Thought about starting a new thread, but this is a beginner’s mistake so it can fit here: Fermenting in a keg for the first time, and know little about kegs and pressure control, etc.
Three pieces of knowledge gained during the day: 1) pressure can build up rapidly during fermentation, and needs a clear outlet, 2) gas post and beer posts are different on a ball lock keg (plain is beer, notched is gas), and 3) a blowoff tube (and from what I’ve read an open/faulty picnic tap) can quickly become a siphon when placed lower.
How do I know? let me count the ways.
1) Thought my keg was leaking, with no fermentation less than one day after pitching. Nope, blowoff tube was blocked and the leaking was from the pressure relief valve! Took a beer shower fixing it.
2) Blowoff setup was flawed due to posts swapped incorrectly, and an upside down spring resulting in a stuck poppit.
3) Pressurized beer flowed out into the blowoff bucket. Next, Tried taking out the small gas dip tube, but just ended up leaking gas without that gasket on that tube. Moved blowoff bucket higher.
Once it was all set up correctly, fermentation stopped again due to a clogged post and I got it restarted with a blast of CO2 in the post (more swapping of lines required). Thinking next time maybe an in-line check valve, with the hose connected right where the gas post connects, but without the post…
good the beer spills were in the garage and not the carpeted basement (this time)