Hand-made

Fermentation is a complex process of decomposition of organic substances, the stable occurrence of which is impossible without a water seal. Ready-made devices are available for sale, but they do not always fit the container used. Making a water seal from improvised materials takes just a few minutes, and the cost of the product is pennies.

Meaning and functions of a water seal

Every winemaker knows that mash is used to make wine. When fermentation begins, sugar, under the influence of yeast, begins to break down into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. At the same time, there is so much gas that the container with mash cannot stand it and an explosion occurs.

To prevent this from happening , excess carbon dioxide must be removed from the container. If you remove the lid, the bacteria living in the mash and coming into contact with oxygen will begin to become active and convert alcohol into vinegar.

It was precisely to prevent the long-awaited wine from spoiling and turning into vinegar that a water seal was invented. A water seal is a kind of valve that removes carbon dioxide from the container. The water seal also prevents oxygen from penetrating back into the container.

The water seal works according to this principle: at high pressure in the container, excess gas escapes through the valve tube into the water, which prevents oxygen from getting back. And also, the water seal prevents harmful microorganisms from entering the wine, due to which alcoholic beverages begin to deteriorate.

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As already mentioned at the beginning, a water seal can be bought in a specialized store or ordered online. There are several types of purchased valves:

Two-chamber. It consists of two chambers, one of which is filled with water.
Collapsible. Consists of two flasks. This type of water seal is small in size.

What is it and what is it for?

The process of processing sugar into ethyl alcohol is accompanied by abundant release of carbon dioxide. Accumulating inside a hermetically sealed container, it creates high pressure, which will inevitably lead to its rupture. To avoid this, the gas must be vented, but simply opening the lid will not solve the problem.

While the container is hermetically sealed, the bacteria in the mash are not active. But as soon as oxygen gets inside, they begin to multiply and convert alcohol into acetic acid. The result is not wine, but an acidic, unfit for consumption liquid.

To prevent this from happening, a one-way valve is installed on the container, which is called a water seal - it removes carbon dioxide, but at the same time prevents the access of oxygen. In addition, the device allows you to control the fermentation process and determine the degree of readiness of the mash.

Watch a video that explains what a water seal is, why it is needed, and how to make it with your own hands:

How to make a water seal for fermentation with your own hands

Making a water seal with your own hands is quite simple. People have invented a lot of designs that perform the function of a water seal . Below are the most popular ones .

Rubber glove

A cheap, but no less functional option for a water seal for wine. The glove is placed over the neck of the container, and then one of the fingers is pierced with a needle. To prevent the glove from falling off, it is secured to the neck with an elastic band or thread.

By looking at the glove you can determine whether fermentation is taking place at the moment or not. When it is inflated, it means that an active fermentation process is underway. If it hangs, then fermentation is over.

Tube dipped into water

To make such a water seal for fermentation with your own hands, you will need a rubber tube and a container of water.

Creation stages:

A hole is created in the lid into which one end of the rubber tube is inserted.
Plasticine is molded around the tube. This is necessary to seal it and close possible holes.
The other end of the tube is lowered into a container of water.

A tube for this purpose can be purchased at a store that sells water filters, or you can purchase it in the construction department. It is best to purchase a large diameter tube for the water seal. Thinner tubes tend to become clogged with foam.

Based on the above method, you can build a water seal, which, in addition to removing carbon dioxide, will remove the unpleasant smell of fermentation. To make such a water seal for wine with your own hands, all the steps of the above method are performed, with the exception of one. For the second option, use a container of water. This container should be closed with a lid with two holes. A tube coming from the container with the drink is inserted into the first hole. A tube is inserted into the second , which should have one end in a jar of water and the other end going out the window.
Thus, the specific smell emanating from the mash will not enter the room, but will be discharged outside.

Making a device from improvised materials

Making a water seal yourself is not difficult; it does not require expensive tools and materials - you just need to choose the most suitable model for the given situation. There are several popular designs whose effectiveness has been tested by time.

Classical

The most common design, characterized by simplicity and reliability.

To make it you will need:

cap or stopper,
flexible tube,
glass jar with a capacity of 0.5 l.

Manufacturing process:

A hole is made in the center of the lid to match the diameter of the tube.
The tube is inserted into the hole.
The joint is sealed with plasticine, wax or silicone glue.
The lid with the tube is placed on the container with the mash.
The second end of the tube is lowered into a jar of water so that it does not rest against the bottom.

The disadvantage of this device is the possibility of an unpleasant odor appearing in the room. This problem can be solved by putting a lid with two holes on the jar. A tube from the fermentation tank is inserted into one and lowered into the water. Another tube is passed into the second hole so that its end is above the water level. The free end is discharged to a window or sewer, thereby ensuring the removal of carbon dioxide outside the room.

Attention! The classic water seal allows you to determine the readiness of raw materials with maximum accuracy. If there are no bubbles in the liquid for a day, then the active fermentation phase has ended and the mash is ready for further processing.

For a classic water seal, it is advisable to use a silicone tube - when in contact with alcohol-containing liquids, it does not change its characteristics and does not emit an odor. The easiest option is to purchase a dropper at the pharmacy. It has a rubber tip at the end, which does not require sealing when installed in the lid hole.

Medical glove

The fastest and most affordable option, but not the most successful.

This method is mainly used by women, since making a water seal from a glove does not require any male skills:

The glove is put on a container with mash and tied at the base with a strong thread.
Punctures are made in one or more fingers with a sewing needle to allow gas to escape.
The carbon dioxide released will inflate the glove. When the fermentation process is over, it will deflate and hang on the container.

The medical glove is suitable for use on wide-necked containers. It copes with the task no worse than more complex water seals, but it is advisable to use it on containers less than 20 liters - a large volume of gas released will simply burst it. Another drawback is the unpleasant smell of mash in the room, and nothing can be done about it.

Attention! You can use a condom or an inflatable balloon as a water seal for containers with a narrow neck.

Cotton plug

To block the access of oxygen to the mash, the neck of the container is plugged with a piece of cotton wool or other porous material. Not a very reliable method, but for use in emergency cases when there are no other materials at hand, it is quite suitable.

The structure of the wool allows carbon dioxide to escape, but does not provide complete tightness. Especially when the intensity of fermentation drops and the gas pressure decreases, at this moment oxygen gradually begins to penetrate into the bottle. The disadvantage of using cotton wool is also the inability to visually determine the degree of readiness of the mash and the unpleasant odor in the room.

"Quiet"

When using a classic water seal, the release of gases is accompanied by gurgling sounds. During the day it is practically not noticeable, but at night it causes irritation for some people.

You can make a silent water seal from a transparent silicone tube with a diameter of 12-14 mm and a length of 40-60 cm:

One end of the tube is inserted into the hole in the bottle cap and sealed with a plastic material.
The tube is folded so that a loop is formed on it, and the other end sticks up and is fixed with tape.
A small amount of water is poured into the tube, which forms a water seal in the loop.

The carbon dioxide will pass through the water loop in small bubbles without making any sound. The disadvantage of this method is the evaporation and splashing of liquid during strong fermentation. To eliminate it, a cap is inserted into the free end of the tube, which allows gas to pass through but retains liquid.

From a syringe and dropper

To make such a water seal it will take literally 5 minutes. and minimum materials:

2 syringes of 10 ml and 50 ml,
drip,
tape or rubber band.

Manufacturing process:

The fittings are removed from the syringes.
A syringe of a smaller volume is hermetically sealed with the spout facing up in the hole in the lid of the fermentation tank.
The second syringe is secured to it with tape or an elastic band, with the spout down.
A tube of the required length is cut from the dropper and the internal filter is removed.
Connect the nozzles of the syringes with a tube so that there are no kinks on it.

The result is a design in which a small syringe serves to collect gas, and a second one filled with water prevents oxygen from entering the bottle.

Materials of fermentation containers

The quality of the wine is also affected by the fermentation container. To choose a container, you must first decide on the desired volume. There are containers of 3 l, 10 l and up to 100 l in volume . For some, it is enough to buy a bottle with a volume of 3 liters or, while others need a 20-liter bottle to make wine. To choose the volume, you need to decide how much wine you want to get in the end.

How to choose the right mash container with a water seal?

Glass. This material is convenient because you can observe the fermentation process through a glass bottle. The disadvantage is fragility, rapid cooling and light penetration, which affects the quality of the wine.
Stainless steel. A container for fermenting mash made from this material is ideal. Its big advantage is that it suppresses the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms that can spoil wine. The disadvantage is the high price. But if winemaking is your passion and you care about the quality of your product, then it’s worth spending some money once and then enjoying the wonderful taste of the drink.
Tree. It can saturate your wine with new aromas. The disadvantages include the price and possible drying out of the material. As a result of drying, cracks will form and the container will no longer be airtight.
Plastic. Plastic mash containers will not be the best option. This is because the environment in the container will be mostly acidic. Such an environment will provoke the entry of harmful compounds and unpleasant odors from the plastic into the wine.
There is also a ready-made container for mash with a water seal. The advantage of such a fermentation container with a water seal is that there is no need to additionally purchase a water seal.

If you know how to choose the right container and make a water seal, you can easily prepare aromatic, homemade wine. Treat your guests to this drink and they will definitely be delighted.