Bottling vs Kegging (Already have Kegerator)

[Scanloni]

I'm a first time brewer, but this seemed like a more appropriate place for this question vs the beginner forum.

My first batch will be ready to bottle in about 2 weeks. I've yet to clean/sanitize any bottles. Before I do so, I'm wondering if I'd be better off kegging instead? The reason I'm asking is because I already have a kegerator up and running, although it's set up for Guinness Draught. So, I'd have to convert everything to dispense the Pale Ale I'm brewing. That would mean purchasing a keg (corny?), new coupler, new tap, etc.

Roughly, what would I be looking at cost-wise to convert my Guinness kegerator to dispense my home brew? And is it worth it?

Thanks!

 

[Jamming]

Kegging is far more efficient than bottling ! No more washing, no more storing, no more worries about bacteria in bottles, no more waiting for carbonization !
Heck ya it's worth it !

 

[Yooper]

For costs, a corney keg might be $50 and the couplings and so on would be less than $20 or so.

You could also keg with sanke kegs (like the commercial keg you have now). I've never done it, but others have. In that case, your only expense would be the keg.

 

[Brewnoob1]

Well, you can find used corney kegs online for about $50 bucks + Shipping. You can check locally via craigslist or your local home brew shop to see if there is any around you to avoid shipping. Your LHBS can hook you up with the dispensing hose/connections probably cheaper than you can get offline. I think the 2 ball lock connections should run you roughly $10-15 dollars. 10 feet of 3/16 beer line is roughly $5-$6, Gas line at just a few bucks based on how long you need/want. For a new faucet, most would recommend a Perlick 525ss. I just got the 525SS/Shank combo for $45 plus shipping. So, adding everything up if you had to purchase a new keg, connections, hose, faucet/shank, you're looking at roughly $125ish. The cost is well worth it to avoid bottling, at least in my experience. I love kegging.

EDIT: If you go to fill sanke kegs as Yooper mentioned, it will just be the cost of the keg and stuff to hook up a second tap.