Primarily designed to be used with beer kegs, a kegerator allows you to easily dispense a wide range of beverages. After you put liquid inside a kegerator, you need to use a CO2 tank to pressurize it for the convenient pouring of drinks.
How long does a CO2 tank last in a kegerator? This post will dive into the inner workings of a kegerator and discuss the use of CO2 tanks.
Kegerator Usage
Commercial and home users are sometimes surprised to learn that kegerators are not just for beer these days. They are quite versatile. For example, you can use kegerators for dispensing:
- Cold brew coffee
- Nitro brew coffee
- Wine
- Soda
- Kombucha
It’s important to know, however, that different uses demand different components to make the kegerator work, so you get the best pour from the beverage.
For example, if you want to start dispensing nitro coffee, you’ll need to use a conversion kit. The same goes for converting a kegerator to pour wine, which will benefit from a stainless-steel wine faucet. For homes or bars offering multiple beers, you’ll want to install a dual beer tap or a triple tap draft beer tower, for convenience and saving time.
Factors Affecting the Lifespan of a Kegerator’s CO2 Tank
As is the case with any consumable product, several factors affect the lifespan of a CO2 tank in a kegerator, including:
- Keg size: How long does CO2 last in a kegerator? The more beer you dispense, the more CO2 you’ll need to use.
- Tank size: Bigger tank sizes naturally will allow you to pour more beverages before needing to swap out the tank.
- Usage: Frequency of use affects how much service you get out of a tank.
- Temperature: Typically, you will keep your beer at 38 degrees Fahrenheit, but if you adjust the temperature higher, you’ll need to increase the PSI from its usual 10-15 level. As a rule of thumb, boost pressure by 1 PSI for every 2-degree rise in temperature.
- Balance: The beverage dispensing system must be properly balanced so you can pour drinks as efficiently as possible from a CO2 usage perspective.
How Long Do CO2 Tanks Last on Average?
Estimating how long your CO2 tank will last on average is based primarily on the size of the keg involved. As a baseline, know that you can use a 5-pound tank of CO2 to dispense about 6 to 8 kegs.
You can calculate the length of time according to how much beer or other beverage you pour.
For example, a quarter barrel of beer amounting to 7.75 gallons requires approximately one-half pound of CO2 to dispense it all.
If you’re a home brewer working with a 5-gallon Corny keg, you can anticipate pouring anywhere from 31 to 44 kegs using a single 10-pound tank of CO2.
When dispensing beverages from a half barrel containing 15.5 gallons, a 20-pound tank of CO2 provides enough keg gases to pour approximately 20-28 kegs.
These are some of the more common examples of keg pouring scenarios. If you have questions about other configurations, call us today!
Ready to Get Started With a New Kegerator System?
When it comes to estimating how long does a CO2 tank last on a kegerator, the professionals at Iron Mountain are here to help you make precise calculations. You won’t worry about how long should a CO2 tank last in a kegerator thanks to our assistance. That’s how you can verify your inventory levels are stable and will meet fluctuating demands.
Whether you run a commercial establishment such as a restaurant, bar, or liquor store or are looking to outfit your dwelling with the latest technology for a home bar, you can rely on the experts at Iron Mountain to help you meet all your requirements for new kegs.
To learn more about our approach to commercial kegs, browse our product line. If you have any questions, please get in touch today!