C02 Leaking from Pressure Release Valve on 2 Different Lids

[Prairie Dog]

So I’m kegging my beer for the first time and when I went to fill the keg w C02, it started audibly leaking out of the PRV. I tried to configure it several different ways, but no matter what I did, it leaked.

Today, I took the lid off a different corny keg and attached that, but it had the same issue. In fact, it seemed to leak even more CO2.

Can anyone tell me what the issue might be? I don’t want to pony up the $ for a brand new keg, but I’m getting frustrated. Is this keg just no good?

 

[Dave Y]

Are you sure it’s the PRV and not the lid/gasket itself?

I bought a few used kegs, mostly turned out good but one of the first ones I got did similar. I asked and they told me to hit it with burst pressure first to seal it, then reduce the pressure to sane carbonation levels. So I did. I hit it with about 30psi while pulling up on the lid, and it held. I reduced it and it still held.

I also replaced the lid rings with new ones and I think that helped a little.
If it is the PRV, they can get gummed up. you can try soaking the lid in hot water or hot water + pbw for a bit, then sanitize and see if it clears up.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Are you sure it’s the PRV and not the lid/gasket itself?

I bought a few used kegs, mostly turned out good but one of the first ones I got did similar. I asked and they told me to hit it with burst pressure first to seal it, then reduce the pressure to sane carbonation levels. So I did. I hit it with about 30psi while pulling up on the lid, and it held. I reduced it and it still held.

I also replaced the lid rings with new ones and I think that helped a little.
If it is the PRV, they can get gummed up. you can try soaking the lid in hot water or hot water + pbw for a bit, then sanitize and see if it clears up.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure. I could feel the C02 coming out of the PRV on both lids and on one of them it made a distinct noise. I also tried to use C02 to seal the lid. I didn't burst it, but held it at like 15psi for a bit until it sealed, but it continued to leak out of the PRV. The other lid didn't seal because the C02 was blowing out the PRV dramatically. I'm wondering if it could be my regulator? I got all this stuff second hand and this is the first time I'm using it.

 

[Dave Y]

regulator gauges ... AMIRITE? I have a couple that seem to be ok, but one that’s less than accurate.
Still, if your kegs are leaking, they’re leaking. You would need to be putting in a LOT of PSI to trip the PRV. I think you would likely hear the lid pop and seal into place, then the PRV kicking in. Is that what’s happening?

 

[Simonpyman]

https://www.morebeer.com/products/ball-lock-keg-aid-kit-replacement-parts-seals-komos.html

I got this for the future as my kegs are newish but perhaps you might need to replace the PRV or as Dave Y said it could be the regulator. Given you would need a lot of pressure to trip the PRV i suspect that the PRV is bad and isn't sealing.

 

[Prairie Dog]

regulator gauges ... AMIRITE? I have a couple that seem to be ok, but one that’s less than accurate.
Still, if your kegs are leaking, they’re leaking. You would need to be putting in a LOT of PSI to trip the PRV. I think you would likely hear the lid pop and seal into place, then the PRV kicking in. Is that what’s happening?

For one of the lids, yes. The lid seals and then the PRV starts leaking C02. The other lid I tried, wouldn't even build up a seal because it was blowing through the PRV immediately. I could feel the C02 rushing out of it when I put my fingers on it. The first lid built up a seal and could hold some C02 but would leak a bit.

 

[Prairie Dog]

https://www.morebeer.com/products/ball-lock-keg-aid-kit-replacement-parts-seals-komos.html

I got this for the future as my kegs are newish but perhaps you might need to replace the PRV or as Dave Y said it could be the regulator. Given you would need a lot of pressure to trip the PRV i suspect that the PRV is bad and isn't sealing.

Yes, I definitely need to get something like this. It's just weird that it is happening on 2 different lids.

 

[Minbari]

Just buy a re-seal kit. They are cheap and will solve the problem.
New prv are cheap too

 

[Donoroto]

Yes, I definitely need to get something like this. It's just weird that it is happening on 2 different lids.

PEVs have a locked-open position, using the pull ring. Pull on the ring, turn it 90 degrees, let go. Give that a try.

 

[Prairie Dog]

PEVs have a locked-open position, using the pull ring. Pull on the ring, turn it 90 degrees, let go. Give that a try.

Tried that and it didn’t work. I ended up going to the homebrew store and the guy checked out my regulator and one of the lids. Regulator seemed fine and the lid was able to seal up nicely in another corny keg without replacing the O ring or PRV. He checked them out and said both looked good.

I thought maybe I’d screwed up and left the PRV open like you said, so I went home and tried one more time with the lid that I brought to the HBS that sealed up another corny keg nicely. C02 still leaked through the PRV. I even got a third lid and tried it and the same thing happened.

So I think I’ll transfer it to another keg and see if it will seal up there. I’m thinking since all 3 lids had the issue on the same keg, maybe it’s the keg that isn’t sealing up properly.

 

[Minbari]

Tried that and it didn’t work. I ended up going to the homebrew store and the guy checked out my regulator and one of the lids. Regulator seemed fine and the lid was able to seal up nicely in another corny keg without replacing the O ring or PRV. He checked them out and said both looked good.

I thought maybe I’d screwed up and left the PRV open like you said, so I went home and tried one more time with the lid that I brought to the HBS that sealed up another corny keg nicely. C02 still leaked through the PRV. I even got a third lid and tried it and the same thing happened.

So I think I’ll transfer it to another keg and see if it will seal up there. I’m thinking since all 3 lids had the issue on the same keg, maybe it’s the keg that isn’t sealing up properly

Check your posts. Couple orings in those that can leak too.

 

[Zambi]

Tried that and it didn’t work. I ended up going to the homebrew store and the guy checked out my regulator and one of the lids. Regulator seemed fine and the lid was able to seal up nicely in another corny keg without replacing the O ring or PRV. He checked them out and said both looked good.

I thought maybe I’d screwed up and left the PRV open like you said, so I went home and tried one more time with the lid that I brought to the HBS that sealed up another corny keg nicely. C02 still leaked through the PRV. I even got a third lid and tried it and the same thing happened.

So I think I’ll transfer it to another keg and see if it will seal up there. I’m thinking since all 3 lids had the issue on the same keg, maybe it’s the keg that isn’t sealing up properly.

Could you maybe take your whole keg to the homebrew shop and get them to help you?
But yeah, it's starting to sound like your keg

 

[Prairie Dog]

Could you maybe take your whole keg to the homebrew shop and get them to help you?
But yeah, it's starting to sound like your keg

Yes, I think I will do this at some point. I pressure transferred the beer into another keg today with no problems and it is carbing up in my fridge as we speak. I was able to have a small sip of the dregs and it didn’t taste infected, so hopefully I’ll have some tasty kegged beer by the end of the week.

Despite what a pain in the ass this beer has been, I learned how to pressure transfer and clean and take apart kegs this week. Always something to learn!

 

[Donoroto]

Yeah, I was thinking one is a problem, two is a coincidence, and three means it’s something else.

Usually.