Hydrometer not working!

Baz_

Three days into my first brew and I thought to myself it must be time to start taking some specific gravity readings. Then I thought to myself how do I know whether the hydrometer I have works properly. So I decided to check the SG of my tap water. I popped the hydrometer into the trial jar after getting some water in there and the hydrometer read at about .990 which was well out, the temperature of the water couldn't have been any more than 10celsius which should put it between 1.000 and 0.998.

Alright, I thought to myself, it must be out of whack. But as long as it's consistently out of whack I can work around it. Then I thought maybe it just needs time to settle, so I left it alone for a short while and the thing is almost completely submerged now :eek:

So what I need to know is how can I get my hands on a hydrometer in a hurry? It really is about time I started checking SG readings as I'd say fermentation is just about finished. Now I know I can leave the beer to brew away for weeks with no bother, so I'm not too bothered about the beer itself, but I did think it was important to start as I mean to go on with my brewing and that means taking readings whenever you're meant to.

In case anyone's wondering it's the bog standard Coopers DIY beer kit hydrometer that I'm using and I'm quite disappointed with it. I read on their own forum that they are in the practice of replacing defective hydrometers, but I'm hardly going to send off to Australia for a stinking hydrometer...

As well as info on where to get one quickly, whats a good reliable model?

Edit:
P.S. I have to say that I was reading the other hydrometer thread where people were saying they drink the sample that they test after they've tested it and I think I'm most disappointed that I'm not going to get to do that for I don't know how long now.

BeerNut

Baz_ wrote: »

Three days into my first brew and I thought to myself it must be time to start taking some specific gravity readings.

I'd give it a week before bothering.

Where do you get a hydrometer? In a homebrew shop. Next Door in Harold's Cross and Kimmage will probably have them in stock.

Baz_

I emailed the customer support section of homebrewwest (and when I say section, I realise it could be the same dude doing everything) and told them my problem and they're going to resolve the problem by sending me out a new hydrometer!

Fantastic of them I think.

Thank you homebrewwest.

Ratsathome

I got a glass one with my wine kit.Also faulty the readings stay the same on it.Test with temps between 7-61 deg C.Nice paperweight