CO2 Gas System

I'd been toying with idea of installing a proper gas system and get away from the plastic kegs with CO2 bulbs. I'd used the mini party style kegs for a while, but they'd started to develop leaks and weren't as reusable as I'd hoped.

Towards the end of 2019 I was getting serious about it, thinking that I'd give it until after Christmas (avoiding the holiday purchases). Along came Covid and CO2 was nigh on impossible to obtain locally; my home brewing days were nearly over along with any ideas of introducing a CO2 system.

The hiatus in brewing had done me a favour, when I rekindled my interest SodaStream cylinders were a popular choice; having done the math(s) they appeared to be a convenient and cost effective option. Fortunately there's a Argos within 10 miles with a cylinder gas exchange facility.

Gas system installed beginning of November 2024, with the later addition of the Keezer.

Argos for the SodaStream cylinder, The Malt Miller for the regulator and tubing.

Refill January 2025

Cylinder empty and needing an exchange.

Exchanged and a spare purchased.

Gas Leak

Losing some pressure in the line between the manifold and the keg. Isolating the keg showed that it was OK. I suspected that the problem lay with the angle of the lines coming out of the manifold, designed to be used at 45°, where my system required the lines to run parallel to the wall.
Solution - make an angle bracket.

Bracket fitted, angle of the lines reduced and no obvious leaks. Line pressure had dropped overnight, but this may be due to the drop in keezer temperature.

The Leak Continues

The bracket hadn't fixed the problem so I then suspected the pressure gauge. Hadn't taken into account the permeability of the line itself, my rough calculations of potential line loss fits with what's been leaking. Will be swapping all the gas lines for Valpar Gen-X lines, and reducing the number of joints.