, I noticed last night that both airlocks got some water sucked back into the fermenters.  Not sure why?  Too cold? This never happened in my old fridge.    Should I just leave the airlocks (3 piece) dry until fermentation starts or until it's almost complete for that matter?
-J.K.L.

Offline gmac

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2165
  • London, Ontario
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2011, 11:11:07 am »
What was the temp when you put it in the freezer?  I'm assuming as it cooled it shrunk in volume and sucked the water into the beer.  I use cheap vodka for that reason, at least it's clean.  I don't see why you wouldn't want to add more water now that the temperatures have stabilized. 

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 26851
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2011, 11:11:56 am »
I don't see a need to have liquid in them, really.  It's not like anything can get in.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline gmac

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2165
  • London, Ontario
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2011, 11:16:30 am »
Well, I'm certainly not gonna argue with Denny.

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 26851
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2011, 11:19:00 am »
Well, I'm certainly not gonna argue with Denny.

Oh, c'mon...it's fun and easy!   ;D
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline gmac

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2165
  • London, Ontario
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2011, 11:20:42 am »
Well, I'm certainly not gonna argue with Denny.

Oh, c'mon...it's fun and easy!   ;D
No it's not!

Offline weithman5

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1681
  • naperville, il
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2011, 11:22:42 am »
now that i am fermenting in 1 gallon plastic bottles, i have just started putting the cap on tight after the first few days of fermentation. then i just loosen it when the bottle feels hard and let it vent.  i usually have put vodka in the airlocks in the past but when i pick up a plastic bucket or the bottle it tends to suck the liquid in.  it is fun to hear the liquid bubble though ::)
Don AHA member

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 26851
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #7 on: May 09, 2011, 11:23:19 am »
Well, I'm certainly not gonna argue with Denny.

Oh, c'mon...it's fun and easy!   ;D
No it's not!

THAT'S the response I was hoping for....cue Monty Python!
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline JKL

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 182
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #8 on: May 09, 2011, 11:38:35 am »
I don't see a need to have liquid in them, really.  It's not like anything can get in.

That's what I was thinking, I just wanted an expert opinion. It looks like I got it ;)
-J.K.L.

Offline tschmidlin

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8198
  • Redmond, WA
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #9 on: May 09, 2011, 04:15:45 pm »
I don't see a need to have liquid in them, really.  It's not like anything can get in.
Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana (and fermenting wort).

They carry lots of microbes with them that will get in your beer.  I don't have any fruit flies at my house, they're not common in our climate this time of year.  But they can easily contaminate a batch.  Fill your airlock if your concerned about them or other bugs.
Tom Schmidlin

Offline Pinski

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1943
  • Portland, Oregon
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #10 on: May 09, 2011, 05:16:42 pm »
I don't see a need to have liquid in them, really.  It's not like anything can get in.
Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana (and fermenting wort).

They carry lots of microbes with them that will get in your beer.  I don't have any fruit flies at my house, they're not common in our climate this time of year.  But they can easily contaminate a batch.  Fill your airlock if your concerned about them or other bugs.

+1  Why leave the door open?  Plus, they make bubbles.
Steve Carper
Green Dragon Brewers
Clubs: Oregon Brew Crew & Strange Brew
BJCP Certified

Offline oscarvan

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1707
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #11 on: May 09, 2011, 08:30:50 pm »
Yes it shrank when it cooled and sucked the water in. Now refill with new water. Bubbles........ ;D
Wooden Shoe Brew Works (not a commercial operation) Bethlehem, PA
http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/WSBW/WSBW_All_grain_Setup.html
I brew WITH style..... not necessarily TO style.....

Offline gordonstrong

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1355
    • BJCP
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #12 on: May 09, 2011, 09:18:40 pm »
Put a loose piece of saran wrap or aluminum foil over the top until the temperature of the beer and the surrounding environment equalize.  Then put the airlock on it.
Gordon Strong • Beavercreek, Ohio • AHA Member since 1997 • Twitter: GordonStrong

Offline tschmidlin

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8198
  • Redmond, WA
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #13 on: May 09, 2011, 09:27:19 pm »
Or use an s-type airlock and just fill it enough to form a seal.  It can't get sucked back in, it will bubble in either direction.
Tom Schmidlin

Offline JKL

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 182
Re: Do I need to fill the airlock ?
« Reply #14 on: May 10, 2011, 07:21:49 am »
The beer was 73F when it went into the carboys.  It took about 8 hrs to get to pitching temp.  For ales it should be half that I'm guessing?  The freezer itself is probably less than 20F.  I don't think any bugs can live in that kind of environment?  I think next time I'll go dry for the initial cooling stage then put the water when everything equalizes.  Thanks for the suggestions and the reasoning, guys!

-J.K.L.