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Kegerator Community Home  »  Draft Beer Dispensing at Home » Kegerator Problems & Troubleshooting » CO2 Running Out FAST on new Kegerator
Posted:  04 Oct 2011 00:47

Registered User
Currently Offline 		Posts:  3
Join Date: Oct 2011
Just got a brand new double tap kegerator for my birthday. Had the 5 gallon CO2 tank filled up about a week prior to setting it up. And from the time I set it all up I've had nothing but problems!!

1st CO2 tank: the regulator read that the tank was empty. This is after never turning it on before. Went back to the beer store and they removed a rubber stopper from the part that connects the regulator to the CO2 tank that the instructions said to put in saying they had never seen it before. Reconnected it and everything worked perfectly. Set the psi to 8 and was very happy. Unfortunately that last until the next morning when the regulator said the tank was empty.

2nd CO2 tank: Figured that maybe the CO2 hadn't been completely filled the first time on accident so just had it refilled and everything should work. It did... For a night. Next morning the CO2 tank was completely empty again. This time we figured there was a leak on the regulator or maybe the shut off valve had a leak (since we had only hooked up one keg).

3rd CO2 tank: Hooked up the CO2 tank to the regulator and sprayed soapy water on the different connector parts to check for bubbly water but there didn't appear to be a leak. Then to check the hose I placed the end in water to see if it would bubble - which it didn't. Again it worked during the day but the next day when I woke up it was empty again. So I called The Beverage Factory (where I bought it - another bad experience) and they sent out a new regulator.

4th CO2 tank: Just last I hooked up my fourth 5 gallon CO2 tank to the new regulator, did all the previous checks with the spray bottle and the hoses in water. All signs looked like it would work. But again I wake to an empty CO2 tank.

Could my actual tank be the problem? I would hear a hissing sound if the tank had a leak I thought.

How could an entire 5 gallon tank run out in less than 24 hours? I'm at a complete loss and totally frustrated. Sorry for the long post but I hope someone hears my call for help to the kegerator community! Your newest member needs help!!!
Posted:  04 Oct 2011 15:12

Administrator 		Posts:  99
Join Date: Mar 2006
Hey SalMac. Welcome!

This has totally happened to me before and I know it is frustrating. You are on the right track with the soapy water test. This will tell you if you have any micro leaks on hoses, but sometimes it misses internal connection leaks.

Something I would try to troubleshoot down your leak further is to take your tank and attach the regulator with the valve closed. Open the tank main valve and see if your tank runs empty. If so, you know the issue is happening where the regulator and tank connect. You can try and use a teflon tape used for gas (yellow) and wrap all your threaded connections here.

If the tank holds then add the line and coupler and continue troubleshooting.

I imagine your issue is the thread on the tank has small imperfections or the nylon washer (http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/co2-nylon-washer.html) that goes between the CO2 tank and the regulator to prevent CO2 leakage is missing?

Another cool product to replace this washer is The LeakStopper. (http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/kegging/gas-hardware/misc-hardware/the-leakstopper.html)

Hope this helps. Keep us updated on your fix.