Airlock backpressure into carboys

[Smok1]

Have you guys ever had airlocks suck the solution into the wine during aging? Checked on my carboys today and 2/7 airlocks ( one S type and one three piece type) were pulling the solution into my carboys.

 

[dralarms]

Tempature changes will cause this.

 

[Smok1]

Temp couldnt have changed more than a degree. Cold room is surrounded by 3 concrete walls and is always 68-69f i have a thermostat alarm in the room that is set min 67 and high alarm 72

 

[dralarms]

Ok, what was in the airlock?

 

[Trick]

I came across a couple of times when I did cider with the original plastic container, when the shape of the plastic changes. Haven't seen this with glass carboy.

 

[drainsurgeon]

The S type should not pull solution into the carboy if filled properly. The 3 piece airlocks can, that's why I don't use them. Vodka is a good choice for traps while aging. They evaporate slower and if a little gets sucked in like you're experiencing, it's no big deal.

 

[Smok1]

Ok, what was in the airlock?

Kmeta and water

 

[Smok1]

I guess ill have to keep a closer eye on it, im not too worried about the solution getting into the wine, was just a teaspoon or less worth of kmeta solution. Just curious why this happened, i tryed to get the local barometric reports but only can find last couple of days worth.

 

[Arne]

Yep, the barometric pressures can do that to you. Usually with the s-locks, tho, they will just bubble backwards not suck the liquid. Bet you have them a bit overfull. Not much to worry about. Arne.

 

[Floandgary]

I'll go with Arne.. If there's enough liquid in the trap to get sucked back'erds, it's overfilled !! They put those "fill-lines" on there for a reason.

 

[Smok1]

Look its doing it again.

In the first two pictures you can see theres more pressure on the atmospheric side of the bubbler than in the bottle. Same with the 3 piece, the water has almost climbed up the inner tube. This is two different carboys than yesterday. Granted the 3 piece might be overfilled by by a few drops but its not more than 1/8" above the fill line. And the s-type is showing either my house is having some positive pressure issues or my wine is going into a negative, wondering if i vaccum racked my wine too hard during reracking.

 

[Smok1]

Just checked barometric pressures. They changed from 101kpa to 102.6kpa since yesterday. Not sure if this is enough of a change to see a difference in a bubbler like im seeing. I think im going to order those solid vented silicon bungs

 

[bkisel]

Not happening to me since switching to Saran Wrap for my bulk aging carboy "air locks". I will on occasion see either convexing and concaving of the wrap due to, I believe, changes in atmospheric pressure.

 

[Smok1]

Not happening to me since switching to Saran Wrap for my bulk aging carboy "air locks". I will on occasion see either convexing and concaving of the wrap due to, I believe, changes in atmospheric pressure.

I think im gonna borrow that idea from you and switch my airlocks out for saran and an elastic band today. At least until i can order some waterless ventable bungs

 

[Putterrr]

Just checked barometric pressures. They changed from 101kpa to 102.6kpa since yesterday. Not sure if this is enough of a change to see a difference in a bubbler like im seeing. I think im going to order those solid vented silicon bungs

waterless is the only was to go vintable.com

r

 

[balatonwine]

Just checked barometric pressures. They changed from 101kpa to 102.6kpa since yesterday. Not sure if this is enough of a change to see a difference in a bubbler like im seeing.

The airlock is basically functioning like Goethe barometer. And yes, 1.6 kpa is enough to see this effect.

 

[terrymck]

Maybe time to see All in One pump guy , Steve, for a headspace eliminator.

 

[wineforfun]

http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13981