airlock backs out of carboy

[bcarwile123]

I am having trouble keeping my airlock stoppers firmly and tightly in place in my 5 gallon carboys.   I read somewhere that wet stoppers are the problem. How do I dry them after sanitizing and not contaminate the cider with bacteria or other bad stuff.  I typically sanitize the stopper and the airlock with Starsan before inserting in the carboy.  If I dry them it stands to reason that I will contaminate them and I have had some issues with film yeast in the past.

[dick kirk]

You can use a hairdryer to quickly dry them, while holding the top, not contaminating. I also wire them on Ala like champagne corks.

Dungbeetle Dick

On Oct 25, 2025, at 8:51 AM, 'bcarwile123' via Cider Workshop <cider-w...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

I am having trouble keeping my airlock stoppers firmly and tightly in place in my 5 gallon carboys.   I read somewhere that wet stoppers are the problem. How do I dry them after sanitizing and not contaminate the cider with bacteria or other bad stuff.  I typically sanitize the stopper and the airlock with Starsan before inserting in the carboy.  If I dry them it stands to reason that I will contaminate them and I have had some issues with film yeast in the past.

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[CGJ]

I keep a bottle of cheapest grain alcohol diluted to about 50% ABV in my
cider corner, and just slop a bit over the outside of the silicone
stopper before I put it into the carboy; it seems to help keep them from
sliding back out even if they are still damp.

 I actually use the same stuff to lubricate the shaft of the plastic (3
piece, disposable) airlock so that it slides into the stopper more
easily, and then use the same stuff to fill the airlock.

Carl Johnson
West Barnstable
Massachusetts

[Bill Carwile]

I use cheap vodka in my airlock but did not think to use it aon the stopper.  Will try washing the stopper with the vodka.   Thanks.

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[Jeremie Reinhart]

Rubber bands

Jeremie Reinhart

"Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard"

“Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can't”

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[Bill Carwile]

OK, rubber bands to secure the airlock stopper.  How do you secure the stopper with a rubber band?  There is not much on a carboy to hook on to to draw the stopper down.  A picture would be great?

Thanks, Bill carwile

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[terryc...@gmail.com]

I don't have an answer except "push them in really hard", which is what I do. Whatever happened to the red rubber stoppers that we used to have? I use my old ones whenever possible. The new white silicon stoppers seem to have more taper than the red rubber ones so are more prone to coming out and also seem to be a harder material that doesn't compress well... all rendering them "not fit for purpose". I wonder if the makers and sellers realy understand their product and its use. That's my grumble for the day! 

[Andrew Duckworth]

Hi Bill, 

I've experienced the same issue. To solve it I  wrap a piece of fine wire around the carboy neck or the carboy handle if there is one and then up and around the bottom of the airlock on top of the bung and then back down around the neck again, while holding the bung in place. It seems once the bung has dried off in a day or two the wire can usually be removed and it will stay put.

Cheers,

Andrew

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[Bill Carwile]

Thanks,  

 I'll give it a try.

Bill

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