co2 leak troubleshooting

[evworld]

I believe I might have fixed my co2 leak, but I just trying to understand how my system works.

I did the soapy water test and found no bubbles. I then shut the valve after the regulator and turned off the bottle. No pressure drop.

Now here is my question.

If I leave the valve after the regulator open and pressurize my barrrel and then shut off the bottle. Should the pressure hold over night as long as I don't tap any beer? This is like the above test but now I am open to the barrel.

Thanks!

[evworld]

Doesn't anyone know? If I close my co2 bottle and leave the system opened to my barrel should the pressure drop over night? Or, should the pressure hold even with the system opened to the barrel?

Thanks.

[John12865]

Yes, it should keep the same pressure with the bottle closed as long as you don't draw from it.

[jmc1972]

The pressure will only release if you draw from the Keg. Now - here's another issue - if you lose pressure without drawing you either have a problem with the Coupler or the Keg itself. Untap the barrel and clean the ball and rubber assembly with warm water (I would stay away from soapy water unless your entirely sure you can get rid of it - soap in beer doesn't taste good). Also, before you tap the Keg use a damp cloth and run it around the black rubber rings on both the coupler and the keg to ensure a solid, clean seal.

[evworld]

Thanks for the responses.

Here is my scenario.

Close valve after regulator and close bottle. Pressure holds.

Untap the barrel and open valve after regulator and close bottle. Pressure holds.

Tap barrel open valve after regulator and close bottle. Pressure falls. So I don't know. I was thinking maybe the beer is dissolving some co2 due to carbonation.

[Draught Prophet]

Good descriptions. Your beer will absorb some co2, especially once you retap. Try that after it's been tapped for a couple of hours.

Also, you may have a leak on your coupler seal. Click on replacement parts, part #9 is the seal. It could also be 4 or 5.

We see it a lot on worn old couplers where the coupler slowly leaks co2. An easy way to tell is to wiggle the coupler back and forth while engaged. It shouldn't have much give.

Because pressure is holding in your test #2 above, the only place it can be is the coupler seals or the beer absorbing co2.

[evworld]

Thanks again for the responses.

Originally, I had a leak after the regulator and before the barrel. I was able to fix it. So now I sealed up to the coupler or barrel. My tank been holding pretty well now, before my tank was empty in 2 weeks. I will keep an eye on it to and see what happens. All my parts are fairly new so I might have a problem with the barrel itself.

Thanks