leaking taps

JAZZA · Post by **JAZZA** » Wednesday Jun 29, 2005 7:12 pm

Hi Guy's
Just recently I have had to replace my tap on the fermenter because it was leaking, and then I bought another fermenter and I've made one brew in it and that tap is leaking!!!!!!

Has any body had this problem?

Am I doing something wrong?

How can I fix it?

What causes this to happen?

Your input is greatly appreciated

Cheers,

Jazza

thehipone · Post by **thehipone** » Wednesday Jun 29, 2005 7:14 pm

Are you overtightening the tap in the thread?

Aonther thing that it could be, but is unlikely, is if you use bleach sanitizer and you get some of that on the rubber part of the seal. The bleach eats away the rubber pretty good.

JAZZA · Post by **JAZZA** » Wednesday Jun 29, 2005 7:19 pm

I will just clarify this a bit

it is leaking out of the tap and not from were the thread goes into the barrell (were the rubber seal is )

Cheers,

Jazza

Post by **Oliver** » Wednesday Jun 29, 2005 8:47 pm

I'd take it back. Sounds like it's faulty.

Oliver

Antsvb · Post by **Antsvb** » Wednesday Jun 29, 2005 10:01 pm

Yeah, just started having the same problem.

Got 2 taps both leaking, one from round the seal, one through the tap itself.

Any other ideas of causes?

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Wednesday Jun 29, 2005 10:52 pm

Antsvb

There is a hole in my bucket dear Liaza

Ferment in a pail and Syphon, and you will not have the problem. I never have had it anyway

Dogger

Redsicks · Post by **Redsicks** » Thursday Jun 30, 2005 9:58 am

Hi Jazza,
I had a problem with taps leaking too. Went to the local HBS & bought a new one, all was fine till my next brew when it too began to leak. Back to the HBS, they then asked if I cleaned/rinsed my equipment in hot or cold water.
I said very hot water to rinse. Which coused the tap insides to go slightly out of shape & cause the leak.
Now I only use cold water to wash & rinse. No more problems.

Also recently I bought a new tap from the HBS. Not the standard white/clear twist one that come whith kits. This thing is red and you pull the lever up or down to let the beer flow.
A bonus with this one is that it is easy to pull appart & clean.

Cheers - Redsicks

JAZZA · Post by **JAZZA** » Thursday Jun 30, 2005 10:35 am

Yes I have been rinsing in hot water too!!!

Thanks for the input guy's you are a great help!!!!

Where do I get the red taps from Redsticks??

Cheers,

Jazza

Redsicks · Post by **Redsicks** » Thursday Jun 30, 2005 10:48 am

I got the red tap from my local homebrew shop in Oakleigh South.
I have seen them at a few HBSs.
I had a look at a buy online site, http://www.liquorcraft.com.au/afa.asp?i ... 3250&ID=40 they don't have a picture of it but it sounds like the second from the bottom of the list - "Tap snap type with std thread" $8.90 +p&h.

Cheers - Redsicks

Antsvb · Post by **Antsvb** » Thursday Jun 30, 2005 1:34 pm

Yeah thanks guys.

I also have been using hot water.

In all honesty I had never even thought about cleaning out my taps until reading somewhere here recently about not forgetting this hidden area.

Dogger, I expected as much from you.

two headed brewer · Thursday Jun 30, 2005 7:50 pm

Going back to Antsvb's comments on a leaking tap around the seal - I overtightened one tap and caused it to leak - silly me! Since then I have used plumber's tape (local hardware store) to ensure a proper seal using that tap. Might save a few from being thrown out.
Bally

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Thursday Jun 30, 2005 10:25 pm

Well really,

Thats the problem with holes,

They just leak, its what they are designed to do just by the nature of them.

Make the hole go away.

Dogger