Brew UK Forum | General Brewing Discussions
Leaking Barrels
Hello guys
I am having some trouble with two barrels that are leaking at the tap...
I religiously lubed the washers etc prior to filling the barrels and all seemed good to start with. When the pressure increased during priming the first barrel sprung a leak through the tap washer... not so much of a problem i thought as i was tipping it onto its backe to clean and relube the tap... with the tap reinserted i moved the barrel to the shed and repressuired with CO2 and voila no leak... All good!
Barrell number 2 did the same thing 2 days later and when I tipped this up to clean and relube the tap I had no such luck... I have now tried 3 times to sort this tap out and it still leaks and leaks quite badly... Just tonight i have noticed that Barrel 1 has started to leak again too! I am beside myself at the prospect of losing nearly 80 pints of my beloved Wherry and a Admirals reserve!
How can I stop this damn taps leeking!
Danny
fermentin' - Brewers Choice Weissbier
fermentin' - Beaverdale Borolo
Planning - Elderflower champagne
Planning - Ringwood 49er
planning - St Peter's IPA
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Member
There's a thread here:
http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/leaking-pressure-barrel
I'll add, have you checked the casting?
I've stopped a leak on a keg by sanding down the raised casting seam which ran down the middle of the hole the tap fitted to.
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thanks Varnish
I have a few things to try... sounds like there is too much pressure building up in the barrel due to a blocked outlet valve... will try this and let you know...
Danny
fermentin' - Brewers Choice Weissbier
fermentin' - Beaverdale Borolo
Planning - Elderflower champagne
Planning - Ringwood 49er
planning - St Peter's IPA
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Is it a standard barrel? I have 1 that does this and 1 that does not. Releasing pressure manually helped me....and also drinking faster! I was worried that the pressure distorted the thread on the barrel but it seems to be ok. Overpressure seems to be a common one on standards.
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Member
reading these threads about leaky barrels is it worth investing in a king keg and does that mean you get a much better barrel or is there not much in it.
Fermenting:Dandelion wine
Conditioning:Fullers pride extract Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
beerlover1983brew@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
If ya gonna go king keg ya may as well go....
CORNIE!
http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/index.php/cornelius-keg-reconditioned.html
Mmmmmmmmmmm shiney!
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thanks for the advice guys..
I think over pressure was the thing... I checked the CO2 inlet/outlet and then recharged the barrel and all seemed good for a time then they dreaded leak started again... Have now given up and bottled the whole lot... I primed the bottles again to get some CO2 in the top of the bottles but am now thinking maybe this will make the brew a little volatile... Oh well it make for interesting openings...
As for investing in a King Keg or Cornie... I think I will just stick to the bottles!
Cheers
fermentin' - Brewers Choice Weissbier
fermentin' - Beaverdale Borolo
Planning - Elderflower champagne
Planning - Ringwood 49er
planning - St Peter's IPA
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