Jeff Flowers on July 16, 2014 28 Comments This regulator adjustment guide will help you with those final steps in assuring that your kegerator provides you with the highest quality tasting beer by walking you step by step through the regulator adjustment process. Step-by-Step Guide: Before you start, please make sure that your CO2 regulator is firmly and properly attached to the CO2 cylinder. This guide will primarily focus on using a single gauge regulator that is included with most kegerators; however, any regulator that can be used on a CO2 cylinder with a CGA-320 valve will work. 1. Open Gas Cylinder Make sure that the brass shut-off valve on the regulator (1) is closed (as shown above), then open the valve (2) on the gas cylinder completely. 2. Fine-Tune Adjustment Nut & Screw Loosen the regulator adjustment nut (3) by slowly turning the nut counter-clockwise until the screw becomes loose. Now, with a flat head screwdriver, turn the adjustment screw (4) clockwise until the desired pressure is shown on the output pressure gauge. We recommend setting the regulator at 12 PSI. NOTE: On regulators designed for draft beer, turning clockwise will increase the output pressure, and turning counter-clockwise will decrease the output pressure. Under normal circumstances we recommend setting the regulator at 12 PSI. Other conditions, such as altitude or special beer styles, may require some adjustment. Consult your keg distributor or the brewery of each beer for recommended PSI settings. 3. Allow Gas to Flow to Coupler Make sure the keg coupler is locked in the downward position. Open the shut-off valve (1) on the regulator to allow CO2 gas to flow from the regulator to the keg coupler. NOTE: You will hear the keg pressurizing. The output needle on the regulator should drop momentarily until the pressure has equalized, then the needle will return to the previously set pressure. 4. Briefly Vent Gas on the Pressure Release Valve The keg coupler is designed with a pressure release valve. Pull the ring on the pressure release valve briefly to allow gas to vent. You will hear a sharp hissing noise once you pull the pressure release valve. NOTE: This is important to do, as it will help gas flow through the regulator and help obtain a more accurate reading on the output pressure gauge. 5. Double Check the Output Pressure Next, you will want to re-check the output pressure on the regulator, and if necessary re-adjust using step #2 until the desired pressure is shown. NOTE: It is always wise to follow up any adjustment to the regulator with a brief pull of the pressure release valve ring to help ensure an accurate pressure reading. 6. Make Sure Beer Pours Properly Check to make sure that beer pours properly out of the faucet. The beer should dispense at a normal pace. If beer is wild, cloudy, or off-tasting, check the owner’s manual for tips on how to remedy common dispensing issues. NOTE: To check for CO2 leaks, drip some soapy water on the CO2 cylinder and regulator connection. If soapy bubbles form, you may need to tighten or re-attach the gold regulator nut connection to the CO2 cylinder. Learn More: 6 Common CO2 Questions Answered 18 Frequently Asked Questions About Kegerators 3 Things to Remember When Storing Draft Beer How Long Does A Keg Remain Fresh?
Pat ob says January 27, 2015 at 7:47 pm We have an igloo kegerator. Co2 is at 10 psi. We installed the keg but we are getting too much foam. The beer is not pouring properly any suggestions. Thank you Reply
Chris says August 15, 2015 at 2:44 am I was having the same issue with my keg and finally figured out that my beer line was too large of a diameter and causing the pour to go waaay too fast, causing foaming. I reduced the diameter of the beer line to 3/16″ID and increased the length from 3′ to 16′. Now they are nice slow pours with just the right amount of head on top. Also make sure the temperature is 38 degrees F and that the keg sits in the cooler for 24 hours after being moved. The jostling in transport can cause it to foam up as well. Your pressure sounds reasonable, I run at 15.5psi and have no problems. Reply
mike says January 31, 2016 at 9:58 pm google beer carbonation chart then google How to balance your kegging Reply
Luke says October 22, 2019 at 5:33 pm A long line between the keg and dispenser is a BIG DEAL! I run 10ft of line and it helps tremendously. I run Weizens at 18 psi and stuff like mic ultra at 14psi and it pours great. A short line…foam city. Reply
alan says March 13, 2015 at 9:48 am constant foaming at the head pressure is regulated at 15 psi does this affect the foaming at the head or is it the temperature of the box temperature in the Box is right around 34 degrees Reply
mike says January 31, 2016 at 9:59 pm google beer carbonation chart then google How to balance your kegging Reply
Steve says March 15, 2015 at 1:42 pm I have a Danby keg. When I pour pitchers of beer I notice the psi drop and I constantly have to adjust the Psi. It will eventually drop to zero and no beer will pour. I adjust it back to about 10 psi and after several pours it drops back down. What would be my problem here. Do I have something hooked up wrong? Reply
absone says May 1, 2015 at 12:44 am A great piece of article on beer regulators. thanks. it helped a lot quite a bit. Reply
Troy Duron says September 18, 2015 at 6:57 pm I have a double gauged regulator, and the high pressure gauge is right at 500 psi. The beer is coming out of the tap too foamy. Is my c02 tank running low? Reply
Jennifer says November 9, 2015 at 4:49 pm My husband says our kegerator needs a new compressor, but we don’t know how to buy one. You know–to make sure we get the right piece. Can you help? It is an Edgestar. Thanks! Reply
david lundstrom says November 17, 2015 at 8:23 pm I bought a used kenmore kegarator. .I put a new bottle of carbon dioxide on..I noticed no leaks in the lines..I came back from work the next day at bottle was empty..I did notice pressure guage read 15 or so lbs going in..did it all dump into keg or leak somewhere? ( new to kegarator) Reply
mike says January 31, 2016 at 10:01 pm no you have a leak somewhere. spray soapy water on your lines and ked lid and fittings looking for bubbles Reply
Chris says December 26, 2015 at 8:36 pm Do I leave the CO2 cylinder valve open even when not using the tap to pour beer (like overnight), or do I shut it off to prevent over carbonation(?), etc? Reply
mike says January 31, 2016 at 10:02 pm yes you leave it open also try googleing beer carbonation chart then google How to balance your kegging Reply
scott kosonen says March 24, 2016 at 3:54 am hi , im new to kegging , have researched various methods of carbonatting my homebrew. my issue is with my regulator. i have the type with 2 gauges . my problem is i set the PSI but it will just rise by itself. i release any pressure in the keg , readjust the pressure.leave it for 30 mins. go outside to check and it will almost double in that time. is it something simple or is there something wrong with my regulator. it was all brand new and have only kegged 2 brews since owning it Reply
john says May 9, 2016 at 2:52 pm Didn’t know the intricacies. Thanks for explaining. Especially the release valve part. Reply
Jeffrey Cox says May 14, 2016 at 7:56 pm My pressure appears to be zero until I open up the Co2. Co2 cartridge seems to still work even though I have had two full kegs, two half and three 1/4 kegs. Should the pressure gauge stay reading 12 when not in use? Reply
Marcus Hauser says September 1, 2016 at 9:34 am I hooked up my kegerator and my psi is on 12. I don’t know what my pressure should be on. I keep getting foam. Reply
sheridan says May 29, 2017 at 2:31 am Hi I’m new to kegerating, i have two 19lt kegs but have been told different things on how to use it. i have been told to burp my kegs but no one has explained the method? also then leave the keg in the fridge for a day then pressure it to 2.5 bar ? for two days but my gauge is in psi?then 6psi to pore I’m just very confused any help would be great cheers Reply
Buckeye Ted says June 20, 2017 at 7:07 pm Sheridan Adjust your pressure regulator up to 12 psi. That’s a good setting for beer pouring. Then open up stop cock valve if you have one. Let the keg pressurize. Now burp it by gently pulling the pressure relief valve ring on the keg connector. You are now ready to drink beer! Reply
Daril says August 4, 2017 at 2:35 am I have a kegerator that I have ran through my bar, co2 is on and flowing to keg but I am receiving no beer what can be the problem? Reply
Ashley Maxwell says September 1, 2017 at 11:39 pm Thanks for your comment about how a CO2 regulator should be connected to the cylinder. I didn’t know that CO2 regulators can help with keg compression. If someone was looking into CO2 refills, I would think that they would keep this post in mind. Reply
L ynn says February 24, 2018 at 1:03 pm How did you reduce the beer line to 3/16″ and still fit on the 3/8 ” connectors I presently have? Reply
aj102591 says August 28, 2018 at 10:49 pm If you dip the hose in boiling water or use a heat gun to heat the ends up it makes the line softer and more pliable while it’s still soft push it onto the fitting then once the ends cool back down they shrink and constrict themselves around the nipple of the fitting I’d still put a hose clamp on for safe measure though Reply
JMaj says October 1, 2018 at 4:58 pm I hooked up a new CO2 tank to a new dual kegerator. The valve that shows full (Green), empty (Red) started at 61 when I first hooked it up. It’s at 58 after about 2 hours but still in the green. Is it normal to drop little bit right away like that as long as it stays in the green for a little while? Reply
Rob Schombert says June 24, 2019 at 8:09 am I have a double regulator setup, and If I use the 1st regulator, and set the keg at 4 psi, open the outlet valve no problem. If you look at the 2nd regulator it is slowly building up pressure. I have the 2nd regulator pressure knob all the way open, and outlet closed. In less than a day, the 2nd regulator pressure has pegged the needle on 50 psi. 1st regulator pressure is still where I set it. I pull the pressure vent for the 2nd regulator and it drops back down to 0, and starts the process over again. Do I have a bad regulator? The 1st one works fine? Reply
Rusty Creel says September 11, 2020 at 6:35 pm Just hooked up my co2 but the guage is showing no pressure.. So what is the fix? Reply
Jake says January 16, 2021 at 9:05 pm I have a kegerator that has previously worked perfect. I ran out of Co2 and purchased a new 5lb tank. I hooked up this one the same KD previous tanks. Got the psi to 12. Poured a key glasses and had friends fill their growlers. I checked the regulator because the pressure seemed low when pouring and it was reading 5psi. I tried increasing pressure by my regulator would not increase any higher than 5. I let all the gas out and tried disconnecting and reconnecting but it would not go any higher than 5psi. Does anyone know why this might be happening? Reply
