Beer/Gas Tubing by the foot

Beer/Liquid:

3/16-inch Inner Diameter (ID):

• Best for most home kegerators.
• Provides the necessary resistance to maintain proper carbonation and a good pour rate.
• Ideal for runs up to 10 feet.

5/16-inch Inner Diameter (ID):

• Use Case: Suitable for longer runs (10–25 feet) in kegerators or small commercial setups.
• Resistance: Provides moderate resistance, making it a good choice for maintaining proper carbonation over a longer distance while still allowing a reasonable flow rate.
• Pressure Needs: Requires slightly higher CO₂ pressure to balance than 3/16-inch lines but less than 1/2-inch.

1/2-inch Inner Diameter (ID):

• Use Case: Typically used in very long runs (25+ feet) or high-flow commercial setups where minimal restriction is needed.
• Resistance: Very low resistance, which can lead to excessive flow rates in shorter runs unless precisely balanced with low CO₂ pressure.
• Pressure Needs: Requires significantly lower pressure to avoid over-carbonation or foaming.

CO2/Gas:

• 5/16-inch Inner Diameter (ID):

  • Use Case: The standard size for most CO₂ setups.
  • Advantages:
    • Adequate flow for most kegerators, even with moderate line lengths.
    • Provides enough volume to maintain consistent pressure.
  • Length Recommendation: Works well for runs up to 15 feet or more, as the gas flow doesn’t require as much resistance control as liquid.

• 1/2-inch Inner Diameter (ID):

  • Use Case: Suitable for very long CO₂ runs or systems that require high gas volume (e.g., multiple kegs or commercial setups).
  • Advantages:
    • Minimal restriction, allowing high flow rates for large setups.
  • Considerations: Overkill for standard kegerators and may result in excessive slack if not properly secured.
  • Length Recommendation: Typically used in setups with 20+ feet of line or large commercial manifolds.

3/8-inch tubing is ideal for:

1. Fast Transfers: High-flow liquid movement for wort, beer, or cleaning solutions.
2. Mash/Lauter Tuns: Draining thicker liquids or wort.
3. Blow-Off Tubes: Fits larger fermenter openings.
4. Pump Systems: Works with most small brewing pumps.

Thin-wall poly tubing:

1. Racking/Transferring: Gravity-fed transfers between fermenters, bottling buckets, or kegs.
2. Blow-off Tubes: Managing krausen overflow during fermentation.
3. Bottling: Connecting a bottling wand to a spigot.
4. Cleaning: Directing cleaning solutions in vessels and equipment.

Limitations:

• Not for hot liquids (use silicone tubing).
• Not for pressurized systems (use reinforced tubing).