What’s the normal lifespan on the rubber washers on swing-top (e.g., EZ Cap) bottles?
I imagine it just depends on how they are taken care of. I have some still good 10 years on. Some have been left outside or in coolers and not lasted as long
How long is a string? Rubber comes in various grades and is affected by the elements. Inspecting rubber washers will reveal loss of resiliency, which means they’re toast. Proper care will extend their life, but they will deteriorate over time.
Thanks.
Mine are quite young by comparison – but they didn’t come with any instructions. So I’ll just check that they’re still pliable and, well, rubbery before use.
I have many bottles with the rubber washers that are several years old. No problem. But like the other brewers said, many factors are at play. Before using bottles with this type cap, I suggest a careful examination of the rubber. Look for potential problems. Replacement washers are not very expensive.
My bag of replacement rubber washers is probably only slightly newer than the bottles that have their original rubber washer on them. They are in good shape and probably 5- 8 years old. But I rarely bottle much anymore…