beer fridge or freezer

hobbsj · Apr 22, 2007

picked up my kegs yesterday and now need a place to keep them cool. i'm trying to decide between a fridge and a chest freezer. i wouldn't convert it to a kegerator just yet and would need extra space to make it a beverage fridge for cokes and what not. are there advantages of one over the other? i figure a fridge will be easier to put a full keg into, but a little cramped when reaching around for hose stuff. are the freezers better insulated? i live in in texas with 100+ degree summer temps and i don't want to have one of these in the garage and triple my energy bill because they don't insulate how i expected. i also see $50 full size fridges on craigslist and don't know if that would be a good deal. thanks for the advice.

one more thing. is it true that you can't have a fridge on its side for transport? i've heard that something leaks out. or, is this just for old models?

abracadabra · Apr 22, 2007

Many variables here:

1. Older used refidgerators and freezers both use a lot more energy than newer units. The old rule of thumb is you'll spend 3x the amount you paid on a new fridge
on electricity to run it. (this rule did not take into account that newer models use less electricty.

2. Like you mentioned the hotter the environment the unit is in the more it will have to run to keep cool or cold.

3. fridge vs freezer depends on what you want to do. If you plan on lagering then a fridge will have a hard time getting down close to 34-36 F range. But a freezer with a themostat controller will not.

4. Last but not least an upright freezer and the same goes for all fridges lose all the cold air every time you open the door ( a curtian can help ) but a chest type freezer keeps the cold air inside when the door is open causing them to use less electricity

hope some of this in helpful

casebrew · Apr 22, 2007

Re: lying fridges down for transport.

An appliance guy I asked said that just don't plug it in until it has been upright for a while to allow the oil to drain back to the crank case where it belongs.

I think there are several other considerations for upright transprort. One is space saving in the truck, the other is scratching up the side when you slide it around- you can't slide it well on it's back.

Plus, the old wive's tale could have started by moving an old fridge that was on it's last legs already. One more move would have killed it, regardless of posture, but since it was laid down...

Hmm, I wonder what the net says?

BierMuncher · Apr 22, 2007

I had the fridge first. Now I have the chest freezer and like it better. More capacity. Keeps colder. Much more efficient. Same flexibility for kegeration as a fridge.

Down side is you'll need to invest in a thermostat override...bout $50 bucks.

CollinsBrew · Apr 22, 2007

You can lay a refrigerator or freezer on it's side as long as you lay it so the coolant line is facing up. Oil from the compressor can get into the other lines but will cause serious problems if it gets into the coolant lines. Also, a good rule of thumb is to leave the refrigertor upright before turning back on for at least as long as it was on it's side to allow the oil to run back into the compressor. I would just let it sit upright for at least 24 hours before plugging it back in.