Is A Freezer Too Cold For A Kegerator?

Is A Freezer Too Cold For A Kegerator?

A Kegerator is a refrigerator converted into a beer dispenser. It’s the way to serve draft beer in your home without going through all the hassles of a bottling and canning process.

You don’t have to mess with all the extra cleanup; instead, you need some ice, a clean towel, and an air pump or CO2.

A Kegerator might be the perfect solution if you want a bar-style setup without taking up an entire room in your house or apartment.

Yes. A freezer is too cold for a Kegerator (or Keg) due to the effects of “freezing point depression.” If you put your newly tapped keg into a freezer, the beer would turn into ice before it thawed out, and you’d have a frosty glass of bottom-fermented goodness.

At temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius, the freezing point of water dips below zero degrees.

This means when water is in contact with something at a temperature colder than 0 degrees Celsius, such as a freezer, it’ll turn into the ice instead of staying in its liquid form.

You’ll find that almost all packaged beer is at least a few degrees above freezing. The beer will thaw out reasonably and maintain its carbonation and flavor.

Your freezer also uses a combination of low temperature and pressure to preserve foods, so they don’t go bad until opened.

Like a water bottle will freeze into a block of ice, it’ll also freeze your beer if you fill your keg to the brim.

So for freezing point depression and pressure variation, you should keep your freezer at a temperature higher than 0 degrees Celsius.

While the bottoms of my kegs are pretty frosty within a day or so, they never turn completely solid as frozen ice would.

If you’re worried about this, there are a few ways to go about it:

Reduce the amount of beer in your keg (or use a smaller keg) so that the beer doesn’t come into contact with the freezing interior walls of your freezer.

Then, fill your glass directly from the keg. You could also get a kegerator that maintains a higher temperature. The “kegerator” from more Beer maintains temperatures between 2-10 degrees Celsius.

Can You Use A Freezer For A Kegerator?

Yes. You can use a freezer for a kegerator that keeps your beer cold, just like a kegerator. Follow some simple rules: keep the freezer door closed, do not let it go below 0°F/-18°C, and ensure you keep a thermometer in the freezer.

Put a cup of water in with your beer every few days to check if your fridge has gone below freezing temperature.

You may need to make some adjustments or switch to a new, more reliable fridge if it has.

While it’s technically possible, there are some problems with using a freezer for your homebrew kegerator.

Freezers don’t hold the cold air as well, and they tend to be less efficient at cooling than newer refrigerators.

This means that you may need to invest in an extra refrigerator or programmable thermostat. You will also have to keep your freezer door closed to help insulate the cold air.

If you’re willing to invest in some of these upgrades, you should be able to find a freezer that is reliable enough to use in your homebrew kegerator.

You may want to read other people’s experiences using freezers for their kegerator and see what models they recommend or provide tips on.

Note: If you use a freezer for a kegerator, remember that the faucet will not be self-closing.

You will want to arrange for it to close automatically or close the tap after each pours manually.

What Happens If The Kegerator Is Too Cold?

If the kegerator is too cold, you will encounter below-average beer production and beer served too cold. The colder the kegerator, the lower the gas pressure inside the keg.

Cold air is less dense, and high-pressure air holds more volume.

You should set the temperature for your refrigerator between 34-38 degrees Fahrenheit to get optimal efficiency from your kegerator.

If your kegerator’s temperature is too low, you will experience a drop in beer production by about 20%.

When at Doubles, you will notice a drop in beer production by 10% – 15%, which is unnoticeable when drinking too cold.

At ~40F and higher, you will see another 20% – 30% drop in beer production.

There is a method to fix this problem, but it requires you to warm up your kegerator over a couple of days.

The first thing you should do is keep the pressure higher than 8 Psi for the first day.

And then lower it down to 5 Psi for another 2 days before lowering it down further for 1-2 days in the case until beer production returns to normal.

If you want to avoid the trick of fixing up your kegerator, you can always buy a Keezer or a beer dispensing refrigerator instead.

Can I Put A Keg In A Deep Freezer?

Yes. You can put a keg in a deep freezer, though you might have to do a little work. The first step is to remove the spigot.

You should also turn the keg on its side (if it’s horizontal) and wrap it in a towel or blanket, as you will need to keep it there for about 12 hours.

Then with your wet hands, slip off the lid of your keg and put some towels around the left side of the head.

Next, Put the keg into the freezer on its side and cover it with towels. Leave it for 12 hours. Then remove from it and re-attach the spigot.

If you have a double-gasket keg, you can also replace the gaskets.

Periodically check to make sure that your keg is fully sealed shut (to do this, push the spigot down and twist it side to side; if there’s a leak somewhere, you will hear gas hissing).

This works well for kegs sitting for a month or two.

If your keg has been in storage for longer, you will want to take apart the poppets and put about a teaspoon of silicone grease on each of the o-rings and then put everything back together.

Also, every few months, check all the fittings on your keg thoroughly to see if they are leaking.

How Do You Make A Mini Fridge Into A Kegerator?

You can make a mini-fridge into a Kegerator by using a garbage can.

You will need a garbage can, a bookcase- 3 thumb screws with washers, a 2” hole saw, and a drill bit- 1/4 inch copper tube tubing (optional)-1/4.

Inch thick or thicker PVC pipe that is as long as the height of your fridge plus 50% more (the length of the tubing)

To make a Kegerator, you must:

• First, remove all appliances from your refrigerator.
• Cut a piece of cardboard or a plastic sheet to fit inside the garbage can lid. This will be the lid for your kegerator.
• Leave enough room at the top to attach the PVC tubing and put holes in it so it fits on your bookcase.
• It’s also good to cut a hole at the bottom of your garbage can and ensure it has at least 2 inches of clearance above your countertop.
• Please attach it to the bookcase with the thumbscrews and washers.
• Use the bookcase as a kegerator for your mini-fridge.
• Then you will need to cut the PVC pipe to fit inside the garbage can lid.

If you need a place to connect the copper tube tubing, drill a hole in the side of your garbage can.

You’ll need to make sure there is a seal around the hole’s edge with some duct tape or caulk.

After drilling holes in your garbage can lid, attach a PVC pipe inside it with screws and washers.

Now you will want to do some tests for leaks. I used a 5-gallon bucket and filled it with water.

After a couple of days, I checked to see if water was leaking from the garbage can into my mini-fridge.

There was some water dripping out of the garbage and quickly dropping into the bucket. Now you are ready to start filling your mini-fridge with beer.

I would recommend you use something that has a higher ABV because 25% ABV is very light and only good for 3-4 IPAs.

Do You Leave The CO2 On In A Kegerator?

Yes. You can leave the CO2 on in a Kegerator at all times. CO2 is the gas that pushes your beer through the lines and into your glass.

Without it, you will lose pressure in the lines and eventually not be able to pour any more beer out of your tap. It’s also necessary for carbonation, which gives your beverage its zest.

If you do not leave the CO2 on in a kegerator, you will eventually lose your whole tap and possibly have to get a new one.

Different lines go through different pressure stages as they travel through the system.

When you turn your kegerator off so that no gas comes through the lines, that pressure will go away, and then when you turn it back on, all those lines are under normal pressure again, and the beer should pour just fine through them.

Because CO2 is always necessary for a working kegerator and because it’s a waste of money to buy extra supplies, I recommend hooking up your CO2 tank whenever you have it filled up.

Do not fill the lines with gas and then turn off your kegerator; leaving the gas on is easier.

One of the advantages of leaving your CO2 on at all times is that it’s easier and safer to dispense beer through your tap if you ever have a problem.

You may have noticed that when the lines are empty of gas, there is almost no pressure through the tap, and no beer will come out.

Nothing pushes the liquid up against the line to force it into the gas chamber and start pushing out.

However, if you have a good amount of gas in your lines, the lines will still be under pressure, and all that gas will be pushing out.

You can then use the tap to dispense beer, which will get all that gas out of the line and back into your kegerator.

Do You Turn Off CO2 At Night Kegerator?

Yes. You should turn off CO2 at night kegerator. CO2 tanks are expensive, and they are not made to run for more than 24 hours straight.

Keeping the CO2 tank on all day with the gas pressure always released into your keg will eventually start leaking.

Leaking CO2 can cause a mess in your refrigerator. It will leave a difficult stain to clean up and usually leaves no trace of the original CO2 tank leaking.

Also, if too much pressure builds up from running constantly, there’s a chance it could rupture.

I recommend turning off your CO2 at night for these reasons:

For safety reasons, it’s also a good idea to turn off CO2 at night kegerator when you are not around and when you’re not using your kegerator.

I don’t turn mine off when I’m asleep, and my beer is still sitting in the regulator with the pressure from before.

For this reason, it’s better to adjust your regulator so that the pressure for each beer is no longer holding but is instead dropped down to zero PSI.

There will be no pressure build-up in your kegerator overnight when you wake up and don’t shut off your CO2.

Flavors start to change after 12-24 hours of CO2 contact with the beer. The gas tends to dissolve into the beer and mix with the flavor (especially hop flavors).

I don’t want my beer exposed to the gas for more than a few hours, and I suggest you don’t.

Can You Keep A Keg Outside In The Winter?

Yes. You can keep a keg outside in the winter. The best temperature to do this is about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping the keg away from water sources and not in direct sunlight is essential.

July, August, and September are the most common months for kegging outside because that’s when winter cold fronts move through quickly.

It will be easier to break down the ice with some snow on top of the ground or a cooler without liquid inside it. Kegs have a pretty good insulation value.

The insulation value is the R-value of a material, and the keg is about half that of concrete, which is about R-4. A keg can compose of virgin coconut shells and lime-based cement.

It also has a little bit of insulation from the beer itself, with an R-value of around R-5. The thickness of the walls will also add to the insulation value.

Kegs that are 8 inches thick have a 6 to 7 times higher insulation value than ones that are 1 inch thick.

It’s tough to break down the walls, even with a blowtorch, so keeping a keg away from warm rooms and sunlight is essential.

Here Are Some Tips On How To Keep A Keg Outside:

1. Lay the keg on its side so that the drain outlet faces up.
2. Don’t put your liquid directly into the keg.
3. Keep the keg away from warm rooms or direct sunlight so that it doesn’t freeze.
4. If you have a lid on your keg, don’t move it. The keg will be stronger if you leave it alone.
5. If you are storing a keg for an extended time, make sure the temperature is between 55- and 65-degrees Fahrenheit.
6. If you need to get the keg in or out of your cooler, remember that less accumulated snow will provide a better chance of removing the keg.
7. It may also be easier to do this in spring or fall rather than winter or summer when there will be more snow.

Can You Add Freon To A Kegerator?

No. While Freon is a gas, some people have added it to their kegerator because they believe it will increase the cooling of the beer inside.

However, if you add Freon to your beer keg, you can damage your equipment. These matters, especially when you add something  that is supposed to be refrigerant and not flammable.

The problem with adding Freon is that it could get in your beer, and then the most likely result would be that you can’t get your beer to the correct temperature.

As a result, you will likely have drawn beer into your keg.

The only thing worse than that is if you are not aware that it has happened but then add in some very hot tap water, which will cause a mess.

This can happen if you don’t pump out your keg when rotating beer between different kegs. Be careful with this, and do not blindly add Freon to your kegerator.

Dangers Of Adding Freon

Here are some other dangers to consider when you are adding Freon to your kegerator:

• It can damage your beer keg and other equipment. Additionally, the pressure from the gas inside will be greater than that of a beer keg, which can cause an explosion.
• While it isn’t likely, it could happen if you add too much. The gas inside would be under pressure, and you could have it burst out for no apparent reason.
• It can get into your beer, which means that your beer will not be safe to drink.
• Prolonged use of Freon in your kegerator could cause it to get too cold and freeze up your keg.

Like I said before, these aren’t likely scenarios unless you overdo it with the Freon, but you should still try to avoid this as much as possible.

Why Did My Kegerator Stop Working?

Your kegerator stopped working because it’s out of CO2. The pressure drops when a keg empties, and the CO2 stops flowing. You need to buy a CO2 tank to pressure your system again.

A Kegerator is an appliance that dispenses beer from kegs in cold environments, typically at home or inside of an office building.

The gas’s pressure to push beer into the tap depends on how much gas is in the keg and how long you let it flow before shutting off.

If your gas tank is empty and you don’t replace it soon enough, the beer flow will halt.

This does not necessarily mean that the kegerator’s regulator or CO2 tank is not properly rated or working; the regulator and CO2 tank may be fine.

The problem may be a leak in a line or hose connected between your CO2 tank and keg.

Most leaks occur in a coupler connecting the gas cylinder to your regulator. This coupler should be of the type that has a rubber washer between the cylinder and coupler.

The washer will swell slightly when pressure is applied, but it will help seal the connection. In addition, ensure that gas leaks do not occur in the line between your regulator and gas cylinder.

Some Kegerator applications have a shutoff valve at the bottom of their kegs to prevent over-pressurizing the keg during refilling. People call these “pressure relief” valves.

They will fail eventually. You can replace them at the hardware store, but you are not to use them in a kegerator application.

If you replace them, you will need to buy two of them close to the same size and pressure rating. The goal is to match up when screwed together in a line on your gas line.

Does A Kegerator Need A Water Line?

Yes. A Kegerator needs a water line. Kegs come from a tap that pumps water into the kegs. Naturally, you want to protect the line from freezing and bursting.

Many people do not realize this, and many kegerator owners I’ve met. Do not neglect this vital part of your Kegerator installation process.

A burst pipe in a Kegerator can destroy thousands of dollars worth of equipment and create a mess that is almost impossible to clean up.

It can even cause considerable property damage in your home, ruining your kitchen and possibly causing severe injury to the people in your home.

Lots of people who own Kegerators have been through this. It’s not fun and can get expensive fast if you aren’t prepared.

Anytime you install a cooler larger than 30L (equivalently called 1/10th barrel), you need a water fitting to complete the installation.

I see many bar owners trying to save money by skimping on this part of their kegerator installation.

If a fitting is not installed, you will have to pull out your kegerator every year and replace the burst pipe.

In most cases, the burst pipe is underground, making it extremely difficult (and expensive.) to get to.

When installing your water line, it’s best to install brass water fitting 2 feet from the back of your kegerator (away from the hoses) for drainage purposes.

This will drain the water from the keg, preventing the grain from dripping onto your floor.

Another option is to install a quality electric water valve with a drip tray in the kegerator. The drip tray prevents water from dripping into your satisfaction lines, wasting more money.

You will also want to ensure no fittings or connections between your pressure side and your tap. Some tap suppliers have recommendations on where to install these fittings.

I’ve seen people install some kegerators with a shutoff on the pressure side. Disconnecting the pressure will cause foaming, going into your beer lines, and messing up your draft beer system.

Can You Put A Kegerator In A Garage?

Yes. First, make sure your garage has an outside door. This will let in more of the cool night air, but you’ll also need a fan to circulate it throughout the whole room.

Second, don’t forget about ventilation. You should have an exhaust fan or opening near the top of your kegerator to keep any moisture that may collect inside and cause the beer to spoil faster than anticipated.

Third, it’s always good to have some emergency backup beer supplies. Your kegerator should not be your only source of beer.

With proper planning, you can always have backup beer on hand for those special occasions.

If a keg goes flat or breaks, any old beer from the fridge or another tap will do the trick.

You won’t want to go out and find a new one (unless you are in dire need of one yourself), but you can always improvise a little bit.

As with all home improvement projects, don’t forget to plan before starting.

Remodeling can be a lot of work, but it can pay off quickly if you choose the right project and work through it with enough patience and care.

If you have some experience remodeling your house or garage already, the difficult part will be choosing what kind of kegerator you want for your new home bar or man cave.

Conclusion

Kegerators are an excellent way to increase the usefulness of your home bar or man cave.

They are relatively easy to install, and with the right supplies, they can last for many years without any problems.

You may get a little bit of beer on your floor from time to time, but that’s only because you’re having so much fun drinking your beer that you don’t notice it puddle up around you anymore.