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I bought a 2nd hand kegerator a few months ago and am now on keg #3 on it (it's dual and still have some of keg #2 left). I filled up the CO2 tank last week and noticed within a few days it was almost out. I shut it off for a few days and tonight did the "soapy water" test around all potential openings but didn't see any bubbling but it still seems close to empty. Is there any other way to test for leaks?

In a potentially related question, one of the wires that attaches to a small black box has disconnected. Could this have any impact on a potential leak? I have noticed that there seems to me much more head from one keg and thinking this has something to do with it... Can I get one of these little black boxes and most hardware stores (I'm assuming it need to be replaced)?

Is the tank dropping in pressure output, or just the psi showing on the gauge? A tank stored in the fridge will always show as almost empty.

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What is the black box? I have just a regular freezer with a temperature controller. I agree with Jimmy though, if the tank is in the keezer it will show low all the time.

It's showing as nearly empty now. Whereas when I noticed a few days ago it was at the high end of "Order gas". I turned it on again (PSIs are at about 15). By the morning I'll know if I over reacted or if there really was a leak...

The black box - not really sure - there are wires going into it and it's attached to the tubes.

Bruce, we should meet up for a beer sometime, I live in Dieppe. Would love to start up a Moncton chapter of the brewnosers - one of the guys down the street is into home brewing. According to the guy at E & L on Elmwood he has about 20-25 regulars into buying all grain supplies (some as far away as Miramichi though).

is the black box a flow metre or something?

is the plastic washer still in the regulator? that was one of my f-ups

using the wrong size tubes for the fittings I had was another

I think that box is a solenoid, and isn't needed for beer. You need to check your leaks with pressure in the system, ie tank on. Try to do it one section at a time.

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Greg, I agree, we should meet up. There seems to be more brewers here in the Moncton area now.

My guess is the box may by a freeze protection thermostat if its attached to the lines.

I lost a tank of CO2 once due to a failed regulator, just a reminder to check body and fittings of that too.

Another source for a leak is in the stem of the gas valve on the tank itself. Sometimes gas will leak out of a valve stem if the valve isn't turned all the way on, or if the stem nut isn't tight enough.

Bluenose - no idea what it is. I bought this so not sure what it is. I have noticed there seems to be a lot more head from that tap when I draw from it then before. Should I not have a washer at all in it? There is one in there but it was fine in there for over a month so don't think that's the problem.

X - I did the soapy water test and turned it on and nothing. Right now the tank is barely hanging on based on the reading but doesn't seems like it lowered much since last night.

Bruce - I'll PM you.

Jeramy - did the soapy water taste all over and it looks good. The tank does seem noticeably lighter than when I picked it up last week.

Tony, I added the the soapy water on that side as well.

Fingers crossed that it was a false alarm!

Regulators can also go bad and leak. Been burned on that one.

Not that you need more suggestions, but when trouble shooting this sorta thing, I'll remove the gas line from the keg, turn the reg to a high pressure (60?) to charge it, then close the valve. It should hold tight over night (well, it should hold forever). If it doesn't, you've narrowed down your leak to the valve or reg or lines or disconnects.

What exactly is the gad? How long would you keep it at 60 before closing it? I'll definitely give it a shot as it looks like it dropped again - barely above empty now.

Cheesehead wrote:What exactly is the gad? How long would you keep it at 60 before closing it? I'll definitely give it a shot as it looks like it dropped again - barely above empty now.

What he is saying is:

connect everything as usual to keg
charge keg to 30psi (60 is too high)
you'll hear the keg stop taking gas when it's full
then shut off your tank and leave everything connected
the next day you should still read 30 psi

if you don't then

disconnect from keg
then turn gas back on
guage should then read 30psi
close the tank off again and let sit
if in the morning it doesn't read 30psi then the problem is with your line or regulator

after that you could break out the spray bottle to try and further isolate it. Process of elimination.

Sorry, that should have read "gas". Start simple: remove the keg from the equation. Cylinder+reg+lines+quick disconnects

And you only need a second to charge the reg. Shut the valve and leave it over night.

Thanks Chris. I've disconnected it but unfortunately couldn't get it much past 20 - looks like I may be too late trying. It's been shut off - I'll see how it goes tomorrow.

Unfortunately either way (keeping it connected or not to the keg) the PSIs drop to 0 although there is still some back in the tank when I turn it back on. I have someone stoping by tomorrow that has a kegerator so hopefully he can help me figure out the problem. Love fresh draught beer, hate the hassle of trying to figure out the problem!

Sounds like the problem is the regulator. You can now get some soapy water spray together and turn the gas on to charge up the reg then shut if off again, spray it and look for bubbles. You should also take it off your tank and make sure you have a gasket at the connection to the tank, sometime these fall out and get lost.

Thanks LiverDance. I shut if off a while ago, I'll try this tomorrow.

For the soapy water, is it dish soap that you use?

yeah, that will work

If anyone is wondering how this all ended... I bought a new regulator yesterday (had someone look at it and the old one was beyond repair).

Cheesehead wrote:If anyone is wondering how this all ended... I bought a new regulator yesterday (had someone look at it and the old one was beyond repair).

Glad to hear it is fixed!

Yeah, good to hear.

I recently lost 20 # of CO2 from leaving on my carbonating tank. I knew I had a slight leak on my QD, but always shut the valve off after using it.
Well this one time I forgot and lost just about a full tank.. one that I had filled last fall before it need to be re-certified. Cost me $77 to have it
re-certified and filled last week. I now have the QD fixed