Im stumped about my pressure-any suggetions?

[tomnewton]

I have turned my fridge at home into a direct draw kegerator. Everything was working fine for the first couple of months. On my last couple of kegs I have been experencing not all foam, but too much foam. It seems like there would be a simple solution like temperature or pressure. Well here is the catch. My temperatrure it constant between 36-38 degrees and my pressure is set at 13psi. Since I knew it was not a temperature problem I dropped the pressure to 10 psi. It was still to foamy, so i kept dropping and dropping it until there was just the right amount of head. The problem is my CO2 is now set at about 1psi. Now, I did just order a cleaning kit so that may be the problem, but it just seems odd to me that I had to drop the pressure that much. What could be the problem?

[ernestbud]

is your co2 tank in the frig or outside of it? if it is inside; you will not get a true reading

[tomnewton]

It is inside. Im thinking it could be the regulator. When I turn the turn the shut off valve "off" to set the psi i get a completly different reading than when I turn it back "on", as you know, when you turn it back on it is supposed to bring it up to that psi, but it dosent. But I hate to spend the money and it not be the regulator.

[edramshaw]

It almost definately has to do with cleaning. Buildup will plug air vents in the faucet after a while and cause problems. You want to take the faucet apart when cleaning and use a toothpick to clean out the vent holes. You can see one from the outside by looking underneath where the beer comes out. The other can be reached when you take the bonnet off and pull out the lever. Good luck.

[ernestbud]

when you say you shut the regulsator off and re-set the pressure do ypu also blled the pressure off of the keg. with the co2 and the regulator both being chilled you still are not getting a true reading your 1 lb of psi might just be the 12-14 that you are shooting for ; had the tank not been chilled. you need to get about 2 ounces per second pour; and also are ypou pouring into chilled, frozen , or room temp glasses

[tomnewton]

Chilled. Im thinking about puting the tank on the outside

[tomnewton]

Ok. i went and bought another regulator, I put the tank on the out side.. It is still foamy. So it is not the regulator. I took the coupler and facuet apart and cleaned and all the washers and seals look to be in good condition. I also cleaned the beer lines. So what else could it be?

Note: The beer does not seem to be coming out of the facuet too fast. It looks good in the lines but when it is coming out of the facuet it looks a little foamy.

[edramshaw]

What is the temperature of the beer coming out of the faucet? To determine this fill a glass with beer, chug it and then pour another glass. Take the temperature of this beer right away and see what you actual temperature is. Also place a glass of water in the fridge overnight and place a thermometer to find out with the liquid temperature is inside the cooler. See if these both reflect the 36-38 degrees you are targeting.

How long and what size is the beer line coming off the keg to the fridge door?

[Colonelmills]

It seems like this is a problem that has been growing and catching up w/ you. I would have to say that this is a cleaning issue. Yeast and build-up can happen in lines very quickly. I like to clean my lines every 3 weeks. If not build-up will not only disrupt flow, but also affect flavor. Now CO2 is absorbed better at cooler temps, true, but the regulator should be able to read propperly at those (36-40) temps. I have 14 regulators in my icehouse (38 degrees) and I have never had an issue w/ readings like that. Another thing is that you might have had a bit tooo much pressure sitting on that keg to begin w/. As the keg decreases in volume that same amount of pressure is still going to be able to be absorbed in the liquid. So as you backed off the pressure you stablized it. To solve this I would set your pressure b/t 10 and 12 psi and let it stay there.

Good luck~

[ernestbud]

also what type of kegs and keg size are you using and how long does it take for you to go thru a keg

[tomnewton]

I usually have 1/2 barrel of bud light. Im going to do the check the temperature a little more. Ill let yall know how its going.

[tomnewton]

Ok. Update. After a new regulator and a good cleaning, i broke down and could not figure out the problem. I still had about a quarter of a 1/2 barrel keg. I keptg thinking maybe it is the keg.... It was! Thanks to all suggestions. I am definatly more educated now.

Happy Drinking!!!!!
Tom

[ernestbud]

it sounds as if maybe it was part cleaning and part over-carbonation issues.
usuually when you get past the 1/2way point on the keg and how long that keg has been hooked up is where you will run into the carbonation issues