It is very difficult to organize a stable fermentation process without a water seal. Experienced home winemakers and moonshiners know this. Although nowadays you can buy a factory-made water seal, it is easier to make this device yourself from scrap materials, spending just a few minutes. We will consider the most successful designs further.

Why do you need a water seal? During fermentation, carbon dioxide is actively released (about 4 cubic meters per 1 liter of alcohol produced). The accumulation of carbon dioxide can lead to high pressure in the fermentation tank, which can lead to an explosion. The gas must be removed, but this must be done so that oxygen does not enter the container. The fact is that oxygen activates the activity of bacteria that convert alcohol into acetic acid, and without access to air these bacteria are inactive.

A fermentation air seal is a valve that removes carbon dioxide while preventing air from entering. Without this device, winemaking is impossible, otherwise young wine immediately turns into vinegar. Moonshiners are still arguing about its necessity, but it is better for beginners to install it.

There is an opinion that mash should “breathe”, so a water seal is not needed. In fact, mash oxidizes no worse than wine. It’s just that during the period of active fermentation, the carbon dioxide released prevents oxygen from reaching the surface. But as soon as the alcohol bacteria do their job, their vinegar “colleagues” immediately get to work, turning the alcohol into acid. If such mash is not distilled in time, it will simply turn sour or an unpleasant sourish taste will appear in the moonshine. The exit rate also drops.

The mash under a water seal can stand without distillation much longer and not oxidize. All the alcohol produced by our friendly bacteria is stored.

1. Classic water seal(lid, tube, jar). The simplest and most reliable kit. It is enough to make a hole in the lid of the fermentation tank, insert the tube and seal the joint with glue. Place the other end in a jar of water.

Disadvantage: with a small tube diameter, the water seal can become clogged with foam, so I recommend using large-diameter tubes rather than thin capillaries.

This water seal allows you to accurately determine the readiness of wine or mash. If there are no bubbles in a jar of water for 1-2 days, then the unsweetened mash is ready for distillation, and the wine is ready for draining from the sediment.

One of the variations of this design is a water seal made from a dropper. More details in the video.

During fermentation, an unpleasant odor appears. This is very important for apartment residents who do not have the opportunity to take the container with mash into a non-residential premises. You can get rid of the smell by releasing carbon dioxide into the sewer. You just need to improve the jar into which the fermentation products fall.

Gas enters the jar through a tube from the fermentation tank, overcomes the pressure of the liquid column (h) and goes into the sewer. The water column serves as a kind of barrier that prevents gases from the sewer from entering the fermentation tank.

This design resembles a steam chamber for a moonshine still. Two holes are made in a jar with a tight lid, then they are connected to the tubes and sealed. A modernized half-liter jar is filled to 1/3 of its volume with water, the inlet tube is lowered into the liquid by 1-2 cm, and the outlet tube is lowered into the washbasin.

2. Medical glove. Simple design suitable for wide-mouth fermentation containers (jars and bottles). In essence, this is not a water seal, but it works no worse. The glove shutter is often used by women, since its construction does not require drilling, soldering or gluing anything.

A small hole is made in any of the fingers of the rubber glove with a needle. Next, the glove is put on the neck of the container. To prevent gas pressure from tearing off the glove, the attachment point with the neck is covered with an elastic band or tied with thread.

Disadvantage: due to the too large diameter of the neck and high gas pressure on containers with a volume of more than 20 liters, it is very difficult or even impossible to securely fasten the glove. The smell of fermentation will be present in the room.

During active fermentation, the glove inflates; when the process ends, it deflates again.

3. Cotton plug. The neck of the container is plugged with a stopper made of cotton wool or other porous material, through the structure of which carbon dioxide can escape. But the cork does not provide complete tightness, especially at the very end of fermentation. The pressure in the bottle drops, as a result of which air begins to enter the container. Another drawback is that it is very difficult to understand when fermentation has ended.

A cotton plug is used if for some reason it is not possible to install a more reliable structure.

4. “Quiet” water seal. The release of carbon dioxide is accompanied by characteristic gurgling sounds. There are people who are annoyed by this. The author of the following video solved the problem by creating a water seal from a syringe and a plastic bottle. This water seal will take a little more time to make than in previous cases, but you will have a device that resembles store-bought options.

Apart from silent fermentation, this design has no other advantages.

Every winemaker knows that to make good homemade wine you definitely need a water seal. Of course, now you can buy this device. But why spend money if you can assemble the structure yourself in 5-10 minutes.

Why do you need a water seal?

When the fermentation process occurs, CO2 - carbon dioxide - is released from the wort. Without a water seal, CO2 remains in the container, which often causes it to rupture. Since we need good wine, and not spoiled containers and nerves, we should install a water seal on the jar. However, it must be manufactured in such a way as to not only ensure the removal of CO2, but also to prevent oxygen from entering the container. After all, the air is rich in various microorganisms that enter the jar and begin to multiply there. There is a risk of getting regular acetic acid. Without oxygen, bacteria cannot live and reproduce.

Classic water seal

You will need: a plastic tube, a lid and a jar.

Winemakers consider this design not only the simplest, but also extremely reliable. You need to make a small hole in the lid and place a straw in it. Next, you should seal the junction of the tube and the lid, most often this is done with glue. The free tip is placed in a small container with plain water. It is very convenient to use a regular dropper in this design.

If you are preparing wine in large containers, it is better to use a larger diameter tube. Otherwise, its end may become clogged with foam, after which the water seal will cease to play its role in fermentation.

Winemakers also love this device because it makes it very easy to determine the end of fermentation. You just need to watch the bubbles in the water. If they have not been observed for a day, it means that active fermentation has ended.

Many winemakers face the following problem. When fermentation occurs, a sour, rather unpleasant odor appears in the apartment. In private homes, this situation rarely occurs, because there the can can be placed in a non-residential premises.

The solution to this problem is quite simple. We need to make a more advanced jar into which the CO2 goes. Firstly, a roof with two holes is put on it. Secondly, 2 tubes are passed through them. One comes from the mash jar, and the second goes into the sink. The first tube is immersed in a jar of water by 2-3 cm. But the second one should not reach the edge of the water.

CO2 enters the jar through the outlet from the fermentation container, after which the gas overcomes the liquid column. Now he rises safely and goes into the sewer. The water becomes a barrier through which carbon dioxide cannot return to the fermentation tank.

Rubber glove

You couldn't think of a simpler device than this. It is suitable for jars and bottles that have wide necks. Of course, it’s quite difficult to call a glove a water seal. But this design works great, no worse than its analogues. Most often, such a shutter is chosen by women, because when using it and “manufacturing” it is not necessary to do men’s tasks: soldering, drilling, and gluing.

In order for the device to work, you need to make a small hole anywhere in the glove. After this, the water seal is carefully placed on the neck of the container with the wort. Of course, the glove will have to cope with quite a lot of pressure. To “help” it, the junction of the neck and the elastic band is further strengthened. Most often this is done using an elastic band or strong thread.

Once secured, the glove should straighten and inflate. This way you will understand that the wort has begun its main work - actively fermenting. As soon as the glove “drops,” fermentation is complete, it’s time to move on to the next stage of winemaking. By the way, when using such a water seal, the aroma of CO2 will be in the air. There is nothing to be done about this, unless you move the container to a non-residential but warm room.

Cotton wool plug

To remove CO2 from the container, its neck is plugged with a kind of cotton plug. You can use not only cotton wool, but also other porous material. However, in this case there is no need to talk about complete tightness. At the end of the fermentation process, a sharp drop in pressure occurs. Because of this, air begins to penetrate into the container. In addition, it is almost impossible to determine the end of fermentation. Such a water seal is installed if another one cannot be made for some reason.

All equipment that you will use for winemaking must be sterilized. This is not difficult to do; you just need to lower the object into boiling water for a couple of seconds. Winemakers are still debating whether this should be done with water seals. Many are inclined to believe that the glove, the cap, and the gas outlet tube must undergo a sterilization process.

The water seal performs a number of important functions for preserving the quality of the mash:

• Removes carbon dioxide produced in destructive quantities.
• Protects the mash from oxygen and, as a result, souring.
• Helps control the duration and end of the fermentation phase. Usually the readiness of the mash is determined by the cessation of gas evolution. The design of any water seal allows you to see this.
• Allows you to get rid of beer odors in the apartment. The additional tube element can be discharged along with the gases into the sewer system.

There is a widespread belief that mash should breathe, especially in the first days. Often the container is left open and souring does not occur. This is explained quite simply. The intensity of carbon dioxide release at the beginning of fermentation is so great that its evaporation occurs continuously. Oxygen cannot break through the carbon dioxide layer. After 2-3 days there is less gas and it no longer blocks the path of oxygen.

Classic - stopper, tube, jar

The simple design and availability of materials allow everyone to make a water seal for mash on their own, with minimal loss of time and money. For a classic water seal you will need:

• a rubber / polyethylene cap or stopper of suitable diameter to tightly seal the neck of the fermentation container;
• a short piece of tubing;
• silicone or any other tube diameter hose;
• glass jar filled 1/3 with water.

How to do it?

1. Punch a hole in the lid/stopper and insert a piece of tubing from it.
2. Pass a flexible hose of the same diameter into the tube. The end of the hose should not touch the mash.
3. Fill the jar a third with water and lower the second end of the hose into it.
4. All connections of the lid, tube and hose are carefully sealed with glue, raw dough or plasticine.

If you are making a water seal for mash from grain raw materials, you should use a larger diameter hose. Cereal and some fruit mashes are characterized by rapid foaming. A narrow hose can simply become clogged with foam.

You can improve the design based on the principle of a steam tank and remove gases and unpleasant odors into the sewer. To do this, we also close the jar of water with a lid in which we make 2 holes. The first includes a hose coming from the mash. He sinks into the water. A hose comes out of the second, the end of which is directed into the sewer pipe. It should not touch the water in the jar. The thickness of the water acts as a barrier to the penetration of odors from the sewer into the apartment.

From a glove

This fermentation water seal cannot be fully called a water seal, because... there is no water here. But he definitely deserved the title of the most popular. An ordinary medical glove is placed over the neck of the fermentation container and firmly fixed at the base, for example, with an elastic band or tape. A puncture is made in one or more fingers with a needle. Gas comes out of the bottle, but no air gets inside.

This closure is optimal for bottles up to 15 liters with a large neck diameter. It is believed that women most often use the glove seal, because... no assembly or tools required. In addition, the glove is characterized by high visualization of the fermentation process. During the active stages of gas formation, the glove swells. When fermentation ends and you can move on to distillation, it falls off.

From cotton wool

You can make a water seal from medical cotton wool. In this case, the neck of the fermentation container is tightly plugged with a cotton ball. The simple structure of cotton wool in the first stages of fermentation releases carbon dioxide and prevents the entry of air. But this method cannot be called completely airtight. One of the disadvantages is that it is difficult to determine the end of fermentation. A slight advantage is the sterility of the material. In general, the cotton seal is usually not popular and is used due to the lack of other means.

From a dropper and a syringe

You can make a water seal with your own hands from a variety of available materials. Medical droppers and syringes are widely used in this area. Like cotton wool, they are sterile, but the mechanism works more efficiently.

Dropper + syringes

For a reliable water seal device you will need:

• dropper;
• syringe 10 ml;
• syringe 15 ml;
• fasteners (elastic band, twine, tape).

We print out all the devices, remove the fittings from the syringes, and cut off 3 cm of length from the dropper tube. We also remove the internal filter of the dropper. The hydraulic seal is assembled from syringes according to the following scheme:

1. Insert a 10 ml syringe into the dropper with the spout down.
2. We attach the second syringe to it using an elastic band or tape in the opposite direction, with the nose up.
3. We connect the nozzles of the syringes with a tube cut off from the dropper without kinks or kinks.
4. We get a design where the large syringe contains water, and the small one collects gas.

IV

A homemade water seal for wine or moonshine can be made from just one dropper.

1. Close the bottle of mash with a plastic cap or other object that can be easily pierced with a needle.
2. We make a hole in the lid with a dropper needle. We fix the dropper on the lid.
3. Place the tube in a jar of water.

The principle of operation is the same as that of a shutter made from a hose and cork in the classic version. The stage of fermentation can be judged by the behavior of the tube in water, whether it is bubbling or calm.

Purchased

Purchased water seals are more compact in appearance. There is no whole system of tubes, hoses, cans and other devices. The most obvious advantage is that there is no need for assembly. Structurally, there are 2 types of factory hydraulic valves:

• Double-chamber: a monolithic water seal consisting of two sections containing water. Made of thick-walled food grade plastic. Has a cone-shaped silhouette. The tightness of the connection is achieved by a sealing plug. Other names: coil, fermentation pile.
• Three-chamber: a collapsible glass made of three parts. One of the chambers is filled with water to the required level.

The choice of water seal designs is large enough for everyone to be able to find a suitable type and not have to wonder whether a water seal is needed.

A siphon is one of the mandatory elements for connecting plumbing equipment to sewer networks. It constantly contains a small volume of water, a water seal - it is simply necessary for sewerage, because... prevents the spread of negative odors. To choose a siphon, it’s worth understanding this issue, right?

We will talk about how the water seal fulfills its duties. The information presented to your attention will help you easily determine the types of device that are optimal for you personally. Reliable information will provide the opportunity to evaluate practical aspects and make an informed purchase.

The article outlines the design differences of the various models with utmost precision and describes the specifics of the installation. Step-by-step instructions, photographs and video guidance will help independent craftsmen in their work.

No matter where the hydraulic valve is located in the sewer network, its purpose remains the same:

• block water hammer to reduce the load on sewerage devices and pipes;
• prevent the penetration of unpleasant specific odors into residential premises.

If the water seal (or siphon) is selected correctly, a favorable atmosphere reigns in the house, and the sewer network goes without repair for a long time.

The designs of hydraulic seals of different types differ, but all of them, in one way or another, are pipes with bends of a certain shape, sometimes equipped with additional dead-end or dynamic devices.

One of the most important conditions for the functioning of a water seal is the constant presence of water in its cavity, which acts as a barrier against the penetration of gases and unpleasant odors outside.

The water barrier is constantly in the siphon. If you do not use a device (kitchen sink or toilet) for a long time, the water will evaporate and eventually appear in the bathroom or kitchen.

The same thing will happen when you flush for the first time after a long absence. But with constant use, the volume of water in the water seal is constantly updated, which prevents stagnation and, accordingly, the appearance of an unpleasant “aroma”.

Image gallery

Water seal for fermentation- this is a device that will definitely be needed when making wine or moonshine at home. It is necessary to control the fermentation processes, due to which the wort turns into alcoholic beverages. In industrial settings, complex systems are used; they are not necessary for home alcohol production. A water seal can be purchased at a specialized store, or you can also make it yourself using available materials.

The process of making any alcoholic beverage (wine or moonshine) is associated with the activity of yeast microorganisms. They use sugar for fermentation, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol. The second component is the purpose of preparing alcohol, and the gas must be removed from the containers. If it accumulates in bottles in large quantities, it creates increased pressure and the glass may burst.

Bottle closures are installed to allow carbon dioxide to escape freely. They are a discharge tube, one end of which is in a bottle of alcohol, and the other in a separate container of water. There are also varieties where the process takes place without the use of water. There are several reasons why a water seal is needed and how it works:

• removal of excess carbon dioxide to control the pressure inside the bottles;
• preventing oxygen from entering the mash - in the presence of this gas, yeast enters fermentation reactions worse;
• protection against pathogenic microorganisms that can enter containers with alcohol from the environment;
• getting rid of the unpleasant odor that necessarily accompanies wort fermentation - at home this can become a problem;
• control over the preparation of wine or moonshine - when fermentation ends, the release of carbon dioxide in the water seal (even the simplest homemade one) stops.

A water seal for mash is a necessary part that will allow you to prepare truly high-quality alcohol. The water seal device resembles a valve that operates only in one direction. It controls the removal of gases from the bottles where the wort is fermented. Without it, if you leave the container open, it quickly becomes saturated with oxygen. In its presence, the activity of aerobic bacteria is activated. The main reason why it is necessary to remove oxygen from the mash is to prevent oxidation and deterioration of the raw materials.

Purchased water seals

Water seals for wine or moonshine are sold in specialized stores. They will not cost much - even with the use of purchased devices, the cost of alcohol will be much less than its price in stores. In addition, they are designed to be reusable. The design of water seals may vary. Depending on their type and mechanism of action, there are two main categories:

• two-chamber - a transparent tube with several thickenings (chambers) filled with water, as well as an airtight rubber seal;
• collapsible - its design consists of two hollow chambers (flasks), one of which is inserted into the other.

Both types of water seals work well and can be used to make alcohol at home. The main selection criterion is convenience and personal preference. The only advantage of collapsible structures may be their small size compared to two-chamber ones.

How to make a water seal for mash

Making a water seal for fermentation with your own hands is possible. The main advantages of homemade structures will be their low cost and the ability to use scrap materials. They are slightly inferior in quality to ready-made devices, but are suitable for use at home.

In order to make a water seal yourself, you need to understand the principle of its operation. The main part of any design for these purposes is the one-way valve. It regulates the movement of gases, preventing oxygen from entering the container and carbon dioxide from leaving the container. If purchased devices work due to outlet tubes with cavities, then homemade ones can have any shape.

Water

The easiest way to build a water seal with your own hands is the water type. For it you will need a long tube, which can be purchased at construction or hardware departments, at a fishing store or at pet stores. There are no requirements for this part - it just must be of sufficient length. You will also need to select a separate container (a regular cup will do), fill it with water and constantly maintain the liquid level. The last ingredient is a small piece of plasticine.

A water seal can be made using a simple scheme:

• a small hole is made in the cap placed on the bottle of alcohol, the size of which coincides with the diameter of the tube;
• then install the tube and secure it with plasticine so that the gas does not escape;
• the free end of the tube is lowered into a container of water - thus, carbon dioxide comes out under pressure, and oxygen does not enter the tube.

The end of the fermentation process can be determined visually. Gas bubbles will no longer appear in the water in which the free end of the tube is located. There is also a way to improve the design and get rid of the unpleasant odor that is formed as a result of fermentation. To do this you will need another tube. One end of it is also placed in a glass of water (it should not touch the surface of the liquid), and the other end is taken to the sewer. In this case, the container with water is tightly closed with a lid with holes for two tubes, and then each of them is hermetically sealed with plasticine.

Shutter from a medical syringe

A more advanced option, which is similar in principle to commercial devices, is a water seal made from a dropper and two syringes. For such a design you will need two disposable medical syringes and a dropper (the most valuable element in it is the tube). Syringes can be taken in 10 or 15 ml sizes, depending on the volume of the container where the alcohol is prepared. The main thing is to connect these components in the correct sequence and securely fix them:

• remove the syringes from the packaging, remove the needles;
• print the dropper, remove the internal filter and cut off the first 3 cm of its length;
• tape two syringes in the middle with tape so that they are directed in different directions;
• put the dropper tube on the two syringe nozzles so that no creases appear on it (so that the movement of gases or liquids through the tube is not hampered);
• one syringe must remain empty (gas will accumulate in it), and the second must be filled with liquid;
• Place one of the syringes on the lid of the container and seal it tightly.

If it is not possible to make a water seal from syringes, there is a way to make a similar structure only from a dropper. You don't need to cut it or prepare it for this. One end of it with a needle is placed on the lid of a bottle or jar containing an alcoholic drink, and the other is lowered into a container of water. The principle of operation of this device is identical to a commercial water seal or the version with a long tube, but the design of the dropper allows it to be installed without the need for additional sealing. The cost of such shutters is much lower than the price of purchased devices.

Medical glove

One of the most affordable ways to make a water seal for mash with your own hands is with an ordinary medical glove. The method is widespread due to the low cost of consumables. This device is best suited for making those types of homemade alcohol that do not produce large amounts of carbon dioxide during fermentation. These include various wines, ciders and other drinks based on fruits and berries.

The algorithm for making a water seal from a glove is simple:

• a disposable medical glove is placed on the neck of the jar containing the alcohol-containing drink;
• the base of the glove is tightly tied with an elastic band or rope - this way you can ensure tightness and securely fasten the homemade shutter;
• the top of one or more fingers must be pierced with a needle - gas will escape through the holes and the rubber will not burst due to excess pressure;
• if the intensity of fermentation processes becomes lower, punctures in the fingers of the glove can be eliminated - just tie one finger in a knot, use a thread for tying, or apply a few drops of universal glue.

Using a glove as a water seal is a simple and convenient option. Based on its condition, you can control the intensity of fermentation processes. If they happen quickly, a large amount of carbon dioxide is released and it completely fills and inflates the rubber. The glove falls off when the yeast fermentation process ends - this means that the drink is ready for further processing.

However, the glove method also has its downsides. Rubber is not a dense enough material, so it is suitable only for situations where fermentation does not occur too intensely. Very often the gloves burst, which can cause oxidation and spoilage of the wort.

Water seal made of cotton wool

Another way to build a water seal yourself is with an ordinary piece of cotton wool. It is simply pushed into the neck of the bottle. However, this method is only suitable for short-term use. It is impossible to install it hermetically, so mixing of gases occurs very quickly. A cotton plug cannot be called a full-fledged hydraulic seal. It does not act as a one-way valve - both oxygen and carbon dioxide pass through this material easily. It is worth keeping in mind if for some reason you do not have a full-fledged device at hand.

Those who make a water seal for fermentation with their own hands claim that it is not inferior in quality to a store-bought one. It can be made from available and inexpensive materials. When installing them, follow the instructions carefully. If the shutter does not work correctly, the drink may lose its quality and the bottles may burst.