How to setup your DraftPak
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DraftPak hard to setup?
You definitely don’t need to be an expert to setup and use the DraftPak, we’ve designed it to be simple for anyone. It can be setup and ready to use in just a couple minutes.
How quickly does it start cooling?
Right away. Inside the DraftPak, the beer travels through 50 feet of ice cold stainless steel tubing so by the time it hits your glass it’s perfectly chilled.
Will it cool down beer from a room temperature keg?
You bet! That’s one of the reasons why the DraftPak is so great. The keg doesn’t have to be cold. A keg that i’s 70F will have the beer cooled down to about 39F by the time it comes out the tap.
What type of keg is the DraftPak compatible with?
US Domestic- Sanke style kegs. It will not work with many import kegs that have different connection as well as pin lock or ball lock kegs. If your keg has a unique shape this could also cause a problem. In general though, any standard keg is compatible.
What size kegs are compatible?
All traditional sizes- ½ barrel, ¼ barrel (pony keg), and 1/6 barrel.
Does the DraftPak include a CO2 tank?
No, you will need to get your own CO2 tank. We recommend a 2.5LB or 5LB Co2 tank. But a paintball size tank will also work with the included adapter.
Where do I get the gas?
Your local gas/welding supply shop should have a full tank to sell you. They will also be able to exchange your tank when you need to refill. Other businesses such as paintball/sporting stores and home-brew shops might also be able to sell you and fill your CO2 tank.
What size CO2 tanks work?
2.5LB Co2 tanks and 5LB CO2 tanks work as well as paintball CO2 tanks w/ the included adapter.
How many kegs will it serve before the CO2 needs to be refilled?
A full 5LB CO2 tank should serve 5 full sized (1/2 barrel) kegs. A 2.5LB tank will do about 3. A 24oz paintball tank will serve about 1 kegs.
How much ice does it need?
We’ve found that about 10 pounds of ice and then enough water to fill to the top of the coil works best.
How do I clean the DraftPak?
It is important to clean and flush the DraftPak after it’s used so it’s ready for your next event. At the very least, it should be flushed with clean water after each keg. You can purchase a flushing pump with your DraftPak.
Trouble Shooting
DraftPak doesn’t want to connect to keg
Make sure that you are connecting the DraftPak to a US Domestic Sankey style keg.
Looking at the bottom of the DraftPak, grab the metal coupler (metal piece with the rubber seal around it) and twist it counter clockwise to ensure it is in a good starting position.
Ensure base (black disc) is threaded up towards the cooler bottom before you attempt to tap the DraftPak onto the keg. This will ensure you have enough clearance to full engage the keg.
Start by rotating DraftPak counter clockswise while centered onto keg- you should feel the DraftPak drop slightly when it gets to the correct position. Then, while holding the handles rotate clockwise until it stops (about a quarter turn). Lastly, use downward force on the handles and turn another quarter turn.
Connected but no beer is flowing
Always run beer through the line prior to adding ice and water. This will help you make sure that everything is working properly first in case you need to retap the DraftPak on the keg. It will also keep you from freezing liquid in the line which can happen if you add the ice and water before running beer all the way through the system.
Double check that the DraftPak is fully tapped by screwing base (black disk) counter clockwise to give clearance between the DraftPak and keg, Then, while pressing down on the DraftPak handles (do not use excessive force) attempt to rotate the DraftPak further clockwise. If it turns that means it may not have been fully tapped on the keg.
Make sure gas is on- red lever in line with red hose and if your regulator has a dial on it check to see that the pressure is reading approx. 30 PSI.
Hear gas leaking out of bottom of DraftPak when tapped on keg
Turn off gas immediately and repeat the setup process. The leaking gas indicates that the DraftPak was not properly tapped onto the keg or that it was tapped at an angle. This could also indicate that the seal is ripped or damaged- double check that the black seal at the bottom of the DraftPak has not been damaged.
Seal on bottom of coupler (metal connection at bottom of DraftPak) is torn, ripped, nicked or missing.
You can order a replacement seal through the DraftPak store.
Beer is pouring fast and foamy right after setting it up-
You will usually get a lot of foam right at the beginning. Give the system a minute or so to stabilize after adding the ice and turning the gas on. After pouring the first few cups of foam the DraftPak should pour properly. Otherwise-
Check to make sure that you have properly added ice and water to the DraftPak. The coil inside the cooler should be covered with ice and then filled with water up to the top of the coil.
Keep the pressure on the regulator set at approx. 30 PSI. This system is balanced to run properly at this pressure. Lowering the pressure will generally make the problem worse.
Beer was pouring great but now it’s pouring foamy-
Make sure you still have plenty of ice. If your ice has melted you can drain some of the water off using the spigot on the back of the DraftPak and add more ice.
Check your CO2 pressure and make sure it is still reading approx. 30psi. If your tank is running out of gas it may not be able to maintain the proper pressure and you will need to use a new tank or get your tank refilled.
You might be running out of beer- oh no! As you get to the bottom of a keg it may start pouring foamy at the very end.