I’ve seen many sad faces of customers returning to our store with empty gas canisters, still uncertain how their gas got away from them. Surprisingly few hobbyists actually think to pressure check their draft system before leaving that gas tank turned on and going to bed. THIS IS A CRITICAL STEP. Unless you are going to leave your gas tank turned off at the main valve at all times, we recommend you follow the following procedure on Pressure Checking a Draft System.
TOOLS/SUPPLIES REQUIRED:
-Yellow teflon tape
-Spray bottle
-Stan San sanitizer
-Bucket full of water
-Wrenches, Screwdriver, Crimper tool (as appropriate)
STEPS TO PRESSURE CHECKING A DRAFT SYSTEM:
Step 1 – Prepare a spray bottle with a dilute solution of Stan San Sanitizer.
Step 2 – Turn on your draft system and set the regulator very high, around 50 PSI. This high pressure is used to expose small leaks that you might have difficulty identifying under lower pressure.
Step 3 – Any fittings at the end of hoses can be submerged in the bucket of water. Watch for bubbles to emerge from the fittings. If you see any, tighten up those hose clamps and/or investigate whether the fittings themselves are holding pressure as needed.
Step 4 – For other parts of you draft system, such as the gas tank and regulator, which cannot be submerged in water, you will use the spray bottle. The Stan San is a foamy no-rinse sanitizer. Spray all the threaded connections and hose connecting remaining in the system. Watch for bubbles in the sanitizer. If you identify a leaky pipe thread connection, disassemble that connection and wrap the threads with yellow gas teflon, which is thicker than the more common white teflon tape. If the connection between the regulator and the gas tank is leaking, DO NOT USE TEFLON. For CO2 tanks, that connection requires a gasket, which should be replaced.
Step 5 – When no more leaks can be identified at the tank, regulator, hose connections or disconnects—you are all set! Proceed with confidence.