Airlock - a bit of a weird one

[scblack]

This is a bit of a weird one guys.

I put down a brew on the weekend, and all went fine.

BUT I decided to disinfect the Airlock - s-bend type. This is how I did it, and what happened.

I have a newborn baby at home, and we have a steam steriliser for her bottles. So I decided I would just sterilise the airlock in the steam steriliser (I did it separately from the rest because I had to file sharp edges on it, which were letting air escape through the rubber seal), and this is plain weird. It turned the clear airlock completely OPAQUE. I can only just see through it if I put a light behind it now.

Anyone had this happen before? I assume the heat affected it, and I'm sure it's fine to use, but it's a pain not to see the water easily.

[undercover1]

Those standard S bend airlocks are not very heat resistant. I have one where the top is all ballooned out & partly opaque, from having had boiling water poured in it.
It doesn't affect performance though.

[Guest]

This is a bit of a weird one guys.

I put down a brew on the weekend, and all went fine.

BUT I decided to disinfect the Airlock - s-bend type. This is how I did it, and what happened.

I have a newborn baby at home, and we have a steam steriliser for her bottles. So I decided I would just sterilise the airlock in the steam steriliser (I did it separately from the rest because I had to file sharp edges on it, which were letting air escape through the rubber seal), and this is plain weird. It turned the clear airlock completely OPAQUE. I can only just see through it if I put a light behind it now.

Anyone had this happen before? I assume the heat affected it, and I'm sure it's fine to use, but it's a pain not to see the water easily.

i soak all my airlocks etc, when i'm not using them, in a weak antibacterial solution (home brand equiv. to milton - used for sanitizing baby's bottles etc) & the two s-bend types have both turned opaque.. no drama's with there performance though

db

[Dogger Dan]

You have changed the charecter of the plastic and likely has become more brittle as you have driven some unknown volatile from the plastic. It wasn't designed to be steam treated.

It should be OK, just don't make a habit out of it and don't go tossing it at the wall.

Dogger

[Beerpig]

I did the same thing when I boiled some gear for sanitising

I threw it away & bought another .............. they are cheap & I like to watch the bubbles

Cheers

[Oliver]

I've also ended up with a partially opaque (is that like being a little bit pregnant?) airlock, by tipping boiling water into it.

Oliver

[scblack]

It should be OK, just don't make a habit out of it and don't go tossing it at the wall.
Dogger

Haha, not my usual routine - but I'll be careful just the same.

Sounds like it's fine to use, bit annoying but it'll do the job so I'll leave it I think.

[Grabbie]

Or just toss the airlock and lid and stick some glad wrap over the top.
Couple of rubber bands to seal, pinhole to let out the CO2 and your laughing. Also lets you see the fementing process.

[tommo]

i'm with you grabbie,

substitute the rubber bands with the 'o' ring out of the lid tho.

[scblack]

Hmmm, OK, I'll think about that idea, with the glad wrap.

Mine is a pail fermenter, but I guess if I put a couple of sheets overlapping, it should reach the full width. And I can see the hydrometer left inside without taking the lid off to check, meaning less chance of infection.

[Dogger Dan]

I don't support the glad wrap method, for what its worth. Those its working for great, congrats and no hard feelings I just can't support it.

Dogger

[scblack]

Dogger, for what it's worth - why not the glad wrap idea?

[tommo]

i've done a few with cling film and hav'nt had any probs ( hand on head ).

Saying that tho, I do put the lid on once all the excitement is over and the Co2 starts to dissipate.

I like to watch.



ToMm0

[Dogger Dan]

I agree with the concept that while there is a good fermentation running nothing will get in, my issue comes when it slows down and you are open to the atmosphere. I will admit I have never done this method and lots of people have had it work on this site and I don't want to be one to argue with success.

Leaving your beer open to the atmosphere goes against everything I have ever been taught or used in brewing. It seems a bit high risk for my liking, a bit like eating puffer fish if you will. An airlock is pretty cheap security so I can sleep at night.

And guys, its just my feelings. Like I said if its working for you, keep going and for those who want to try it, go for it and give it a go, I don't want to persuade anyone here one way or another over this issue

Dogger

[Oliver]

Hmmm, OK, I'll think about that idea, with the glad wrap ...
And I can see the hydrometer left inside without taking the lid off to check, meaning less chance of infection.

Just take into account that as the beer ferments and produces CO2 then bubbles will cling to the hydrometer and make it float higher than it otherwise would.

This approach may be OK for telling you when the beer's finished fermenting (i.e. when the gravity is constant), but don't rely on it as your final gravity reading. Take another reading when you bottle and make sure you spin the hydrometer to get the bubbles off.

Cheers,

Oliver

[scblack]

Hmmm, OK, I'll think about that idea, with the glad wrap ...
And I can see the hydrometer left inside without taking the lid off to check, meaning less chance of infection.

Just take into account that as the beer ferments and produces CO2 then bubbles will cling to the hydrometer and make it float higher than it otherwise would.

This approach may be OK for telling you when the beer's finished fermenting (i.e. when the gravity is constant), but don't rely on it as your final gravity reading. Take another reading when you bottle and make sure you spin the hydrometer to get the bubbles off.

Cheers,

Oliver

Good to know - thanks.

[scblack]

Leaving your beer open to the atmosphere goes against everything I have ever been taught or used in brewing. It seems a bit high risk for my liking,
Dogger

I reckon I will go with you Dogger - the pail has a lid, so I'll use it correctly.

Thanks for the suggestion anyway, guys.

[Grabbie]

I have found that you can actually see when the fermentation stops.
Its starts to go clear. I then take some readings just to be sure but so far it's always been finished when its looked finished.

I don't float the hyrdrometer in the fermenter.

I have never had an infection through the pin hole (you would have to be pretty unlucky)

What I also like about the glad wrap is you only have to sterilse the fermenter, tap & spoon. The lid actually provides more areas to harbour nasties! Cleaning up is also quicker and easier.

In the past I have been waiting far to long for the fermentation to finish as the airlock was still bubbling everynow and then when in fact fermentation had finished. (Again increasing the risk of infection?)

No more battling to get the damn lid off when you have tightened it too much.

It is quiet. I have a nine month old whose room was next to the brewery.
In the middle of the night I would hear noises and was not sure whether it was the airlock or bubs throwing up on himself (always had to check)

At the end of the day each to his own - but no harming in trying for yourself.
Cheers,
Grabbie