Wash not bubbling

[shawry99]

Hi guys,

My fist couple of washes bubbled away, and this showed in the airlock quite distinctively, however my current wash doesnt seem to want to

If i remove the lid I can see tiny bubbles, but the airlock doesnt seem to get any livelier, is there anything I can do to either check or stimulate my wash into life?

thanks in advance

[YHB]

I think you are saying that the wash is bubling but the air lock is not.

If that is the case then check the seal on the fermenter lid.

Press on the lid and the airlock should bubble. If it does not then it is the seal on the fermenter lid that is not air tight.

[Magnu420]

i would check the temp of the wash also in the roomm did you pitch the yeast
at a reasonble temp also when did you start the wash

[shawry99]

TBH, been a bit slack and cant remember when I started it, but temp is fine, steady 22, which is what my others were done at.

This is the first wash with my new stuff, the seal of the lid seems fine, but I'll double check everything tomorrow.

[shawry99]

Hmm everything seems fine really cant figure what Ive done wrong, going to start a 2nd wash off tonight, and I'll wait a few days and swap some between them and maybe, if Im lucky it will kick start it for me.

My first real hiccup, and Im finding it a little disheartening.

Oh well, onwards and upwards.

[alan]

it may have finished check the sg

[shawry99]

It hadnt finished a few days ago when I checked it (and was in the same state as now), but I will be checking it while starting my next wash just in case.

[Almanac]

pour a pool of water in the top of the lid and see if anything is leaking around the grommet or bung for the airlock. Also check the airlock is not damaged.

You said "If i remove the lid I can see tiny bubbles" did you mean tiny bubbles just floating on top or are there bubbles rising in the liquid? Is it fizzing? Stick your ear to the side of the vessel and if it is fizzing then your seals are not secure and you need to track down the leak - for peace of mind if nothing else.

If none of these make any difference, e.g. if all seals are secure, and the wash has not finished as Alan suggests and there's no fizz there is a possibility that it's stalled for some reason. You could try chucking in a wine yeast like EC1118 to restart it.

Shit happens but thankfully not too often Keep the faith!

AM

[shawry99]

pour a pool of water in the top of the lid and see if anything is leaking around the grommet or bung for the airlock. Also check the airlock is not damaged.

You said "If i remove the lid I can see tiny bubbles" did you mean tiny bubbles just floating on top or are there bubbles rising in the liquid? Is it fizzing? Stick your ear to the side of the vessel and if it is fizzing then your seals are not secure and you need to track down the leak - for peace of mind if nothing else.

If none of these make any difference, e.g. if all seals are secure, and the wash has not finished as Alan suggests and there's no fizz there is a possibility that it's stalled for some reason. You could try chucking in a wine yeast like EC1118 to restart it.

Shit happens but thankfully not too often Keep the faith!

AM

tiny bubbles rising, though not loads now, SG about 1.000 wifey checked while Im at work.

EDIT: Ok, started 2nd waah now, but with the SG being better than when I started at least I can hope its stalled (if its actually not working) Ive been told that I can swap a bit from a working wash to kick start, is that correct? Or would I be better getting the EC1118 (whatever that is)?

Thanks for taking the time to read, and reassure

[Almanac]

EC1118 is a Champagne yeast noted for restarting stalled ferments and has a high alcohol tolerance and all HBS will have it as it's a very popular yeast among wine makers.

If there are any bubbles rising at all it means there's still some life in there. Try giving it a good stir, without adding Oxygen, to lift any remaining sugars so the little yeasties can get at them - worth a try.

You don't have to use EC1118, your local HBS should be able to give you suitable yeast to restart the stuck ferment.

AM

[YHB]

tiny bubbles rising, though not loads now, SG about 1.000 wifey checked while Im at work.

Wives are useful at times.

SG 1.000 - two options; it's either finished or you forgot to put the sugar in.

I would think that the yeasties have been doing what you paid them to do, but the fermenter lid has not been sealed, therefore the Airlock has not been bubbling, therefore all the yeasties efforts went unnoticed but they kept on working regardless.

[shawry99]

Ok not sure whats up, Im wondering if the airlocks just arent working as intended, as the seal from my lids is bloody tight, but it seems that the wash is still fermenting.

Well heres hoping anyway

[Almanac]

Can you show a pic of the top of your fermenter - a pic is worth a 1000 words and might prompt something we're all missing.

AM

[shawry99]

Have refilled the lock as I kinda emptied by accident as I was taking the lid off to check.

EDIT: Please excuse the carpet, it was already there when we moved in, and I wasnt expecting to take pics of under my stairs

[Almanac]

I had a few problems using that type of grommet before because I found them too soft and if there was a 'rib' down the side of the bottom airlock spout, from the mold, it seemed to cause an airleak.

To fix the problem I smoothed the sides of the airlock spout with Emery paper then wrapped a little PTFE tape around it before lubricating with some Vaseline and replacing in the grommet.

AM