Tall fridges

[Clint]

Hello all
The brew year resolutions include expanding operations to house the new kegs incase we reach double figures in centigrade any time between now and next Christmas.
So,when I disembowel the garage a new (ish) tall fridge shall be required.
I haven't researched stuff yet but the "don't put in outbuildings " thing seems prevalent in most descriptions,except some Beko maybe.
I can get a new tall larder fridge off Ebay for around £200,a used or graded one considerably cheaper. Anyone experienced any issues with putting their appliances in the garage? I'd rather not spend £400 on something I'm potentially going to poke holes through.
Thanks as always!

 

[Brew_DD2]

Hello all
The brew year resolutions include expanding operations to house the new kegs incase we reach double figures in centigrade any time between now and next Christmas.
So,when I disembowel the garage a new (ish) tall fridge shall be required.
I haven't researched stuff yet but the "don't put in outbuildings " thing seems prevalent in most descriptions,except some Beko maybe.
I can get a new tall larder fridge off Ebay for around £200,a used or graded one considerably cheaper. Anyone experienced any issues with putting their appliances in the garage? I'd rather not spend £400 on something I'm potentially going to poke holes through.
Thanks as always!

Get on gumtree and have a look. The one I bought for £40 and poked holes in, is on its 7th winter in the garage. And we hit -10c here on occasion.

 

[Leon103]

I would looked 2nd hand, at least if it stops working you haven't lost much.

 

[samale]

Get on gumtree and have a look. The one I bought for £40 and poked holes in, is on its 7th winter in the garage. And we hit -10c here on occasion.

I second this, I got one for free, it holds 4 x 19 litre kegs.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

I have three fridges just under a lean to at the side of the house. The issue is that the outside temperature gets lower in winter than what the internal fridge temperature should be so you tend to get increased humidity in them and subsequently mould can set in. I bought the fridges second hand and they are all still working fine after 5 or so years but I do have to empty and give them a good clean internally a couple of times a year.

 

[MashBag]

Beko Fridges have been very good for me.

You are a braver man than me to buy brand new and drill it

There are loads of them pre-owned. Just have a look around.

 

[Clint]

Yeah looking at it I'm not gonna buy new...as said if it goes wrong it's a small outlay.
As long as I can get 2 of the oxebar in I'm not bothered. Might leave the party taps on too and see how it goes. Think the gas will stay out.

 

[MashBag]

You could prolly get away with poking the gas hose in the drain or power (light bulb) holes.

 

[Appleton Brews]

Clint are you just using it as a fridge or also a fermentation chamber with a inkbird controller?

 

[Clint]

It'll just be a beer serving fridge I already got a fermentation fridge with inky etc.

 

[Clint]

You could prolly get away with poking the gas hose in the drain or power (light bulb) holes.

I originally pushed the power cable for the heater in the fermentation fridge through the drain hole but after a couple of failed heaters and the complete palaver of replacing them I've since just cut a bit out of the door insulation at the bottom which works fine.

 

[Buffers brewery]

Anyone experienced any issues with putting their appliances in the garage?

I have 2 secondhand brew fridges in my shed (i.e. fridges with internal heaters) I use for fermentation/carbonation/conditioning. Had them for +5 years and no problems. I bought a brand new fridge to convert to a barrelator that lives in the conservatory. It’s set to 10C for serving but gets a bit confused in the winter when the outside temperature is around 5C for long periods. No problem for the fridge, the beer’s just a bit colder than I prefer.
The domestic overflow fridge/freezer has lived in the garage for 18 years and is still going strong (touch wood)!

 

[LeeH]

I’ve had a few Tefcold fridges in the garage for over 10 years, they were 2nd hand too.

 

[MashBag]

I originally pushed the power cable for the heater in the fermentation fridge through the drain hole but after a couple of failed heaters and the complete palaver of replacing them I've since just cut a bit out of the door insulation at the bottom which works fine.

That's easy. I ported mine(40mm) so it would pass power cables & hose

 

[Foggie]

The problem is that when the temperature drops the fluid thickens. The compressor has to work harder. I was going to build a room in my Byre for a couple freezers with a small tube heater, but found out side freezers in the end..

 

[MashBag]

The problem is that when the temperature drops the fluid thickens.

Are you really really really really really really sure?

I thought it through years ago, and considered it was one of 2 possible problems. Either the gas can't grab enough heat from the room to cool effectively (coefficient doodah)

Or

It was the fridges stat thinking is it's already cool, so I don't need to do anything.? Else it would magically turn its self into a heater, keeping the cabinet warmer than the outside

 

[Foggie]

When I was looking for freezers 2018 ish, I took this note: -

Fridge-freezers or fridges or freezers can fail at low ambient temperature because the refridgerant gas gets thicker and cannot be pumped.

I just accepted the quote because of my experience with Derv. it goes to jelly.


On the Stat issue - Fridge Freezers.
With just one stat, the fridge stays at the set temperature, so the compressor is never on, and so the freezer defrosts.

 

[stripeyjoe]

When it is cold just turn it off and crack the door open... I have an AEG one that has a 'holiday' setting that means the compressor does not run but it does something to prevent mould build up with the door shut.

 

[Graz]

I got a second hand one several years ago either off eBay or FC marketplace, can't remember which. Paid about £50-£60 for it. It's a John Lewis one. Quite big but managed to get it in the back of my estate car. Kept in an unheated garage and going strong ever since.

 

[MashBag]

experience with Derv. it goes to jelly.

Fridges run on gas Some of the newer gases need a greater ambient temp to get the differential.

And to be honest I would think the mold is partly about lack of air change/flow, 'cos I bet they get used less in the winter.