Brewing in the garage

[chrissy83 brews]

Hi, ive just started my first brew, i was planning on doing it all in the garage, however it gets really cold at night and so ive had to bring it into the house, (which is not pleasing he missus), has anyone made something simple to use in their garage to allow fermentation, without having a blower on all the time which is expensive? TIA

 

[mmaguy41]

Hi, ive just started my first brew, i was planning on doing it all in the garage, however it gets really cold at night and so ive had to bring it into the house, (which is not pleasing he missus), has anyone made something simple to use in their garage to allow fermentation, without having a blower on all the time which is expensive? TIA

Fermentation fridge would be best but a heat pad or heat belt would work. Stick it on a timer plug to come on at night. You can also stick the fv in a water bath and use a fish tank heater. My mrs would not tolerate it being inside haha

 

[Clint]

I have a brew fridge and along side I have a heat pad. The fv on the heat pad gets wrapped in horticulture fleece.

 

[chrissy83 brews]

Fermentation fridge would be best but a heat pad or heat belt would work. Stick it on a timer plug to come on at night. You can also stick the fv in a water bath and use a fish tank heater. My mrs would not tolerate it being inside haha

what do you need to make a fermentation fridge? TIA

 

[chuffer]

what do you need to make a fermentation fridge? TIA

any old 2nd hand fridge that can fit your FV in, you can then add a heater in the bottom (set really low) or connected to a controller (such as an Inkbird) / temp probe

Dimplex Thermostatic Tubular Heater IPX4 1ft 40W

 

[Banbeer]

If a brew fridge is out of the question at the moment then buy a heat belt/mat and an Inkbird temp controller(quite cheap and good) and just use the heat part(as you also have a cooling part that you would plug a fridge or fan etc) to plug the mat/belt in as you can set the temperature to what you want(within reason of course).

 

[Clint]

A fridge... preferably free or very cheap,a tube heater and a temperature controller,Inkbird is the easiest option. A little DIY....a bit of old wood to make a sturdy shelf to sit your fv on.
Get your fridge,remove shelves,make shelf at right height for your fv. If you can push heater cable through fridge drain hole and secure heater in fridge,under the wood shelf is fine,I screwed mine to an old bit of skirting board. Plug heater into hot side of Inkbird and fridge into cold side,set temp,place Inkbird temp probe under a bit of sponge or bubble wrap taped to side of fv. If you can't get the wire through the drain hole just cut a bit from the door seal,if won't harm. I put the temp probe in through the door and just shut the door on it.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

what do you need to make a fermentation fridge? TIA

 

[Brewnaldo]

Hi, ive just started my first brew, i was planning on doing it all in the garage, however it gets really cold at night and so ive had to bring it into the house, (which is not pleasing he missus), has anyone made something simple to use in their garage to allow fermentation, without having a blower on all the time which is expensive? TIA

I only have heating capability with an inkbird to control it. Thats the way to go. I want a fridge but for now, I wont need cooling capacity unless I want to brew lager in summer

 

[Cheshire Cat]

With a heat mat does the probe sit in the wort and the wire through the airlock hole or taped to the FV?

 

[chrissy83 brews]

A fridge... preferably free or very cheap,a tube heater and a temperature controller,Inkbird is the easiest option. A little DIY....a bit of old wood to make a sturdy shelf to sit your fv on.
Get your fridge,remove shelves,make shelf at right height for your fv. If you can push heater cable through fridge drain hole and secure heater in fridge,under the wood shelf is fine,I screwed mine to an old bit of skirting board. Plug heater into hot side of Inkbird and fridge into cold side,set temp,place Inkbird temp probe under a bit of sponge or bubble wrap taped to side of fv. If you can't get the wire through the drain hole just cut a bit from the door seal,if won't harm. I put the temp probe in through the door and just shut the door on it.

sorry, so just to clarify the fridge must be working?? can you recomend a tube heater? thanks for your help

 

[Banbeer]

Yes the fridge needs to work as it's the cooling side of things and just look on eBay or Amazon for greenhouse heating tubes

 

[terrym]

Water bath...
How to Set up a Water Bath for your FV - The HomeBrew Forum
I have mine in the garage. Pack it away when not in use.

 

[Clint]

As said fridge should be working...although I find the fridge rarely kicks in as the brew generates it's own heat and the fridge retains it,being insulated. The fridge is handy though for cold crashing the brew after fermentation to help drop it clear. Also handy if you want to brew lager and keep the temp at the lower end.

 

[Clint]

As said fridge should be working...although I find the fridge rarely kicks in as the brew generates it's own heat and the fridge retains it,being insulated. The fridge is handy though for cold crashing the brew after fermentation to help drop it clear. Also handy if you want to brew lager and keep the temp at the lower end.

 

[chrissy83 brews]

i like the sound of the fridge, ive got another fridge for cooling, so in theory could i not use a broken fridge with the heating element and just use it for the fermentation phase? thanks

 

[Clint]

Can't see why not...it should work unless there's extreme hot or cold weather.

 

[marshbrewer]

i like the sound of the fridge, ive got another fridge for cooling, so in theory could i not use a broken fridge with the heating element and just use it for the fermentation phase? thanks

Yes you could - you might find that if we have a barmy summer you might long for a fridge that works and can cool a ferment down to suitable temps, but as we have one of those every million years, you should be ok.

 

[chrissy83 brews]

thanks all, if a working one comes along first ill go for it, cheers

 

[dad_of_jon]

Hi, ive just started my first brew, i was planning on doing it all in the garage, however it gets really cold at night and so ive had to bring it into the house, (which is not pleasing he missus), has anyone made something simple to use in their garage to allow fermentation, without having a blower on all the time which is expensive? TIA

this will hide your brew from her attention. But only if she agrees to wear it

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-full-balaclava-head-cover-and-polaroid-sunglasses-103806285.html