Dual purpose keezer/ferm chamber

[czubak]

I have a 15CF chest freezer I use for serving as well as fermentation. Wondering if others do this with success or if I need to find a smaller freezer for fermentation duties only. I can't use my large dorm fridge, my speidel won't fit. Just a small 5-7CF unit would be plenty I imagine

I have noticed a couple things trying to save money by trying to use one item for two jobs.
-While fermenting my kegged beer seems to lose a lot it's carbonation
-I rush fermentation to get my kegs back online again

[Matt F]

I have been lucky enough to score free fridges. My beer fridge was from my mom's house after a kitchen remodel. It didn't sell so I got it for free. Then I had a really old fridge from Lee for fermenting that came from Matt N. I gave that one away and got one for free from my cousin Brandon. I think you should do what you can to have a dedicated keg fridge and separate fermenting fridge. I always tell people one way to improve beer is to not rush anything (except getting off dry hops before sitting too long). If you don't want to spend much cash I would watch craigslist or wait for those free fridges or freezers to show up. Will let you have plenty of time for lagers too.

[czubak]

Yeah I only need to fit a couple carboys in at once so I don't need anything huge.

Stupid question, but say I come across a free fridge/freezer combo and I use my temp controller, will the freezer warm up also?

[brianhall1024]

Once the probe hits the specified temp, it should cut power to the entire unit, so the answer would be yes.

[tony b]

I just upgraded my old dorm fridge, that I use as my lagering chamber, with a temperature controller and a heat wrap to do fermentations. Getting its first use this week fermenting my Traditional Bock for the October competition. I have a full-sized fridge for storing beer, that I plan to convert to my tap fridge. I already had both of them, so why not put them to good use??

[czubak]

Slacker, I brewed my bock mid May

On the hunt for another fridge or small chest freezer. Funny part is we are buying a chest freezer soon, so my basement will look like an appliance store

[Matt F]

You might be a homebrewer if you have a fridge in the kitchen, chest freezer for food and what not, beer fridge, fermenting fridge and probably another fridge for some reason. Funny stuff.

[whitedj]

Yeah I only need to fit a couple carboys in at once so I don't need anything huge.

Stupid question, but say I come across a free fridge/freezer combo and I use my temp controller, will the freezer warm up also?

Yes. On most fridges freezer combos the compressor is hooked to the freezer and there is a damper between the fridge and freezer.

I took a side by side- hooked a controller to the freezer and another controller to a fan blowing cold air into the fridge. (blocked off the damper of course). It works to hold some type of delta (say 20F?), but is not enough to store hops in the cold side when fermenting an ale.

[czubak]

Friend got us this 9cf upright from a garbage sale. How do I convince the wife it needs to be a ferm chamber instead. Tell her it's broke and only goes to 50? Haha

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[Steven P]

If you need to convince her then it's time for an upgrade.

[czubak]

If you need to convince her then it's time for an upgrade.

I lost

I have a large dorm fridge I may end up building a box around it and insulating it to get a couple carboys at a time. The wood and insulation will be more than another freezer on CL though.

[brianhall1024]

Cheap chest freezer and put a temp controller on it.

[Matt F]

In the lumber yard at Menards in Marion they have cheap used refrigerators. In through the gate and on your right. If I recall correctly they were $50 or less.

[Steven P]

The lumberyard? Lol

[czubak]

Cheap chest freezer and put a temp controller on it.

I have that now....only it's my keg fridge. I do have a second temp controller.

In the lumber yard at Menards in Marion they have cheap used refrigerators. In through the gate and on your right. If I recall correctly they were $50 or less.

Thanks Matt, I will check next time I am there.