Potassium Metabisulfite

[She’sgonnakillme]

I use a cheap vodka in all my airlocks

 

[ChuckD]

I use a cheap vodka in all my airlocks

Doesn’t alcohol evaporate even faster than water?

 

[hounddawg]

Doesn’t alcohol evaporate even faster than water?

you can use S airlocks, they hold down evaporation way down,
Dawg

 

[She’sgonnakillme]

Yes, I use S airlocks with Vodka and little to no evaporation. I like the sterile quality that vodka provides.

 

[hounddawg]

Yes, I use S airlocks with Vodka and little to no evaporation. I like the sterile quality that vodka provides.

a K-meta solution works as well, and i was asking @ChuckD , some use a 3 piece which are horrible with evaporation , and many, many on here use cheap alcohol in our airlocks as well ,,, going back many years
Skoal
Dawg

 

[hounddawg]

Doesn’t alcohol evaporate even faster than water?

cheap vodka and most sprits are proofed = watered down
Dawg

 

[winemaker81]

Regardless of what is in the airlock or the type of airlock, check them weekly.

Once wines are in bulk aging, I prefer vented silicon bungs, as there is nothing to check -- although I still look at everything weekly.

 

[ChuckD]

I have been using the three piece ones and there is a lot of evaporation. I do have a few S airlocks. Next time I rack I’ll switch them over. Or get some of those vented bungs.

I think I’ll switch to vodka in them too.

 

[winemaker81]

On the other hand, I tossed all my S-locks as once they get crusty, cleaning them is REALLY hard. 3-piece locks are easy.

Everyone has their pain points!

Vented bungs kick ***.

 

[David Violante]

I love the vented bungs… I switched to them last year and what a difference. Including peace of mind that I’ve forgotten about making sure the airlock was topped off.

 

[mainshipfred]

I've been gradually switching to vented bungs though I never ignore the wine long enough to have a problem with them drying up. My favorite sound whether using solid or vented bungs is the pop when removing them from a barrel.

 

[Kross]

On the other hand, I tossed all my S-locks as once they get crusty, cleaning them is REALLY hard. 3-piece locks are easy.

Everyone has their pain points!

Vented bungs kick ***.

Where can you purchase vented bungs?

 

[winemaker81]

My LHBS sells them, and I've seen them in Amazon

 

[Benjie]

I have been using PBW to clean and Star San to sanitize. Meta K seems so caustic, is there a benefit to using that over Star San?

 

[winemaker81]

I have been using PBW to clean and Star San to sanitize. Meta K seems so caustic, is there a benefit to using that over Star San?

My first thought is that if you can smell the SO2, you know you don't have covid.

K-meta is cheaper, and the residue adds a bit of extra SO2 to the wine.

 

[hounddawg]

On the other hand, I tossed all my S-locks as once they get crusty, cleaning them is REALLY hard. 3-piece locks are easy.

Everyone has their pain points!

Vented bungs kick ***.

YEP. i throw my cruddy S airlocks away no cleaning,, and i've read much about the ventless silicone ones it is a hard habit to break,
oooooh shucks, i will try a few on some of my whites, I'll need to prove to myself, before i an use on a red,
Dawg