# 3 piece air lock keeps blowing out sanitizer

**URL:** <https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/3-piece-air-lock-keeps-blowing-out-sanitizer/26133>\
**Category:** Ingredients\
**Created:** [August 28, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/3-piece-air-lock-keeps-blowing-out-sanitizer/26133 "2017-08-28T18:07:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![haeffnkr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@haeffnkr](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/haeffnkr)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/3-piece-air-lock-keeps-blowing-out-sanitizer/26133/1 "2017-08-28T18:07:48Z")

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Hi,  
I have been using a 3 piece air lock with starsan in it for a while,&nbsp; The airlock assembly is in the stopper in my 14 gallon fermenters.

During the first few days of active fermenation the starsan bubbles all out of the air lock and I have to keep adding more and have the fear it blowing it all out and allowing air into the brew. I usually dont have a yeast blow out problem.

Is there a better air lock design or should I just use a blow off tube or any other suggestions to keep a safe amount of starsan in the airlocks?

thanks Kevin

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**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/3-piece-air-lock-keeps-blowing-out-sanitizer/26133/2 "2017-08-28T18:15:09Z")

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How about using less?

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**Author:** ![stpug](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/stpug/32/6766_2.png) [@stpug](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/stpug)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/3-piece-air-lock-keeps-blowing-out-sanitizer/26133/3 "2017-08-28T18:30:13Z")

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Vodka also works as a sanitary liquid in the airlock and since it doesn’t foam it generally doesn’t suffer the same problem that starsan does.&nbsp; Vodka does tend to evaporate a little quicker than water/starsan so just keep an eye on it.

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**Author:** ![jeffy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/jeffy/32/12842_2.png) [@jeffy](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/jeffy)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/3-piece-air-lock-keeps-blowing-out-sanitizer/26133/4 "2017-08-28T19:24:21Z")

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I don’t even use an airlock during initial fermentation.&nbsp; The reason yours bubbles out is from the CO2 escaping, which would not allow air to ingress anyway.&nbsp; When it calms down I install one.&nbsp;  
If you are still nervous, I’d suggest a blow off hose with the end in a jar of sanitizer.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![haeffnkr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@haeffnkr](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/haeffnkr)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2017, 3:16am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/3-piece-air-lock-keeps-blowing-out-sanitizer/26133/5 "2017-08-29T03:16:04Z")

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Thanks for the good suggestions.

Kevin

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**Author:** ![brewinhard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@brewinhard](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/brewinhard)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/3-piece-air-lock-keeps-blowing-out-sanitizer/26133/6 "2017-08-29T23:53:36Z")

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Mine do the same during the more vigorous part of fermentation. No big deal. When it looks low, just pop off the top and spray some more starsan from a spray bottle into the chamber.