Tall fridges

[gavp1979]

I have a kegorator in an attached but unheated garage made from a second hand fridge that I bought around COVID time, it has been running 24/7 since without issue.

It would be interesting to know if anybody has actually had one that has failed due to cold ambient temperature

 

[Justin Dean]

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!

I have 2. One was 20 quid and the other free.,search local mate it is amazing what you can find

 

[fury_tea]

Thread 'Fermentation Fridge' https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/fermentation-fridge.106441/

Not sure if this is of interest @Clint ? Just seen it posted in classifieds

 

[Clint]

Cheers...

 

[Leon103]

I have a kegorator in an attached but unheated garage made from a second hand fridge that I bought around COVID time, it has been running 24/7 since without issue.

It would be interesting to know if anybody has actually had one that has failed due to cold ambient temperature

I have had 2 fail in the garage, can't say it was due to cold temps. Both last 12 months, kegerator is now indoors. Although I do have a fridge/freezer that is suitable for outdoor use.

 

[Norfolk drinker]

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 got mine via Gumtree for £1 and it works perfectly in the shed.

 

[Appleton Brews]

Try your local Freecycle.

 

[DCBC]

This probably isn't the answer you're looking for but have you considered insulating your garage and putting in an electric panel heater? Since I converted my garage it retains heat better than my house, and a panel heater set to eco mode would allow you to run any fridge/freezer you wanted. I have one of each - the fridge as a fermentation chamber and the freezer as a keezer.

 

[RoomWithABrew]

My parents tall freezer failed in the cold garage. They then bought one with a better/ in range and it's been fine.
I think I remember them saying something about their insurance policy and fridge / freezers in garage.
I will check re this.
Tall commercial fridge that you see with cans bottles etc in shops in what I use. Indoors and it takes 8 kegs.

 

[AlBrew]

Mine is in the utility room at the back of the garage, heating is never on. I only power the fridge up if I think the beer is warm, the rest of the time it's just at normal north of England outdoor temperature so no need to try to run it if it's already cold enough for the beer.

 

[hoppyscotty]

I have a full size larder fridge going free if anyone wants to pick up. I got it for nowt so not looking for anything for it. A decent Samsung fridge. Was just going to take down the tip at some point for recycling, but if anyone wants it then all the better.

Only issue I've found with it is that it has a fancy digital control panel on the front and I've tried to use with an ink bird controller, so plugging the fridge into the ink bird and using a greenhouse heater in the bottom and on several occasions I've found the fridge on at the same time as the heater, so not sure how that is happening. I initially though the Inkbird had malfunctioned but the ink bird seems to be operating perfectly - not sure if there is some form of safety mode with the Inkbird that the fridge trips where both the heating and cooling sockets become live?. If I were a bit handier on the electronics front I'd bypass the fridge thermostat altogether, but since its a fancy pants control panel type rather than the old fashioned, but perfectly functioning old school type, I'm not sure about hacking into it.


All the fridges I have have worked flawlessly in the garage, in the garden shed and even outside exposed to the element.