Can't keep kegerator cold..maybe it's my hole?

[Mdean4421]

Got an outdoor kegerator for outdoor kitchen. Outdoor kitchen is under a covered deck, so not in any direct sunlight. Kegerator is 1 year old. Can't get it to stay cold. It keeps going into the low 40's degrees and not low 30s. Beer is borderline even drinkable. I have a feeling it's the way I installed the tower. It has a small gap between top of kegerator and counter top. Instructions said use a PVC pipe. I did. I even stuck some insulation up the pipe. I had a tower cooler. I turned it off to reduce variables. Still not a warm fridge.

I don't know what else it is. Any ideas?

 

[Knightshade]

I just read through a User manual for an outdoor Kegco kegerator based off one of the pics you posted. It looks like you've done everything that they recommend, and I'm going to assume...that your ambient temperature is not above 109?

How long has the keg been sitting in the kegerator?
Have you check the gasket to make sure it has a good seal? Only other thing I'd suggest is to pull it out, temporarily seal the tower and do a pour with a picnic tap or something. That will give you an idea if you are losing some cooling via the tower, or if something is just overall messed up w/the unit.

Kegco warranty on parts (replacement compressor) seems decent, so maybe you can call them w/your issue and they can help you pinpoint it to that?

 

[Tony B]

Not sure if this is relevant, but my 6 month old kegerator was cooling great in the beginning and then I thought I had an issue because it was only cooling to like 39F.
I knew there was some ice build up in the back and finally decided to defrost it last weekend. I found the thermometer/ thermal probe thing was also iced up. After defrosting it, back to normal. Cold beer.

 

[sibelman]

ambient temperature

This was my first thought. The tower may be adding some heat too, of course.

Is there any escape for heat around the back of the unit? Looks tucked in tight to the cabinetry. Some ventilation there could be very helpful, if feasible.

 

[odie]

tower is losing cool...just what they do. dump a sacrificial first few oz?

basic install? the heat has to go somewhere. maybe better ventilation?

 

[mac_1103]

tower is losing cool...just what they do. dump a sacrificial first few oz?

Looks like the tower is getting direct sunlight in the photo too. But is the warming of the tower enough to increase the temperature of the entire unit by ten degrees? Looks like it's reading 42F, but what's it set for? And beer should be at least drinkable at 42F, once the sacrifice has been offered.

BTW, my kegerator (not a Kegco) displays the set point, not the actual temperature.

 

[Broken Crow]

Maybe just a minor detail, but your third image looks to have rather thick insulation and less return-space for circulation provided by the tower-cooling hose.
I'm gonna +1 @Knightshade s suggestion of temporarily blocking off the tower cavity until you have a stable appropriate temp and if that alone solves your issue, I suggest thinner insulation to allow more air exchange as a follow up 'cause another +1 to @mac_1103 pointing out the tower in the sun... I've had a tower in the sun before and it really defies intuition as to just how much heat that produces internally.

 

[Mdean4421]

I just read through a User manual for an outdoor Kegco kegerator based off one of the pics you posted. It looks like you've done everything that they recommend, and I'm going to assume...that your ambient temperature is not above 109?

How long has the keg been sitting in the kegerator?
Have you check the gasket to make sure it has a good seal? Only other thing I'd suggest is to pull it out, temporarily seal the tower and do a pour with a picnic tap or something. That will give you an idea if you are losing some cooling via the tower, or if something is just overall messed up w/the unit.

Kegco warranty on parts (replacement compressor) seems decent, so maybe you can call them w/your issue and they can help you pinpoint it to that?

Thank you very much! Yes, not above that temp. Keg is like 2 weeks old. I almost never use it. The last few kegs I ran through it were running too warm too. Ya, I may just have to pull it out.

 

[Mdean4421]

Not sure if this is relevant, but my 6 month old kegerator was cooling great in the beginning and then I thought I had an issue because it was only cooling to like 39F.
I knew there was some ice build up in the back and finally decided to defrost it last weekend. I found the thermometer/ thermal probe thing was also iced up. After defrosting it, back to normal. Cold beer.

Good thought! I'll pull it out and check.

 

[Mdean4421]

This was my first thought. The tower may be adding some heat too, of course.

Is there any escape for heat around the back of the unit? Looks tucked in tight to the cabinetry. Some ventilation there could be very helpful, if feasible.

Some. It's not against the wall and some air gaps on top of all appliances. But their is a mini fridge and ice maker on either side of it emitting heat of their coils. I cut the ice maker off. I will see if that helps some too. Also, I have a ceiling fan running there above as well as a circular fan bolted to the wall running on high pointed downwards to help get some airflow.

 

[Mdean4421]

Looks like the tower is getting direct sunlight in the photo too. But is the warming of the tower enough to increase the temperature of the entire unit by ten degrees? Looks like it's reading 42F, but what's it set for? And beer should be at least drinkable at 42F, once the sacrifice has been offered.

BTW, my kegerator (not a Kegco) displays the set point, not the actual temperature.

The sun doesn't really hit it direct for very long. It barely hits that area, but I do see your point. It's set for 33 degrees. Just double checked.

 

[Mdean4421]

Maybe just a minor detail, but your third image looks to have rather thick insulation and less return-space for circulation provided by the tower-cooling hose.
I'm gonna +1 @Knightshade s suggestion of temporarily blocking off the tower cavity until you have a stable appropriate temp and if that alone solves your issue, I suggest thinner insulation to allow more air exchange as a follow up 'cause another +1 to @mac_1103 pointing out the tower in the sun... I've had a tower in the sun before and it really defies intuition as to just how much heat that produces internally.

Maybe just a minor detail, but your third image looks to have rather thick insulation and less return-space for circulation provided by the tower-cooling hose.
I'm gonna +1 @Knightshade s suggestion of temporarily blocking off the tower cavity until you have a stable appropriate temp and if that alone solves your issue, I suggest thinner insulation to allow more air exchange as a follow up 'cause another +1 to @mac_1103 pointing out the tower in the sun... I've had a tower in the sun before and it really defies intuition as to just how much heat that produces internally.

Makes sense thank you!

 

[sibelman]

pull it out and check

I'm assuming its performance has only been assessed under the counter. If it still under-performs h the tower/hole out of the picture, perhaps you could try it pulled out. If it still won't do the job then, maybe it's a warranty thing and needs repair or replacement... I hope not.

Sorry you've got this struggle. Have a not-so-cold homebrew meanwhile!

 

[homebeerbrewer]

How much extra space do you have in the kegerator? If you have room for a one gallon bucket, get yourself a small aquarium pump, some tubing, a gallon of glycol, and run a tube up to the top of the tower and back down to the bucket. If the kegerator keeps the main part cold, the glycol circulating through the tower will help. Of course, you’ll probably run the compressor more, but you should have colder beer.

 

[Mdean4421]

Welp new development. Now there is ice build up on this inside for the first time ever. I just shut the power off to it to let it thaw. Hoping it doesn't ruin my brand new keg of beer. What do you all suggest?

 

[Mdean4421]

Ice build up on the inside now..dang it.

 

[Mdean4421]

How much extra space do you have in the kegerator? If you have room for a one gallon bucket, get yourself a small aquarium pump, some tubing, a gallon of glycol, and run a tube up to the top of the tower and back down to the bucket. If the kegerator keeps the main part cold, the glycol circulating through the tower will help. Of course, you’ll probably run the compressor more, but you should have colder beer.

Not sure if this is relevant, but my 6 month old kegerator was cooling great in the beginning and then I thought I had an issue because it was only cooling to like 39F.
I knew there was some ice build up in the back and finally decided to defrost it last weekend. I found the thermometer/ thermal probe thing was also iced up. After defrosting it, back to normal. Cold beer.

Welp there was never any ice that I ever saw before, however, now I see ice on the inside. Not sure what led to that build up. You just shut it off and turned it back on and it didn't re-ice? How did you save the keg inside? I just shut mine off to defrost. I have some people coming over tomorrow, so would like to try and use it tomorrow. I can prop door open to defrost it faster, but beer would get hot. Guessing that would ruin it, but unsure

 

[homebeerbrewer]

Letting the beer get warm after it's been cold won't hurt the beer. As long as you don't go up and down in temp repeatedly. Once or twice won't hurt it. As for the ice buildup, let it thaw, and while it's thawing, go buy a small dehumidifier for it. I have one called Eva-dry. It's a desiccant type dehumidifier, but is renewable by plugging it in when it gets saturated. There are other desiccant dehumidifiers that you can buy too.

 

[IslandLizard]

Welp there was never any ice that I ever saw before, however, now I see ice on the inside. Not sure what led to that build up.

Check the door gasket for making a good seal all around when closed. Mop up any condensation that forms on the floor and on the keg.
Look around for any other areas where air (moisture) can get inside.

I have one called Eva-dry. It's a desiccant type dehumidifier, but is renewable by plugging it in when it gets saturated.

+1 for the Eva dry! ^
If you have much moisture issues, get 2 of them, so you can dry one out (by plugging it in, outside the kegerator of course) while the other keeps your kegerator dry.

 

[Tony B]

Welp there was never any ice that I ever saw before, however, now I see ice on the inside. Not sure what led to that build up. You just shut it off and turned it back on and it didn't re-ice? How did you save the keg inside? I just shut mine off to defrost. I have some people coming over tomorrow, so would like to try and use it tomorrow. I can prop door open to defrost it faster, but beer would get hot. Guessing that would ruin it, but unsure

I unpluged mine and removed the kegs and co2 tank. I took the time to clean it and left the door propped open with a couple towels to soak up the melt water. When it was defrosted, about an hour later, I dried it out with towels and put it all back together. It worked great.