So I am still relatively new to homebrewing (about 8 kits deep). Brewed extract batch on Friday night. Been busy and havent had a chance to check on it til today (Tuesday - 4 days later). The airlock has sediment and the water is brown... the top is sticky... obviously I should have used a blow-off tube and definitely will in the future.
Now my real dilemma. I was going to take the airlock out, clean and sanitize it, then replace. BUT, it seems to be stuck... after sometime tugging I began getting worried about the black rubber "collar" that shapes the whole on the lid that the airlock fits into was beginning to pull out also. I dont have an extra lid (which I now realize I should get). I pressed on the lid and air was still releasing through the airlock as it should. Should I simply leave it and try and pull it out when all is said and done or will my beer take chance of infection? I wouldnt think so b/c the airlock is still doing what it is supposed to be doing... ideas or thoughts?
Now my real dilemma. I was going to take the airlock out, clean and sanitize it, then replace. BUT, it seems to be stuck... after sometime tugging I began getting worried about the black rubber "collar" that shapes the whole on the lid that the airlock fits into was beginning to pull out also. I dont have an extra lid (which I now realize I should get). I pressed on the lid and air was still releasing through the airlock as it should. Should I simply leave it and try and pull it out when all is said and done or will my beer take chance of infection? I wouldnt think so b/c the airlock is still doing what it is supposed to be doing... ideas or thoughts?
