Blow off using 3 piece airlock

scubabrew · July 23, 2012, 9:10pm

After reading a post on using a 3 piece airlock to attach a blow off tube I decided I give it a shot. When I was at the hardware store I connect the airlock to a 5/8" OD x 1/2" vinyl tube and it was a snug fit. I couldn’t get it off in the store so I bought it. I tried to get it off at home running it under hot water with no luck pulling it off so I cut the tubing off of the airlock.

I tried attaching it again after running it under hot water. I let it sit about a minute and couldn’t pull it off. I tried running the contraption under hot water, still couldn’t get it off. Any suggestions? Can I attach it and leave it? Also, I scratched the outside of the tube that the gases come out inside the airlock when cutting off the vinyl tube, can I still use this airlock since I did crack or am I risking infection if the wort comes in contact with it during a blow off?

shadetree · July 23, 2012, 9:19pm

Once the hose is on, leave it - I keep four like this and just drop the whole thing in the StarSan bucket before use. And don’t worry about the post.

chuck · July 23, 2012, 9:40pm

I’ve used keg lube on them and still had a difficult time trying to get it off, broke one in fact, so I also just leave them on.

solomonscommune · July 23, 2012, 9:47pm

I had the same problem when I made one for my hefe… I actually was afraid to use the tubing again as it had crudded everything up inside the tube… I guess I should have tried to soak the tubing but I just cut it off the 3 pc and threw it out ha…

ynotbrusum · July 23, 2012, 9:49pm

If your three piece airlock has a “sectioned” nose for insertion into the bung, you might want to open that up to allow a freer flow, as well - it keeps the crud from clogging as easily.

:cheers:

braufessor · July 23, 2012, 10:08pm

I can’t get mine off either - I just throw the whole thing in pbw and starsan.

duder · July 23, 2012, 11:27pm

Soak it in hot water.

Run it under hot water.

Then try pushing it “on a little farther” to break the seal. Once the seal gets broken, you “should” be able to pull it back off.

Good Luck.

el_capitan · July 24, 2012, 1:27pm

Skip the blowoff tube and pick up a bottle of Fermcap. Totally eliminates blowoff issues as well as boil-overs too, and does not impact the finished beer in any way I can tell. :cheers: