Does an airlock reduce the smells in small room?

[sssmashed]

New to all this but want to get started. My question is regarding fermentation, (ventilating the CO2 produced and reducing the overt smells).

I live in a shared community, in a room that does not have great ventilation. I'm looking at two options regarding a fermentator.

A 32 L Fermentation Pail without an airlock, (I will start with small runs so I will not be using the full volume of the pail), or buying two 1 gallon carboys with air locks.

At this point am only interested in doing small runs, experimenting with either the Gerber or All Bran washes. I note that images I've seen from Gerber wash thread from rad14701 is that he uses two small carboys. Is that the way to go or doesn't matter whether you use a 32 liter fermentation pail or carboys with airlocks to reduce the smell?

[cuginosgrizzo]

where you ferment does not change much the results, so both your options will do. the open vessel is more prone to infection, obviously. an airlock with starsan in it will reduce the smell, but I would not sleep in the same room with my ferment, especially if it does not have great ventilation.

[sssmashed]

cuginosgrizzo, thanks for replying, I can have the windows open in the spring, summer and fall for extended periods, I was also thinking smaller runs would reduce the output of co2, I was thinking of quantities of 8 litres at a time, would runs of that amount alleviate your concerns?

[der wo]

I often ferment 12l. I smell it about two or three days. But it's not much. I think it's only a problem, if you have to hide it. Try it out. The smell after distilling while emptying the still will become much more a problem.

Fermenter size or airlock will not change much.

[Bushman]

My wife never complained after my first run. The first fermentation was brutal, why because I didn't know better and used Turbo. But currently I built a large fermenter cart that is insulated so we have very little smell and it is in my outbuilding.

[moosemilk]

I often have 2 or three 5 gallon buckets going in the house, airlocked. Nobody has ever said anything about smell, other than one comment asking what I was baking (most grain ferments smell like baking bread, rums smell like cookies). Der Wo is correct on the actual running and the smell after from the backset, i'd be more concerned on that. Not a bad smell while running, but you can definitely smell it.

[still_stirrin]

Fabreeze.

A ferment will smell...whether or not it's objectionable depends on who's "smeller" is focused. I've put the exhaust hose (not an airlock) into a bucket of diluted chlorine/bleach water and let the bubbles rise out of that. It still smells...but it smells like a sanitized room.

My rum ferments stink a LOT. Because of the yeast bomb, they ferment very fast, expiring a lot of gas. That gas carries along the smells of the yeast, the molasses, and the proteins and oils in the ferment. Even with the "bubble bucket" it still smells a lot (very low WAF). But, the intense smells are done in two or 3 days. (just send the wife to her mother's house for a few days...)

Grain ferments smell like....beer. Imagine that. Not unpleasant at all. But the acidic aroma of the CO2 bubbling through the ferment can smell a little "sharp", especially if the ferment is aggressive. Low and slow seems to be less offensive. Pay attention to the ferment temperatures to maintain control of the activity level.

I'd suppose you could just get a cat...and a litter box. Those smells seem to rule when present. Your ferments wouldn't be very noticeable under a stinky litter box.
ss

[LWTCS]

Use mouth wash in the lock

[rad14701]

I often have two 6 gallon carboys with airlocks fermenting away in the kitchen and off smells is never an issue... Cooking produces far more noticeable smells than fermentation...

[Mikey-moo]

Can confirm... I made a 25L batch of Rad's All Bran with no airlock - just a loosely fitting lid - there was no noticeable smell at all.

[sssmashed]

Mikey-moo good to know there is not much off smells using the All Bran recipe, I would prefer a fermentation pail if for no other reason than it is easier to clean, I do like the idea of mouthwash in an air lock or tube to a pail of diluted bleach, so while I am leaning toward a pail I will sit with this for a couple of days as the carboy with air lock is still in the mix. Thanks for all the replies!

[bitter]

My wife sais she can smell it but I have a 15 batch (Sugar head over beer spent grains) and 5g of beer fermenting. When I walk in the house you can smell the fermentation, stronger than you would think, Activated charcoal can be used to help mask the smells but note sure its really needed. To me it smell nice.

Bruce

[GrassHopper]

My ferments smell good to me. Like bread rising. I do 25 gal ferments, no air lock. I would be more concerned distilling. I just had an experience that woke me up. The gas company was called to my location to check for gas leaks. The neighbor called them because he said he was smelling gas. The gas company guy asked me if I noticed the smell of gas anywhere? I said I didn't and he couldn't find any leaks. I know what it was....I ran two days in a row and I use propane. Propane smells like propane a bit when running and I have the shop door cracked open. So for the rest of you out there, be aware of the propane smell drifting toward your neighbor. I am looking into electric now. I don't need snoopy neighbors or the gas company at my door.

[Prairiepiss]

A small ferment will smell like a loaf of bread. A 55 gal drum ferment will make the neighbors think you started a bakery.

If you are worried about the ferment smell because of your living arrangements in a single room. What are you going to do about running it off? Which as Rad said smells way worse. And I don't know maybe a little obvious of what you are doing.

[sssmashed]

If you are worried about the ferment smell because of your living arrangements in a single room. What are you going to do about running it off? Which as Rad said smells way worse. And I don't know maybe a little obvious of what you are doing.

Even venting to the outdoors could be problematic. The best I can come up with is this, http://www.amazon.com/iPower-GLFILT6M-A ... 1_2&sr=8-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow, I was thinking that this would alleviate the smells somewhat, any opinions.

[GrassHopper]

I would think that even one of those room air filters that remove dust and odors would do the trick. But that there carbon filter should do it as well. Good luck

[sssmashed]

I would think that even one of those room air filters that remove dust and odors would do the trick. But that there carbon filter should do it as well. Good luck

Yep Grasshopper, could be overkill, I will look into your suggestion.

[Smokee]

I was concerned about this as well. I framed and drywalled my side of the garage and turned it into a computer room, that's where I do all my liquor related work. I'll have two 6.5 gallon buckets of mash fermenting usually and the smell is negligible. Even while distilling no one says anything. My wife's a smell nazi too, she comments on everything.

[sssmashed]

Smokes, thanks for your feedback, so the distilling is not that obvious?

[Mikey-moo]

At the volume you'll be running I'd be very surprised if anyone ever noticed.

[sssmashed]

Thanks Mike for clarifying that for me.

[jedneck]

I'd be more worried about the stillage than the ferment. I ferment in the basement and can't smell them upstairs when they are fermenting (2x 30 gallon fermenters with an old sheet to cover). But when I drain the boiler the smell goes straight upstairs.

And I ferment funky smelling infected grain mashes.

[sssmashed]

Jedneck I live in a rural area and we have a compost, my runs will not be large and I was also thinking that you could flush down the loo, I have bought an air purifier and my fermentation equipment is coming so I will find out soon.

[bilgriss]

Be careful what you flush. And don't flush anything hot. You'll melt the wax seal.

[Smokee]

Smokes, thanks for your feedback, so the distilling is not that obvious?

I showed my wife the airlock percolating this evening and she said it smell like bread. She's super sensitive to smell, no ones else has ever said anything. Outside the room I mash in there's no odor... at all. Even if someone smells it they won't know what it is. My distilling doesn't make much smell either, I doubt anyone would know what it is even if they smell something.

Get a jar of Ragu and let it simmer when you're distilling, everyone will think you're just an Italian guy that cooks.

[rad14701]

Smokee, add a drop or three of anything into the air lock... You know those little bottles of mouth freshener they sell where you put a drop on or under your tongue...??? They work great... Used those for wines back when that was the fad...

[Smokee]

Smokee, add a drop or three of anything into the air lock... You know those little bottles of mouth freshener they sell where you put a drop on or under your tongue...??? They work great... Used those for wines back when that was the fad...

Ha ha, that's an idea right there! sssmashed, there you go! Give it a try! No one ever goes in my computer room so it could stink to high heaven out there and no one would care but if you're worried Rad's idea sounds good!

[muscashine]

I often ferment 12l. I smell it about two or three days. But it's not much. I think it's only a problem, if you have to hide it. Try it out. The smell after distilling while emptying the still will become much more a problem.

Fermenter size or airlock will not change much.

Agreed! I don't smell anything while distilling but when I open that drain valve afterwards... WOW. It definitely doesn't smell good. Much more acrid than the ferment. I let the still cool down for a good while after finishing a run, and then empty into a sink with cold running water, to try and cut down the smell. Adding cold water to the top of the still might help too - you want to knock down any residual water/alcohol vapor that's inside that will float around your house.

If you're truly worried about your neighbors asking about the fermenting smell - spend a little extra money and make your first ferment a 5 gallon batch of wine. Wine stores sell kits and bottles and such. If your neighbors ask about the smell you can say you're getting into winemaking. Six months latter hand them a bottle.

Good or bad, it won't matter - but it would alleviate any of their concerns.

[Wooday]

Once was a time I did all my fermenting in my bedroom, no closet.
I had a lemon wine that was throwing out stink bad enough to make me gag.
I attached a medium plastic yogurt container to the top of my 3 piece airlock and filled the thing with activated charcoal. Killed all the smell.

[muscashine]

Once was a time I did all my fermenting in my bedroom, no closet.
I had a lemon wine that was throwing out stink bad enough to make me gag.
I attached a medium plastic yogurt container to the top of my 3 piece airlock and filled the thing with activated charcoal. Killed all the smell.

SMH that's an awesome idea. I thought about putting a 1/4 ID plastic hose on mine and running it under the back door, venting it all outside. The charcoal is GREAT