How much of a gas leak is too much of a gas leak?

[Charlie]

I just booted up kegerator 3.0. It's an old (~15 years) 21 cu/ft Maytag (?) top mount whose ice maker died (which bummed out the previous owner, but not me). She's been humming along 3 days now so I think I'm good, and will be adding taps soon. Version 2.0 (a Frigidaire top mount) has been promoted into the role of fermentation chamber.

Version 1.0 of the CO2 system used plastic lines which leaked way too much. V 2.0 had 1/4" copper line and compression fittings and still leaked, but not as much as V 1.0. For V 3.0 I've gone to flare fittings on the copper and have no visable (soap bubble) leaks, but if I close all the valves and leave pressure on the copper line (10 feet) and manifold (four 1/4" brass ball valves) it will leak down to near 0 psi on the regulator in 24 hours.

Is that an acceptable leak level, or should I do the whole thing over again?

Charlie

[jwatkins56550]

You don't want any leaks at all. I have no problem with plastic lines, if the connections are leaking, try using some teflon tape around the thread. You could also try channel lock pliers to tighten the connection.

[Quin]

+1. If possible put the whole thing into a bucket or tub of water to look for leaks. Crank the pressure up also.

[Mylo]

Yeah... I would say no leaks is the way to go. Unless you have a way to harvest CO2 from your fermentations, or you're a dentist that drives a Hummer.


Mylo

[Charlie]

+1. If possible put the whole thing into a bucket or tub of water to look for leaks. Crank the pressure up also.

Good idea. I'm gonna try that.

Charlie

[Crackin]

Test at different pressures. Sometimes cranking up the pressure will seal the leaks that would normally occur at 12psi.

[captain carrot]

Don't overlook your keg post o-rings. They will dry out and crack over time. I'll take a thin screwdriver and slip it between the o-ring and the post to stretch it and reveal any cracks.