A few questions about my keg

[lazarus0530]

Hello people! Cheers!
I have question, hope you guys can help me out.
I just kegged my first brew a few weeks ago . I have a 10 lb co tank . And only one pony keg. The co only lasted a few weeks! I checked all my connects with soap water and no bubbles.
My question is do I leave the co on the whole time?
Once it's carbed up do i turn off the co?
I was getting a lot of head on my beer near the end of the keg, I now I gotta keep it at serving pressure but can I turn it off during the Time it's not in use?
I may not be clear enough . Sorry . I pressured it up at 20 lbs for 2 days then dropped it down to about 8lbs for serving. But I left it on the whole month the kegged lasted . Please any help would be appreciated . It cost 45 bucks to get this thing filled!

 

[stibone]

I chill and shake Carb so the tank isn't on for weeks.. just in case it slow leaks somewhere.. also I don't ever turn it on unless I'm dispensing. And sometimes not even then if I
Just filling one glass .. aslong as there are no leaks in your keg everything should stay carbed and ready with the gas off..

 

[lazarus0530]

I chill and shake Carb so the tank isn't on for weeks.. just in case it slow leaks somewhere.. also I don't ever turn it on unless I'm dispensing. And sometimes not even then if I
Just filling one glass .. aslong as there are no leaks in your keg everything should stay carbed and ready with the gas off..

Thank you! I know there's gotta be slow leaks somewhere. So in other words you use it to carb up and that's about it ? Unless you plan on having a lil party but even then you just barely turn it on.
Yeah see I left mine on the whole time at 8lbs for a month. I knew it was a bad idea but was afraid if I turned it off my beer would go flat.., I get stupid sometimes.

 

[mredge73]

I just made this same keg rookie mistake.
I am on my 3rd kegged beer and my 15lb tank is empty. I never found the leak.
Next time I will follow the above advice; turn it off when not in use.
I also just bought $40 worth of new o-rings (bulk ordered) so this doesn't happen to me again.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/mcmaster-keg-o-ring-list-233086/
I am a hydraulic expert, I should have known better...

 

[bad67z]

Hello people! Cheers!
I have question, hope you guys can help me out.
I just kegged my first brew a few weeks ago . I have a 10 lb co tank . And only one pony keg. The co only lasted a few weeks! I checked all my connects with soap water and no bubbles.
My question is do I leave the co on the whole time?
Once it's carbed up do i turn off the co?
I was getting a lot of head on my beer near the end of the keg, I now I gotta keep it at serving pressure but can I turn it off during the Time it's not in use?
I may not be clear enough . Sorry . I pressured it up at 20 lbs for 2 days then dropped it down to about 8lbs for serving. But I left it on the whole month the kegged lasted . Please any help would be appreciated . It cost 45 bucks to get this thing filled!

Welcome, and congrats on your first kegged brew.

First no it should not take 10lbs of Co2 to carb your 5 gallon keg. You have a leak somewhere. The most common I have found among first timers is the regulator to cylinder connection. Make sure you have the washer/gasket in between the two surfaces.

I would recommend you look around your area for another source for filing your cylinder (welding supply shop, fire extinguisher service center or a paintball shop . I have been in the industry (welding/gas) for 20 year and if your paying $45 for just a fill that's out of line.

And yes you should leave your Co2 on all the time, once you have carbed you beer it takes very little to push it out.

 

[bad67z]

I just made this same keg rookie mistake.
I am on my 3rd kegged beer and my 15lb tank is empty. I never found the leak.
Next time I will follow the above advice; turn it off when not in use.
I also just bought $40 worth of new o-rings (bulk ordered) so this doesn't happen to me again.
I am a hydraulic expert, I should have known better...

If you turn it off when not in use and you still have a leak, you beer has the potential to go flat.

Without revisiting something that someone else state already elsewhere go here and you will find plenty of information.

 

[dbrewski]

Did you swap out the old o-rings on the keg for new? That's the first thing you should do with a used keg.

 

[lazarus0530]

Did you swap out the old o-rings on the keg for new? That's the first thing you should do with a used keg.

No :,( I will now though.

 

[mredge73]

All of my o rings were new; my kegs are also new.
I am going to spend some time pressure testing the empty ones with air this weekend; these things should be able to hold 100psi right?


Got 4 of them for about $65 each shipped on a Christmas special.
http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/home_brew/kegs/KEG-5GAL-NSH_ball_lock_keg.html