Kegnotes

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Parts & Upgrades

Faucets, regulators, lines, and the upgrades worth paying for.

Kegerator parts and upgrades are a rabbit hole that absolutely doesn't have to be. The default parts your unit shipped with are fine for 90% of home use cases. The upgrades worth paying for are: a better faucet (Perlick over the included plastic one), a longer beer line if your tower is taller than the original came with, and replacement o-rings about once every two years.

Skip the rest until you have a specific problem. "Premium" gas lines aren't worth the price; the included plastic gas line is fine. CO2 tanks all hold the same CO2. The flow control faucet upgrade is worth it ONLY if you regularly serve very different beer styles from the same line.

Below: every parts and upgrades guide we've written, the comparisons between popular faucets and regulators, and the diagnostic flow for when replacement actually solves the problem.

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Frequently asked: parts & upgrades

Is the Perlick faucet upgrade worth it?

Yes if your kegerator came with a basic chrome-plated faucet and you pour 3+ pints per day. Perlick (or Intertap) forward-sealing faucets don't get sticky between uses, last 10+ years, and are easier to clean. Cost: $60-$120 vs the $15 chrome faucet that shipped with your unit. Worth it for daily home-bar use; overkill for once-a-month party kegerators.

Perlick vs Intertap — which is better?

Both are excellent forward-sealing faucets. Perlick is the industry standard, slightly better build quality, slightly more expensive ($80-$120). Intertap is the value challenger, equivalent flow rate, slightly cheaper ($60-$95). Intertap also has more attachment options (flow control, growler filler, stout/nitro tip). For home use, Intertap is the better value; for "I want the best" build quality, Perlick.

What size beer line should I buy?

3/16" inner diameter is the standard for home kegerators. Length depends on serving pressure: 8-10 feet for most setups at 10-12 PSI. If your tower is unusually tall (over 18") or you serve at higher pressure, you may need 12-15 feet. The beer line length calculator does the math for your specific setup.

Are flow control faucets worth it?

Only if you regularly serve beers with very different carbonation needs from the same kegerator. A flow control faucet lets you adjust the pour rate without changing CO2 pressure, useful for switching between a low-carb stout and a high-carb pilsner on the same gas line. For single-style use, regular faucets are fine.

When should I replace my kegerator regulator?

When the gauge stops reading accurately (test with a calibrated reference gauge), when you can't hold a stable serving pressure (the regulator drifts), or when you upgrade from single-gauge to dual-gauge. Otherwise regulators last 8-15 years. Avoid the $200+ "premium" regulators for home use; the $40-$60 dual-gauge models from Kegco, Taprite, or Micro Matic are equivalent.

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