This is probably a dumb question but I'm just starting kegging and I'm not sure if there is any CO2 in my tank or not. I got kegging stuff for Christmas a couple years ago (never really used it) and can't remember if I got a tank or not. My old roommate had kegging stuff and a tank and I think we used that. Long story short I have a tank and don't know if CO2 was ever put in it. Now I tried using it yesterday with a regulator and a keg to test it. Nothing happened at all but it was at room temperature. Does the tank need to be cold? It seems to have a little weight to it but I don't really know what an empty one feels like I guess. Do you definitely think it's empty or am I doing something wrong here? Any additional advice about kegging would be great like line length or anything else. Thanks.
The tank probably has a a 'tare weight' stamped/engraved on it, indicating what the empty weight of the tank is. So you could weigh it and see. Also, if your regulator is functioning properly, and if there is any CO2 at all in the tank, you should get a high pressure gauge reading of several hundred pounds. The tank does not need to be cold.
Here is the beginner's guide I wish I would have had when I started kegging... A Bottler's Guide to Kegging Edit: And here's one on Line Balancing. From Flat to Foam
So are you doing the set it and forget it method for a week and then adjusting your line length accordingly?
Yes on both counts. Though I usually allow for more than a week. If I need it before then (rare) I will force with higher pressure. And I never 'shake it.' (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
I I really like your second link. I've never seen that before and it's very simple On a sidenote: Daniels mentions cleaning lines with caustic and acid solutions. What would examples of these be? I always just run oxyclean and starsan (in that order). I store lines with starsan in them and just hook them up to the next keg when ready to go. I just pour the starsan with some trub beer into my glass. Dump, fill, and drink.
Well, oxiclean is caustic (i.e. it dissolves stuff by chemical action), and Starsan is acidic, so I'd say you're following Daniels' recommendations. I use BLC instead of oxiclean. Same idea though.
The tank was definitely empty and I got it filled today. Also got a 3/16 6 foot hose and made hooked it up to a picnic tap. Hopefully it's enough line!
At 38 degrees and 11-ish psi, that's a good line length. As has already been said, weight is the best way to tell how much CO2 is in the tank. Tare (empty) weight is embossed on the tank. A full tank will weigh 5# heavier. A common bathroom scale is accurate enough for this.
when in doubt you could always turn the knob and see if it hisses... 6 foot should be plenty of 3/16 depending on the temp and pressure. I always start with more length than I need and cut it accordingly.
