October 7, 2025
Tips
5 Signs Your Draft System Needs Repair
Noticing foam, slow pours, or off flavors? Here are 5 signs your draft system needs repair before it costs you business.
5 Signs Your Draft System Needs Repair
Draft systems aren’t set-it-and-forget-it. Even with regular beer line cleaning, parts wear down—and when they do, you’ll feel it in every pour. Whether you run a high-volume bar or a small taproom, here are five signs it’s time to get your system looked at.
1. You're Pouring Foam, Not Beer
If every pint starts with a glass full of foam, something’s off. It could be CO2 pressure, line balance, or temperature issues. Don’t just adjust the pressure and hope—it might make it worse. Professional servicing can help diagnose the exact cause.
For a deeper dive on draft quality, check the Draught Beer Quality Manual from the Brewers Association.
2. Pours Are Slower Than Usual
Slow flow usually means a clog, faulty coupler, or gas supply issue. If you’re seeing a delay with every pull, it’s costing time and product. Schedule a repair visit before you start wasting kegs.
3. You’re Getting Weird Flavors
Off flavors—sour, metallic, or just “off”—are usually a sign of buildup in the lines. But if you’re cleaning regularly and still noticing issues, something deeper could be wrong. Consistent off-flavors may indicate contamination or failing hardware.
Learn how our team handles system repairs and replacements.
4. Temperature Isn’t Holding
Beer that comes out too warm (or inconsistent) usually points to a walk-in cooler problem or glycol system failure. If your glycol power pack isn’t doing its job, your beer quality takes the hit.
5. Leaks or Moisture Around the Equipment
Leaks at the coupler, faucet, or trunk lines aren’t just annoying—they can wreck your pressure, waste product, and damage your cooler. If you're wiping up puddles, it's time to get a technician onsite to find and fix the issue.
Don’t Wait Until It Breaks
We’ve seen it too many times—small issues that go ignored until the system goes down during service. If anything here sounds familiar, get in touch with CBG. We’ll figure out what’s wrong and get your system back in shape—fast.
