keg101

[dstudboy1]

Hi all....I have had my kegerator for about a month and enjoy it alot. I have a ? about the CO2 tank. It probably takes about 4-6 weeks to go through a 1/4 keg of miller lite(i know i am a slacker). Am I supposed to leave the CO2 tank on at all times with the regulator turned on? Should I turn off when I am not using? I don't have any leaks in my system, but somehow I used a whole 5 gal. CO2 tank without pouring a beer, and I am wondering what I should be doing.....

thanks for all the help and "pass the cup"

[Tweek]

Originally posted by dstudboy1
Hi all....I have had my kegerator for about a month and enjoy it alot. I have a ? about the CO2 tank. It probably takes about 4-6 weeks to go through a 1/4 keg of miller lite(i know i am a slacker). Am I supposed to leave the CO2 tank on at all times with the regulator turned on? Should I turn off when I am not using? I don't have any leaks in my system, but somehow I used a whole 5 gal. CO2 tank without pouring a beer, and I am wondering what I should be doing.....

thanks for all the help and "pass the cup"

you definately have a leak if you went through an entire 5lb co2 tank without pouring a beer. Once you get that taken care of it is fine to leave it on all the time. Just dont leave it on too high, or you will increase the carbonation level and for Miller that may cause brain damage! :D

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by dstudboy1
It probably takes about 4-6 weeks to go through a 1/4 keg of miller lite(i know i am a slacker).
Hmm... it'd take me about a year to go through that much myself. Now, if you had a full keg of Sierra Nevada Pale, 2 weeks TOPS. :D

Don't worry; drink what you like... but expect us to try to change your tastes a little as you hang out and look around. Welcome to the boards!

[HiRichRules]

you definately have a leak in your system. Make sure you have all of your connection points fastened tight. If you system has those cheap platic clamps get rid of them and use the metal screw clamps. I don't know how old your regulator is, but sometimes you can run into a problem with the safety blow off getting stuck open. If this happens you need to take it apart to fix it, or toss it and buy a new one. Word to the wise, don't go cheap on your regulator. I good one will cost you about $15 more. NOt a bad trade of for the lack of a headache.

[dstudboy1]

I will get some metal clamps and see if that helps.....does this mean that turning the regulator on, that you should not hear any gas pumping? It sounds like it keeps running.

Thanks for all of your help

[Jughead]

The gas should flow until the pressure in the keg reaches what the regulator is set at. Then it should go silent. It usually takes less than a minute depending on the pressure differences and all. The gas may flow when you draw a beer or when the CO2 in the keg head space is absorbed into the beer and the pressure drops below the regulator setting.

If it keeps running you have a leak somewhere or a bad regulator.

Cheers

[danno]

(all together now) mix some dish soap with some water and mop it on all your connections. the one(s) that bubble are the ones that leak...

[DrunkPenguin]

have you actually had a keg last that long? i tried mgd and after about 3 weeks it started tasting stale. i wonder if the keg was old already before i got it.


Johnny

[HiRichRules]

It's possible you got an old keg. When you go to the beer store check the dates of keg. They are usually inked on the top of the keg. It will show you the date the beer was kegged. Get the youngest one posslible.