Ideal fermentation temps in a closet

[Desp]

Need some advice on what to do about getting the right temps for my setup.

Right now I converted a coat closet into my beer closet, put shelves and such in there and that's where I keep my carboys and buckets, plus my other supplies. Living in Texas it's pretty hot a lot of the time, and I keep my house AC set to 79 during the day and 75 at night.
Most of the yeast strains I've seen say to ferment at around 70-75... Is that 4 degree average temperature difference going to be a big deal, and if so does anyone have suggestions on a small self contained A/C floor unit that I could put in the closet and vent into the next room, that could bring down my closet temps a few degrees?

Also at what temperature difference do you start running into condensation issues?

How much would a bucket of ice and a fan do...? It's a small closet, 45"x36"x80"

 

[Slipgate]

I think you will be ok anything under 80. I wouldn't do anything unless it turns out to be a problem.

 

[Stauffbier]

Do a search on "swamp coolers" on this forum. A swamp cooler is basically a water bath with a frozen water bottle or two in it that you put your carboy/bucket in to keep temps down. I live in El Paso, and it's in the upper 90's here. I have two swamp coolers at 62-63F going right now. Ice chests work great for swamp coolers since they retain their temps good, but if you don't have an ice chest you can use rubbermaid containers..

 

[mopillar]

Yeah swamp cooler is the cheap way to go. I did a batch or two at 74 room temp without the cooler and noticed some weird/harsh off flavors. Ever since I have used the swamp cooler method things have tasted so much better and I enjoy what I brew even more.....which could be trouble! Keeping the yeast happy will always produce better beer but what do I know I'm only 8 brews in. Good luck!

 

[user 4295]

Keep in mind that the recommended temp range for any given yeast is the temperature of the fermenting liquid, not the ambient temperature that the fermenter is sitting in. Fermentation is exothermic, meaning that heat is given of during the process. So, with that in mind, the beer in your fermenter in a 75˚F room could be 80˚F+ during the height of fermentation. That is not good!

 

[weirdboy]

I ferment most of my ales in the low-mid 60's.

I use a cooler filled with water and stick the fermenter in there, with frozen water bottles to regulate the temperature.

 

[Desp]

I have read the part about it being exothermic, that being the case it's most likely too hot.

I'll be looking into the swamp cooler method...

How do you measure actual temp with it being in the bucket?

 

[user 4295]

They make stick-on liquid crystal thermometers that you stick on the side of your fermenter. They are pretty accurate and convenient, but you have to avoid getting them wet.

 

[Desp]

They make stick-on liquid crystal thermometers that you stick on the side of your fermenter. They are pretty accurate and convenient, but you have to avoid getting them wet.

So if you can't get it wet, I'm not sure if it'd work on my bucket, with the bucket being in water.

 

[Stauffbier]

They make stick-on liquid crystal thermometers that you stick on the side of your fermenter. They are pretty accurate and convenient, but you have to avoid getting them wet.

IME these don't work with swamp coolers, because you really should bring the water level of the swamp cooler to the same level as the wort in your fermentor. By doing this there is no way to avoid submersing the fermometer in the water, which as you mentioned water will destroy it. I use a meat thermometer, and put the probe into the water of the swamp cooler to maintain a water temp of around 60-62F.