Master your self-serve system

 

Administrator Training

Troubleshooting:Pouring Issues

Pouring Issues

Most of the time when beer won't pour, it is an issue somewhere in the beer system. However, it is possible to have PMB be the cause of beer not pouring.

1) Check the Keg

  • Make sure the keg is not empty.
  • Ensure that the keg is connected to the sankey (keg tapper) properly.
    • Sometimes the sankey is connected but the handle is not pressed down into place.
    • It is also possible to have an imported keg that a domestic sankey will connect to but will be unable to fully engage the keg. So beer will not flow, try a known domestic keg.
    • In rare situations, the keg could be damaged internally and only allowing air to pass into the beer line. Try a known good keg.
  • Please contact your keg distributor if the keg is the issue.

2) Check the gas supply

  • Every sankey has a gas relief pin on the side, near the base.
    • Remove the sankey from the keg and pull the pin to see if gas is getting to the keg. If you hear gas, you can stop here and continue to step 3.
  • Ensure the main bottles have gas and are turned on.
    • Generally the main gas cylinders have gauges on them that will show the fill level, a knob at the top that needs to be opened, and a valve off the gas regulator that needs to be on.
  • Ensure any secondary gas regulators are on.
    • Most up to date beer systems have secondary regulators that must be turned on and adjusted. These can be located inside the refrigerator.
  • Please contact your local draft beer tech for additional gas supply issues.

3) Faulty beer faucet

  • Clean the beer faucet
    • Remove the faucet from the wall
    • Take the faucet apart
    • Soak all parts in soda water and clean with a soft brush
    • Reassemble and reinstall
  • Test if system will pour
  • Please contact your local draft beer tech for additional help with faucet cleaning/replacing.

4) Frozen beer lines

  • The beer system operates below freezing, so if the lines were recently cleaned, but water was left in the lines. It could happen that the water has frozen and is blocking the flow of beer.
    • Turn the glycol pack and/or refrigeration off for 2 or 3 hours to allow the temp to raise above freezing. Then try pouring beer from that line.
  • Please contact your local draft beer tech for additional glycol/refrigeration issues.