Hello, I just bought a kegerator and had a question about setting it up. Should I add a shut off valve on the coupler? My concern is that a leak will happen when I am not around and I figured I could just shut off the flow right on top of the keg. Is that a good idea or should I just shut off the valve on the CO2 regulator? Thanks for any help!!!
If your that concerned just untap the keg...Extra parts in the line of beer flow is just one more spot for an issue to arise.
I understand the extra part in the line may be an issue but it just seemed easier to turn a valve instead of pulling the keg out to untap it and then putting it back in...
I'm having trouble understanding why you would need to remove the keg to untap it. Shutting off the valve on the regulator won't stop the flow of beer since the head space is pressurized. You could easily pour a few pints with the gas turned off. I would suggest finding out if you have any leaks and fixing them. Then you won't have to worry. Any leaks will cause the beer to eventually go flat, as well as creating a mess, so you absolutely want to fix them. Your proposed approach is analogous to only filling your car's gas tank halfway just in case there's a leak in the top half of the tank. Find out if there's really a leak, fix it, and be done with it.
I see that. But he suggested shutting off the CO2 as an alternative. The best approach, IMO, is to find out if there's actually a leak and fixing it. I sense a touch of paranoia - not uncommon when you get a new kegerator.
I was asking about an inline beer shutoff. Just for when I am away. I can see the keg not being used for maybe a month at a time sometimes. Just didn't want to leave it and then a leak happen at the tap or something and come home to no beer...
For ease of other issues take the 30 seconds to pull out and untap keg.Most units you don't even have to pull out keg just pull up handle and turn.I would also clean faucet out before going dormant for a month.
you can put one of these directly on to the coupler but if you can turn the knob to shut off flow, you can just as easily uncouple the keg. all you have to do is pull the handle up, the coupler doesn't even need to be unscrewed. if you are concerned that your system might leak, then you need to be sure your connections are secure. you don't turn off the water supply every day, right? Cheers.
Also if he doesn't have room to untap keg in unit or his line is already at top of inside of unit he is sure as shit not gonna have room for a shutoff unless adding a 90 degree fitting too.
If I was going to leave for a month and wanted to shut something off I'd lift the handle on the coupler which can probably be done without removing the keg as others have said. Then again, even if you have to pull it out I don't think once a month is too big a deal. Also as pointed out, you will need to clean the faucet, the beer glue will surely lock it up in a few days of sitting. You can also plan kegs around your consumption and your trips. A 6th keg will get you 50-ish pints, if it is a hoppy beer it will start to fade at about 90 days so you need to consider that, especially if you have 30 day windows when you won't be drinking.
While I understand what the OP is driving at, I just wouldn't feel comfortable not being absolutely certain that my system doesn't have a leak. As billandsuz noted, we don't routinely turn off the water supply when going on vacation. It's really no different with your kegerator. Check for leaks, fix them, and relax. And clean the faucet.
Maybe he's worried about the cat accidentally opening up the tap and he doesn't want to admit he has a cat!!! This would worry me a little except that my kegerator is in a locked room.
