CO2 Tank Leaking!!!!!!aaarrrggghhh

[BucksBrew]

I finally got my kegerator set up and have gone through 2 5lb. cannisters of CO2!!!!!!

My tank is new, my reg. is about a year old, my manifold is new, all my lines are new.......

I have clamps on all my connections, I did a bubble test and found no bubbles.

I did a bubble test on my reg. connections, my manifold, etc.

What is going on????? I'm getting ticked off here.

I used to run my CO2 direct to each corny, now I hooked up a 3 way manifold. I guess I'll have to strip it all down, retighten everything and test under water or something!

How tight should the connections be? Really snug or as tight as possible?

Thanks.

[HiRichRules]

If you did a soapy water test then the connections are tight enough.

How are you determining that your Co2 tank is out? If you are using a 5 lb. tank your reading on the regulator should be just a little over 500psi. the reason the guages go up so high is so you can attach them to 20 and 50 lb tanks. So if you are getting them filled and then noticing that they are showing a low level you still have plenty of gas.

You may be able to ask the people you are getting the tank filled from if they can tell you how much they are putting in.

Otherwise you have a pretty good mystery on your hands. If there are no leaks in the line then you should not be losing Co2.

[danno]

Originally posted by HiRichRules
How are you determining that your Co2 tank is out? If you are using a 5 lb. tank your reading on the regulator should be just a little over 500psi. the reason the guages go up so high is so you can attach them to 20 and 50 lb tanks. So if you are getting them filled and then noticing that they are showing a low level you still have plenty of gas.

whoah! Rich, you have some learnin' to do. first off, liquid co2, in a tank, whether it be a 2.5lb, or 500 lb tank, or a 1oz paintball cartridge, at the same temperature, will have the SAME pressure. doesn't matter how much (by weight) co2 there is. go google "ideal gas law" for more info...

co2 regulator high pressure gauges do NOT indicate amount of liquid co2 left, they will not start dropping in pressure (once again, this is important) at the same temperature, until all the liquid co2 has "boiled off" and all you're running on is fumes. the only way to tell how much co2 you have left in a tank is to weight it empty, and weigh it as you use it. (or, like me, just have a backup tank, because Murphy's law says you only run out of co2 after the gas stores have closed and you have people coming over for a party. usually Saturday evening...)

BucksBrew, did you mop soapy water on your regulator fittings? I once found a leak on a low pressure gauge of a brand new regulator... mop EVERYWHERE from tank to corny, it's gotta show up... also, if you overtighten those screw clamps, they can cut into your gas line, causing a leak...

[BucksBrew]

Well, I finally ripped all my plumbing out and had about a mouse fart's worth of gas left to do a full immersion test.

This test revealed a hairline crack in my air distribution manifold!

At the gas in side fitting was a tiny seperation at this junction. It was almost like the joint was mitred and coming apart. weird.

I thought I was losing my mind!

Annapolis Homebrew is where I bought it almost a year ago. I haven't used it since I bought it. I found it easier financially and emotionally (WIFE:What is all this stuff!!) to buy stuff in $50.00 increments! haha I called them and explained my problem. They quickly and without question are sending me out a new one at No Charge. They said I could mail the old one back in the box the new one was coming in. Jesse (AHB) said he has never seen this before, figures I get it! haha

What a pleasure it was to be trusted and believed and relieved all in one phone call!

I fully endorse Annapolis Homebrew for their All Grain Kits, parts and Service.

Mystery solved!

Now I can get my 4 Tap system up and pouring again!