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I want to know how I can make my airlock quieter (and yes, I have used the search function to no avail). It doesn't have to be completely noise-free but I don't really like that bubbling sound when I'm trying to sleep.

Tossing a clean rag over mine seems to help a lot... We always have an ample supply of retired dish clothes and wash clothes kicking around... Part of the reason I make my own airlocks is because they run so much quieter than most commercial versions...

if you use the three piece kind with the vial-like center piece and the tubular housing it is vastly quieter than the 3 way coil thing with chambers. you know what i mean?

+1 still_in.

my 3 piece from the brewshop is much much quieter than the s shaped one. instead of a bong like bubble, like in the s shaped one, the 3 piece makes hardly any noise at all. i think a little extra water added to the lock helps the 3 piece suppress noise.

or you can learn to just love the sound...as it means likker is-a-comin!

I never use an airlock, just a piece of cheese cloth over the top of an 80 litre fermenter, held in place with the elastic cut from an old pair of undies. This keeps the flies out.

However, I do remember about forty years back a girlfriend of mine made wine and fermented it in her bedroom. Maybe had six or more gallon jars bubbling away. Strange thing is that I NEVER noticed any noise. These days I could be forgiven because my hearing is somewhat stuffed, but my hearing was first class in those days.

I really don't know that an air lock is really all that necessary when fermenting for spirits, but others will disagree.

blanik

Use a balloon with a pinprick in it for a air lock.

SMOKEU wrote:I want to know how I can make my airlock quieter (and yes, I have used the search function to no avail). It doesn't have to be completely noise-free but I don't really like that bubbling sound when I'm trying to sleep.

Move the bed?

I bought a new airlock from my LHBS. Same price as the traditional airlocks. This new one is almost silent. I can't even hear it from a metre away when it's fermenting furiously.

Excellent

Here's a page that shows how to silence a gurgling venturi (which inducts air into water). I know you are not trying to silence a suction, but the same principle should still be effective. http://www.randystacye.com/diy_venturi_silencer.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
This is a link to the video where the basic design is demonstrated http://randystacye.com/images/diyventir ... cervid.mpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

+1 on the just-don't-use-one option

what's wrong with taters balloon with a pin hole?

blanik

blanikdog wrote:what's wrong with taters balloon with a pin hole?

blanik

The baloon sounds like an excellent idea. The pin hole can stretch to blow off pressure, and if the fermenter ever sucks the baloon will collapse and shut off. + a balloon will fit over the bulb of an 's' airlock.

In winter when I ferment in the kitchen, I'll hit the 'mute' during commercials and its a wonderful sound, that glub glub glub, and the aroma only makes it better, , , ,-hey-

Change your airlock to a hose with an air diffuser on the end like the ones they use for fish tanks. Just let that drop into a glass of water and you have a very quiet indicator.

Moving the carbouy is always an option...