A long hose into a glass of starsan is my preference. It reduces the chance of suck back at the end of fermentation or when cold crashing. Great video though.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew I run a length of line from inside a 3 piece into sanitiser container. I find it forms a better seal than pushing line into a fermenter grommet.
The 3-piece airlock is much more quieter than the s-shaped one. For my small flat that became the deciding factor. Apart from that I've been happy with both.
I've only ever used the S type, as that's what my local store sold me. I haven't had any problems, but based on your insights, I think I'll order the 3 piece type, next time I make an order
I like the two piece type sold by BiggerJugs in the UK, theyre quiet and easy to clean, they also have a good diameter pipe through the middle for adding a blow off tube.
Blowoff tube for vigorous fermentation, followed by a S type when it calms down but is not yet complete. I founds Oxiclean being able to get rid of everything I ever had stuck in it. Maybe I was just lucky,
I prefer the two piece "smart airlock" over the s-type. They are easier to clean but for some reason they are very difficult to get hold of these days.
Not sure how the S type is any better in secondary than the 3 piece. S type the liquid levels out, but the 3 piece has the float drop. Very marginal the difference that makes imho. 3 piece: Very nearly as easy to quickly see the stage of fermentation. Far easier to clean. Far quieter in operation, mouse like compared to S type. S type too sensitive to suck back (less noticeable if using temp control + pitching at non-kveik temps). Can't really move a plastic FV without the deformation causing pressure in both directions. 3 piece can fit a blow off tube in a pinch, but i use 10mm OD tubing that fits the same hole diameter as the airlocks anyway. Blow off tubes are "safest". But take up space, larger equipment to clean and again are much louder. Depends on the yeast / fermentation. If you establish you consistantly don't need a blow-off tube, then 3 piece all the way imho. I started with an S type, moved to blow-off. But 3 piece fixed all the downsides of the S without providing any bad.
YES, I've recently discovered that if you take off the cap and "bell", leaving the third, largest piece in place, one can simply push a hose onto the central tube to be used in a blow-off!
@@shaboythetomTotally agree and this is basically the only reasonable way to use this stuff. Otherwise no matter to what level you fill em, all this liquid substance gets anyway sucked into your product at the end of fermentation. .
@@DavidHeathHomebrew It seems that modern yeast varieties are much more 'aggressive' than what these were designed for. Certainly the S-type, slightly less the '3 piece' version. There is the calming comfort of hearing the 10-second 'burp' a day after pitching the yeast, mind you. 😁
I run a blow off into a big jug of sanitiser just because I can't fit my fermenter in my chest freezer with a airlock sticking up as lid won't shut completely.
I use a fermzilla so its either a ball lock blowoff tube into a jug of chemsan or a spunding valve. Used to use a 3 piece though when i used to use buckets.
If I have chance of blowoff 3 pc. If not s type. Wasn’t thinking and put an s on a fruited cider. Full of fruit and into the garage. Blow off after drat
Both of these are crap. You need to monitor liquid level every day, oxygen slips through em easily, when fermentation is at its final state then liquid gets sucked back very often etc. II went back to old school hose-bottle method when fermenting my wines.
The s shape is better because it makes a more satisfying blub blub blub as it goes.
Haha yes 🍻🍻🍻
With my fermenters I have plenty of head space and use S type airlocks always. I prefer the sound they make :-)
bloop
@GREEENZO yup 🍻🍻🍻
A long hose into a glass of starsan is my preference. It reduces the chance of suck back at the end of fermentation or when cold crashing. Great video though.
Thanks for your thoughts 🍻🍻🍻
@@DavidHeathHomebrew I run a length of line from inside a 3 piece into sanitiser container. I find it forms a better seal than pushing line into a fermenter grommet.
I also you blow offs like this often too 🍻🍻🍻
Fantastic as always. I had never even considered any of this before. I also like the sound the S locks make haha Thank you :)
Many thanks Paul, much appreciated :)
The 3-piece airlock is much more quieter than the s-shaped one. For my small flat that became the deciding factor. Apart from that I've been happy with both.
Thanks for your thoughts 🍻🍻🍻
I've only ever used the S type, as that's what my local store sold me. I haven't had any problems, but based on your insights, I think I'll order the 3 piece type, next time I make an order
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I like the two piece type sold by BiggerJugs in the UK, theyre quiet and easy to clean, they also have a good diameter pipe through the middle for adding a blow off tube.
Sounds good to me, thanks for sharing:)
Blowoff tube for vigorous fermentation, followed by a S type when it calms down but is not yet complete. I founds Oxiclean being able to get rid of everything I ever had stuck in it. Maybe I was just lucky,
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I prefer the two piece "smart airlock" over the s-type. They are easier to clean but for some reason they are very difficult to get hold of these days.
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All about head space to me, on my 30L Kegland bucket buddy I always stick to the S-Type, great to watch the activity and hear the noise
Thanks for your thoughts 🍻🍻🍻
Like both, will try the secondary fermentation with the s-type airlock
Thanks for your thoughts 🍻🍻🍻
Not sure how the S type is any better in secondary than the 3 piece.
S type the liquid levels out, but the 3 piece has the float drop. Very marginal the difference that makes imho.
3 piece:
Very nearly as easy to quickly see the stage of fermentation.
Far easier to clean.
Far quieter in operation, mouse like compared to S type.
S type too sensitive to suck back (less noticeable if using temp control + pitching at non-kveik temps). Can't really move a plastic FV without the deformation causing pressure in both directions.
3 piece can fit a blow off tube in a pinch, but i use 10mm OD tubing that fits the same hole diameter as the airlocks anyway.
Blow off tubes are "safest". But take up space, larger equipment to clean and again are much louder.
Depends on the yeast / fermentation.
If you establish you consistantly don't need a blow-off tube, then 3 piece all the way imho.
I started with an S type, moved to blow-off. But 3 piece fixed all the downsides of the S without providing any bad.
Thanks for your thoughts 🍻🍻🍻
The 3 piece is great for making a blow off tube if you fermentation is too vigorous.
YES, I've recently discovered that if you take off the cap and "bell", leaving the third, largest piece in place, one can simply push a hose onto the central tube to be used in a blow-off!
@@shaboythetomTotally agree and this is basically the only reasonable way to use this stuff. Otherwise no matter to what level you fill em, all this liquid substance gets anyway sucked into your product at the end of fermentation. .
Yes for sure 🍻🍻🍻
@shaboythetom 🍻🍻🍻
I'm big fan of PLAATO airlocks. Expensive, but it's worth every penny.
You do know that PLAATO have stopped supporting their consumer products?
Yes, that is true.
I have found that the three piece is easily to add a 3/8 blow tube to the inside of it.
Very true 🍻🍻🍻
First like from Indian fan🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤
Thank you 🍻🍻🍻
S shape looks cheap but is the better option. I never had suck back with the S shape
Cheers 🍻🍻🍻
I think the S-type is better to get no "dirty" liquid in your brew (when cold crash ?) but I think that oxygen still can come into the fermenter.
@@thevoice4758Yep, oxygen have an easy access when such type airlocks are used.
I wasn't arguing for airlocks against a closed system..@@thevoice4758 I was arguing the two options
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Blow off tube system every time. Stopped using these things a couple of years ago.
Yes, a blow off is for sure a good option.
I've also gone to a blow off after a few messy ones.
@@DavidHeathHomebrew It seems that modern yeast varieties are much more 'aggressive' than what these were designed for. Certainly the S-type, slightly less the '3 piece' version.
There is the calming comfort of hearing the 10-second 'burp' a day after pitching the yeast, mind you. 😁
@TheMikeCooper Yes certainly some can be very agressive, the 3 peice is ideal then
Cling film over a cut open keg for me.
Thanks for your thoughts 🍻🍻🍻
Wife prefers the 3 piece.
Much quieter.
Mine too 🍻🍻🍻
What's the max and min fill line in the 3 piece airlock?
I go a millimetre or 2/3 above the little holes on the part you insert. Gas escapes through the cap insert thingy so those holes need to be covered
Most have a fill line for max
@@DavidHeathHomebrew mine doesn’t it’s always a guess where to fill it so I don’t use it.
I run a blow off into a big jug of sanitiser just because I can't fit my fermenter in my chest freezer with a airlock sticking up as lid won't shut completely.
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For 3 bucks if my s type gets dirty imma just buy a new one.
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I use a fermzilla so its either a ball lock blowoff tube into a jug of chemsan or a spunding valve. Used to use a 3 piece though when i used to use buckets.
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I find the 3 piece dries out faster.
Ok 🍻🍻🍻
If I have chance of blowoff 3 pc. If not s type. Wasn’t thinking and put an s on a fruited cider. Full of fruit and into the garage. Blow off after drat
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Neither, a blow off tube with a 32oz bottle filled with starsan is superior
Fair point 🍻🍻🍻
Both of these are crap. You need to monitor liquid level every day, oxygen slips through em easily, when fermentation is at its final state then liquid gets sucked back very often etc. II went back to old school hose-bottle method when fermenting my wines.
Thanks for your thoughs 🍻🍻🍻