# Beer line length..... **URL:** \ **Category:** Brewing Processes\ **Created:** [February 16, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054 "2011-02-16T20:13:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![oscarvan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/oscarvan/32/74_2.png) [@oscarvan](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/oscarvan)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/1 "2011-02-16T20:13:21Z")
OK, some learning needs to take place here… I know that beer line has a small ID to provide counter pressure and control foaming. But, I was reading that it keeps the beer from foaming as it enters the line… As long as the beer is “solid” throughout the line, is the line length correct, or does it STILL matter how long the line is…? I have no foam in the lines, but am still getting a bit too much at the tap. Lines vary between 4 and 9 feet… I can try a 12, but does it make a difference if there’s no foaming in the line? Trying to get my head around the physics here… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/f1a2211dcb353b921ed70873794a31db2031eccc.png) [@system](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/2 "2011-02-16T20:20:33Z")
Yes, it makes a difference when it comes out at the faucet end.  Longer lines provide more resistance, and you need enough resistance for your serving PSI to prevent foaming when you pour. ---
**Author:** ![bluesman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@bluesman](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/bluesman)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/3 "2011-02-16T20:47:35Z")
Your best bet is 3/16"ID X 6ft long. The key is a cold faucet and regulated pressure (12-15psi). The first beer will foam a bit because the faucet is warm but each pour after that within a minute or two of each other will be perfect. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/f1a2211dcb353b921ed70873794a31db2031eccc.png) [@system](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/4 "2011-02-16T21:06:48Z")
You should also carbonate at the same pressure you plan on serving.  Although you can turn down the pressure for serving, after a few days CO2 will start to come out of solution.  If you crank up the pressure and shake, you could be overcarbonating, so I’d stop doing that at least until you figure out what your problem is. ---
**Author:** ![tag](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/tag/32/10151_2.png) [@tag](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/tag)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/5 "2011-02-16T21:08:00Z")
Picnic faucet or regular beer faucet? What temperature and CO2 pressure is it set at? How long has it been carbonating? Here’s the Brewers Association Draught Beer Manual that has more info than you’ll ever need. ---
**Author:** ![oscarvan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/oscarvan/32/74_2.png) [@oscarvan](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/oscarvan)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/6 "2011-02-16T21:33:48Z")
Regular beer faucets in keggerator door, long shanks, nice and cool. OK, here’s the MO… I chill the keg to 42º ish, then force carbonate at 30 psi for a few minutes, then I put a gauge on the keg and let it settle, repeat as necessary 'till it balances at 10psi. I think my lines are too short. I will get a really long line (like 12 feet) and see what that does. ---
**Author:** ![gmac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@gmac](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/gmac)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/7 "2011-02-16T22:21:07Z")
Is the hose the same size for a both types of faucet? ---
**Author:** ![oscarvan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/oscarvan/32/74_2.png) [@oscarvan](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/oscarvan)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/8 "2011-02-16T22:39:25Z")
> [@gmac](#): > > Is the hose the same size for a both types of faucet? Hamana? All beer hoses are 3/16" ID… ---
**Author:** ![pinnah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinnah](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/pinnah)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/9 "2011-02-16T23:05:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Here’s the Brewers Association Draught Beer Manual that has more info than you’ll ever need. Where? Thanks, I am going to need it. ---
**Author:** ![dbeechum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/dbeechum/32/12418_2.png) [@dbeechum](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/dbeechum)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/10 "2011-02-16T23:39:13Z")
Here - [http://www.draughtquality.org/w/page/18182201/FrontPage](http://www.draughtquality.org/w/page/18182201/FrontPage) ---
**Author:** ![gmac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@gmac](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/gmac)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/11 "2011-02-17T00:25:44Z")
> [@oscarvan](#): > > > [@gmac](#): > > > > Is the hose the same size for a both types of faucet? > > Hamana? All beer hoses are 3/16" ID… OK, I read this on my phone while waiting for my kids and before heading to the hardware store to get line for a picnic tap.  I got 3/16 ID vinyl line but I don’t know what constitutes “Beer Line”.  This is pretty thin stuff.  Probably 5/16 OD.  The line I took off seems to be a lot thicker walled.  Not sure where I’d find beer hose if there’s a difference.  Just wasn’t sure since all I have is picnic tap. BTW, I have 10 feet of this on the tap right now and it pours great. ---
**Author:** ![punatic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/punatic/32/13656_2.png) [@punatic](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/punatic)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/12 "2011-02-17T00:34:13Z")
Reading the subject title, I thought you guys were talking about the concession stand at the ballgame.  :-[ ---
**Author:** ![sathingtonwilloby](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/sathingtonwilloby/32/11966_2.png) [@sathingtonwilloby](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/sathingtonwilloby)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/13 "2011-02-17T00:50:50Z")
> [@punatic](#): > > Reading the subject title, I thought you guys were talking about the concession stand at the ballgame.   :-[ Which is usually proportional to the line at the urinals. ---
**Author:** ![bluesman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@bluesman](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/bluesman)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/14 "2011-02-17T02:10:09Z")
> [@oscarvan](#): > > I think my lines are too short. I will get a really long line (like 12 feet) and see what that does. Don’t waste your money. Here’s a great resource. [https://files.pbworks.com/download/m2XlqbvkjU/draftquality/18182336/DBQM\_Full.pdf](https://files.pbworks.com/download/m2XlqbvkjU/draftquality/18182336/DBQM_Full.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![thirsty\_monk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/thirsty_monk/32/8400_2.png) [@thirsty\_monk](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/thirsty_monk)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/15 "2011-02-17T03:26:35Z")
Drag on 3/16 tubing is 3 psi / ft (that is what I heard). If you have 5 ft tubing it should be 5 X 3 = 15 or 5 ft of tubing should handle 15 psi in your keg. ---
**Author:** ![gsandel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f14d63/32.png) [@gsandel](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/gsandel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/16 "2011-02-17T03:37:40Z")
While the draft quality manual states the resistance is 3lbs/foot for 3/16" beer line, other sources state it is between 2 and 3 lbs/foot, and whatever line I have is more like 1.75lbs/ft. ---
**Author:** ![tag](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/tag/32/10151_2.png) [@tag](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/tag)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 5:42am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/17 "2011-02-17T05:42:46Z")
Oops, yeah the manual is found at  [http://www.draughtquality.org/w/page/18182201/FrontPage](http://www.draughtquality.org/w/page/18182201/FrontPage)  thanks Drew.  (When will you be up against big blue?) The hose “resistance” may vary depending on the beer speed. But usually you can figure 2-3 psi per foot. Start long and cut down from there. Regular beer faucets will pour the first pint a little foamy unitl it cools off. Bigger shanks will keep the faucet cooler to cut that foaming. Picnic faucets seem to be a little different animal ---
**Author:** ![a10t2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/a10t2/32/6257_2.png) [@a10t2](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/a10t2)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/18 "2011-02-17T05:56:14Z")
Keep in mind that the resistance won’t be linear either. It may average out to 2 psi/ft at 12 psi, but only 1 psi/ft at 20 psi. (From my own experience, I think that those numbers are pretty close.) ---
**Author:** ![oscarvan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/oscarvan/32/74_2.png) [@oscarvan](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/oscarvan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/19 "2011-02-17T16:05:30Z")
Yes I read that publication and that’s what I originally based my lengths on. So, somehow things are not adding up. I am using the 3/16" thick walled beer line. Will still throw a few $$ at a 12 foot line just to see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![tschmidlin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/tschmidlin/32/3857_2.png) [@tschmidlin](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/tschmidlin)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054/20 "2011-02-17T18:31:22Z")
That should help oscar.  There are other factors besides line length - height of the faucet, restriction of the faucet affect the setup too.  I’m not sure why it’s rated at 2.2 psi per foot when everyone seems to get lower than that. :-\ [Next page](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/beer-line-length/5054.md?page=2)