I just bought a new dual regulator. I'm trying to test for it for leaks and have some interesting behavior that I can't explain or get rid of. I have been turning on the gas and setting both gauges to about 10 psi without opening the valves to the gas lines. Then I turn off the gas. Now for the strange part... both gauges sit at the exact pressure I set them for 5 or 6 hours, but when I come back 10 hours later the gauges have fallen to 0. If I had a leak, I thought I would see a slow drop over time... Instead I am seeing a consistent pressure for 5 hours and then at some point I have a sudden drop off. Can anyone explain this to me? Thanks
It's safe to say there's a leak, though this one has a strange way of manifesting itself. The pressure should remain constant forever. I would repeat this test, but at 50 psi. The leak may make itself known audibly at that pressure. If not, it should at least leak immediately rather than 5 or 6 hours later. Spray all around with StarSan or a dish soap solution and watch for bubbles.
You are smart to test your reg and solve your leak problems before you add any connections. The obvious points to search are all the threaded fittings. I find a flashlight and magnifying glass helps. It's possible you have a leak in the diaphragm, that's unlikely but don't ignore it. That's a tough one to troubleshoot and usually requires replacement. Be aware that your pressure is also dependent on temps. Once you correct your leaks, expect pressure to move in the same percentage as air temp (sometimes causes confusion). Since no beer is involved, soapy water is probably your best bet.
Thanks! I had soaped the connections before with everything set to 30 psi and did not see any bubbles. Once I cranked it up to 50 psi, I saw the bubbles coming from below one of the pressure gauges. I fixed that leak and I don't think I'll be having any more issues. Cheers
I do this once every couple of months or so, or any time I move kegs around. At 50 psi, you'll likely expose leaks that would not be a problem at normal pressures and, as you found, some that are simply not readily detectable at normal pressure. Fix them all. No sense inviting problems.
