Got the empty CO2 tank blues

Spray starsan on all the connections including the lid. Do you hear fizz or see bubbles? There is your leak.

 

^This. I turn my pressure up just about as high I can get it as well, even if it's just a pin hole leak there the high pressure helps make it a bit more obvious and easier to find.

Tighten all fittings, use food safe grease on seals and then tighten everything again.

I've had this happen once before; exactly as you described with a new keg and it sucked. Traded in the tank and went to town on tightening everything and using some grease on seals. No leak and it held pressure.

Good luck.

 

As advised, set 40+ psi and squirt away with the starsan and don't assume you only have one leak. After correcting any problems leave the pressure set with the tank master valve off . . . it should read the same in 24 hours. You really don't want to be on a first-name basis with those guys at the CO2 store. Also, if you are buying extra gaskets/seals/o-rings it's cheaper (if you count anguish) to buy twice as much as you think you will ever need.

 

joint by joint, with star san or something else that bubbles. I've had more luck with that blue stuff you buy to check for gas leaks. Been there, feel for you. I've had leaks that take forever to fine they are so small.

 

I think most of us have been there. You're out $20 of CO2. Be grateful that it's on the gas side instead of the liquid side. If it was the liquid side you'd be out $20 and you'd have a helluva mess to clean up.

 

My keezer is still a total mess from a liquid side leak earlier this winter, still waiting until things warm up to attempt the major cleanup.

 

Make sure to spray the release valve if it is a ball lock keg. I had one keg with a bad spring or maybe the seal that was bad, took me forever to find that leak. Also, make sure to check the poppets on both posts, pull off the gas line and the beer line and spray the tops and look for bubbles.

good luck

 

soapy water works mo betta than Starsan, IMHO

 

If I were a betting man, I'd put money on the keg being the issue.

Good Luck!

 

The CO2 post o-ring has been the culprit many times for me. The rubber always cracks. I feel like I replace them every couple of months, but it is only this one. The beer side post 0-ring is fine.

 

I replace the post o-rings every time I clean a keg. At 2 cents each, it's cheap insurance. I also lube the o-rings virtually every time I touch them (OCD, perhaps?).

 

I've had several major leaks, usually it's the o-ring. This week I kegged a rye pale, and the keg lid wouldn't seat so I replaced it. I've also had the relief valves leak but these are the kinds of problems I find by turning the gas up to 40 psi and checking BEFORE I put the keg in the fridge. I also put new o-rings on for every fill, they can go bad long after the keg goes into the fridge.
For a first time kegger I'm betting it's a clamp not tightened quite enough, there are always little problems like that on the first use.

 

Yes , but at least you don't have leaks. I just inspect and replace as needed which is usually every 4-6 months.

 

Another important lesson to be learned: you need a spare tank. It really sucks to open a tap on Friday night and realize you're out of CO2 and you can't get a refill until Monday.

 

That reminds me, I need to get my spare tank filled...

 

Another good reason to use a smaller tank if you are not sure of your "leak prevention quality assurance" : )

 

Given the small difference in price, this is a very small justification for a small tank.
That said, and not to go off on a tangent, I've often thought about the one potential problem of using NG over propane for my grill. If I forget to turn it off after grilling (more likely if I've been drinking heavily), the limit of my loss is a single tank of propane. With NG, I have nightmares of looking out on my patio after an unusual late April snowstorm and noticing that there's no snow on the grill. Then I remember that I cooked burgers last October.

 

Surely you jest : )...if you forget to turn your NG off, you go up like an ISIS hostage...never mind...bad analogy

Seriously, for one of my suppliers there is virtually no difference in price between a 20 # and a 5# tank, but for another there is a ~ 100% difference...go figure. Cheers.