I did this for the first time last batch. I connected the gas to the beer out post and shot about 5psi for about 5 seconds, without the lid on. Then I pumped my auto siphon a few times in there. Is this how you do it? Is there a better way? Should I leave the lid on and open the release valve a few times like when done filling the keg. Thanks for the input.
The way I do it is to seal the lid on....I put about 40 psi. Then I pull the release valve. Then open the keg. Then siphon beer into it.
When I sanitize a keg I pressurize and purge the keg then push the sanitizer out through the beer line. After that I don't open the keg until it's time to fill it. Since there's only co2 in the keg you don't have to worry too much about splashing when you rack.
This is a great idea. I always emptied the sanitizer before pressurizing. There less chance for infection this way and it sanitizes the dip tube.
If you just pressurize you have the original O2 in left there. If you put 30 PSI on the keg, vent, then repeat 2 more times you have almost 0 O2 left. Or you can push the sanitizer out with CO2 and have 0 O2 as my friend in the club taught me a long time ago. Agreeing with Leedorham and giving credit to where I learned it.
As many have said above... You need the lid on to let the CO2 settle to the bottom. Multiple short purges allows for a dilution of any O2 left behind, so very little is there. Remember to do the same thing when you carbonate, otherwise you will be forcing some small amount of air in the beer, even if you just purged I would assume some air will be able to diffuse in the top (even with some CO2 being forced out). I started doing Leedorham's method of storing kegs, but the last two I opened had a piney smell to them and I found some dryhop residue around gaskets so I had to reclean and repurge.
