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Big mouth bubbler?

Northern Brewer General
#1

So it is my first time using my 6.5 gallon plastic big mouth bubbler. I love it so far, especially putting everything in it, but after the first 12 hours my blow off tube stopped bubbling. I replaced it with a air lock and nothing either. The thing is, I’m still seeing plenty of fermentation activity. So I’m wondering if there is a leak? It would have to be small. I think I saw others saying they’ve had this issue with theirs, but I just want to make sure it isn’t a big problem.

Thanks! :cheers:

#2

Buckets often act this way. I bet you’re fine.

#3

Since there isn’t any kind of gasket on the lid, the possibility of a small leak is there. Check to make sure that the rim of the bubbler is perfectly smooth, and you could use a little food grade lubricant there to help the seal. A leak that small shouldn’t cause you any trouble, though.

I understand your concern. Some of us just find enormous comfort in watching those little bubbles move through the airlock!

:cheers:

Ron

#4

I was thinking of these just yesterday as I was trying the clean the dried crud from inside my carboy by swirling a washcloth inside. It sure would be nice to just reach in by hand.

#5

Actually, there is a very thin gasket in the lid. I bought a 5-pack of replacement gaskets along with my bubbler. Mine has held pressure for about two weeks now - racking to the keg this week.

#6

I didn’t find a gasket with mine–that would be nice. Mine has held pressure even without one, though. I just have to screw the lid down very tightly.

Gonna get some of those gaskets. Thanks, Capitan.

:cheers:

Ron

#7

The glass BMB’s come with a lid gasket. Plastic versions do not. On the plastic version, the white lid has an outer groove so that it sits inside the opening of the container. A gasket would not help that seal. Just make sure the lid is seated properly and tighten the ring.

I have noticed that the ring will loosen slightly as the plastic BMB cools down. If I fill it with 70 deg wort, then put it in my fermentation fridge at 62 deg, I’ll have to re-tighten the ring in a couple hours.

#8

Yeah Mine’s the plastic one. So no gasket. I do like it, though.

Cheers,

Ron

#9

Mine doesn’t do this, but if it did I’d use a bit of keg lube on the white lid and plastic wrap around the blue ring after sealing.

#10

I just cleaned up my 6.5 gallon glass BMB for the first time, and it was a breeze. I think I cleaned it more thoroughly than I really needed to, just because I could. Yay! I’ve been fermenting in buckets for a few years, and I’m happy to be back to glass for now.

I sewed my own harness, adding a few improvements over the commercial version - namely a padded bottom. It was pretty easy to do and cost me a total of about $8. And sewing is another hobby of mine, so the time spent was fun.

:cheers: to DIY

#11

I’ve got the glass version and had a similar issue. I now use two of the gaskets together and have not had an issue since.

#12

Been through 2 of Big Mouth plastic fermenter’s, neither of them had any air lock activity, of course you can see the active fermentation, but I do not like the fact that there is some kind of leak. 3 batches through them came out fine. Have gone back to the “old” style plastic 6 gallon and all is well with air lock activity. I think the big mouth is a poor product.
Sailfast

#13

Agree with sailfast. Leaky lidded plastic junk I’d expect to find in Walmart not Northern Brewer. Back to glass I guess. Can’t afford to chance it.

#14

Just bought the 6.5 glass model. Appreciate the Q&A here.

What’s the deal with the bubbler that’s built into the lid? It looks like you can screw it on in such a way as to leave a larger opening for blowoff and tighten it down after things settle down. Is that correct? Does anybody use the bubbler in the lid; or do you get a separate stopper, bubbler and blowoff hose?

PS - I had thoughts of swapping it for plastic, but will stick with glass thx to comments here.

PPS - Did you see the youtube of a guy whose glass BMB shattered due to a thin spot? He showed it next to an egg shell and it looked about the same thickness. The product description even says that it “…is a large hand-formed glass item that can be easily damaged if not used with proper care and handling. It may have variations in shape and thickness…” So be careful!!

#15

I’ve got both the plastic and the glass Big Mouth Bubblers. I can say unequivocally that I prefer the plastic. Here’s why:

–I had to get eight stitches on my left thumb because I broke a glass carboy while cleaning it. Now any time I use the glass bubblers outside on my concrete patio I’m convinced I’ll shatter one just putting it down. That’s just not a concern with the plastic.

–The plastic bubbler is lighter. It’s not a huge difference, but it’s noticeable.

–Like many people, I had a leaky lid at first. I solved that problem with a thin smear of keg lube around the outside of the plastic lid. It was such an easy fix that I genuinely don’t understand why people complain about the lid.

–The port on the top of the glass bubbler is undersized and can’t accommodate a thief for taking gravity samples. I also like the double-port option for the plastic bubbler. I don’t presently do this, but I like the idea of using gas to push the beer into a flushed keg someday.

–I like that the plastic bubbler is taller and skinnier than the glass one. I can fit the plastic bubbler in my fridge next to my kegs when I brew lagers, which I can’t do with glass.

–I’ve never had any sort of infection or other contamination problems using the plastic.

#16

What exactly are you worried about?

#17

I have the 5-gal plastic now. I’m using it as a primary for 3-gal batches. My first batch’s krausen is almost fallen, and never any sign of increased pressure on the 3-piece airlock.

I think it’s sealed enough to prevent infection so I see no need to worry. I might consider a thin bead of silicon on the top of the ring, and perhaps Teflon tape on the neck for longer fermentations. But I see it as piece of mind more than actual need.

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