Is my regulator hosed?

[shawnco67]

An issue I'm having is that the pressure keeps varying. I just reset it this morning. I did the following:

1. Shut off tank.
2. Bled pressure from keg from coupler.
3. Closed line valve (the one on the regulator).
4. Unscrewed the regulator adjustment.
5. Turned the tank on all the way.
6. Pressure was at about 8psi, so I turned the screw on the regulator until it creeped up to 15 psi.
7. Waited about 1 minute and the pressure was still 15psi.
8. I opened the regulator valve and listened to all the co2 go into the keg, pressure stayed at exactly 15 psi.
9. I went upstairs to get a cup of coffee and make some toast.
10. Checked the pressure, and it was up at 16.5 psi.
11. I waited about an hour and the pressure was at 18 psi.
12. I unscrewed the regulator about 1/2 turn and bled the keg to get the pressure back to 15.
13. 45 minutes later, it's back up to 16.

I have been messing with the stinking pressure for a week. If it got too high, I would adjust the screw (without bleeding the line or anything, I would just adjust the screw) to get it right and then I would come back later and it would be too low. So again, I would adjust the screw and fix it only to find it too high again later.

Am I doing it wrong or is my regulator hosed?

I don't know if this is important or not but my co2 line has a little plastic thingy in-line that says "If ruptured, replace primary regulator and this device". Anybody know what this thing is?

[edramshaw]

I may be wrong but I think if your refrigeration unit is not maintaining consistent temperatures you may see the PSI rise as the beer in the keg warms, this will also go down as the beer cools.

[shawnco67]

Hmmm..that makes sense.

Sounds like a catch 22. My problem is that I keep opening the door to check the stinking pressure which probably warms the beer which raises the pressure which makes me check it more often which makes the beer warm which raises the pressure ....

Should I stick my co2 outside the fridge? (it is currently inside)

[ernestbud]

it would be better to have the co2 outside but if your regulator is constantly creeping up that is a sign of a bad regulator

[shawnco67]

I moved my tank outside of the kegerator and now it seems to be holding the pressure exact. Weird?

[Scott Zuhse]

Isn't there a one way valve in the coupler to prevent backup of either gas or beer into the pressure line??? Have you conducted a pressure leak test? Most creeping regulators are due to either leaks or bad diaphragm in the regulator. Possibly a prior leak was corrected while moving the cylinder to the outside.

[shawnco67]

How do I conduct a pressure leak test?

Is there a way to tell if it's a bad regulator or perhaps a bad coupler? Or maybe just a bad valve in the coupler?

Thanks for the help.

[edramshaw]

You can check for the one way valve in the coupler by turning off the gas and removing the nut that attaches the gas line to the coupler. Inside you should find a rubber or plastic insert that acts as a one way valve. There are tools that can be used to conduct a pressure test but perhaps someone else has another approach.

Ed

[shawnco67]

There is a plastic insert.

Should there be a rubber washer here as well? Or just the plastic insert?

[ernestbud]

depending on the type of coupler you have; some have both others only the thomas valve {one way valve} I always put a rubber beer washer in there also just for safety sake

[Scott Zuhse]

To leak test the entire system, leave all valves open with the keg couplers in on position. Be certain that no one is dispensing while testing. Turn the gas cylinder wheel off and observe the high pressure gauge (indicates pressure in cylinder). If the needle begins to drop, you have a leak somewhere in the system.

To isolate, turn all the valves off and raise the handles on the keg couplers turning beer off but leave them in the keg well. Turn the wheel back on pressurizing system and then again turn off noting the needle on the high side gauge. If it drops, your leak is right at the regulator since the shut off below it is in the off position.

If it does not drop, your leak is downstream. Open the regulator shut off and repeat turning wheel on and off. Continue this process until you isolate where the leak may be. Using leak detector soap or other detection medium.