Keezer issues....is this normal?

[arnobg]

So after purchasing a custom keezer enclosed inside a cabinet I have some issues/questions.

My freezer has been running non stop for what seems like 48 hours and it isn't coooling past 42/44F with only a single 1/3 full keg in it. I am also getting some frost around the top inside only in one corner. The compressor is very hot to the touch.

I added a 1/4 keg of water last night about 20 hours ago to see if it would cool and put my probe directly in that instead of the 3 cups of water I have in a bowl. It has only cooled to 50F. The probe I have in the 3 cups of water for the last day is 42F.


Does this look normal? Is my freezer about to crap out? Should it take 4 days to cool 1/3 keg to 42 and then not cool the rest of the way...and run non stop getting hot?

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1459197992.160117.jpg

 

[TorMag]

Nope, not right. Something is very wrong. What is controlling the thermostat?

 

[arnobg]

Nope, not right. Something is very wrong. What is controlling the thermostat?

The previous owner had it on a honeywell controller which only had a setting not a current temperature readout which I will upload a photo of. I thought that may have been the issue so I plugged in my fermentation chamber STC controller so I could get temperature readouts to try and figure this out. That's where I am currently getting my temperatures along with my Thermapen.

What was being used before I hooked the STC up.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1459198739.563414.jpg

 

[FloppyKnockers]

1986 called.... It wants its thermostat back.

 

[arnobg]

1986 called.... It wants its thermostat back.

That's helpful, thanks for your input.

 

[TorMag]

Sounds like you got a lemon. Can it be brought back to a freezer? Or is that thermostat hard wired in?

 

[arnobg]

Sounds like you got a lemon. Can it be brought back to a freezer? Or is that thermostat hard wired in?

Yeah it isn't hard wired to that, I un-plugged it from this and into my STC temperature controller yesterday.

Since it has been running non stop and getting hot I am going to un plug it for now and let it rest, then plug it in with no temperature control and see what it will cool to, but my guess is not below 42-44 at this point..

 

[LandoLincoln]

If your keg is not a solid block of ice, then yeah, your freezer is going to die soon.

 

[JosephN]

In all seriousness, I don't have a "kreezer" but I do have a deep/chest freezer with a inkbird dual stage relay controlling it, and my temps are dead on, and it doesn't run for 48hrs straight. I'm also no hvac guy but I am a master electrician and it seems like you might either have an issue with the coolant leaking, or you're not getting a great seal on the lid. My question to you is, was this built by some DIY kind of guy or professionally? I see a hole where you have wires coming through the wall of the freezer and I am assuming that if the refrigerant lines were nicked that you'd be loosing coolant. I don't know how to test that, but at least it's some genuine feedback and a possible theory. I know my freezer, 7.1 cuft takes about 6-8hrs to cool 6 gallons of beer down to 40F from 74F. That's a 34 degree drop in that time, so you sure do have an issue, but how bad? There's no telling.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

Some of the first things I would look at is the calibration of the thermostat by sticking it in your fridge. Another obvious thing would be to check your door seal where you're getting the ice buildup. Close the door on a dollar bill. if the bill easily moves, the seal needs help. If both of those check out I would put an ohm meter on the run winding, check the condenser fan motor, and clean the coils.

 

[m1k3]

The 42F temp after running 3 days and the inconsistent ice build up suggests the freezer is bad. I had the same issues with mine. Sorry.

 

[arnobg]

Thanks for all of the feedback.

In all seriousness, I don't have a "kreezer" but I do have a deep/chest freezer with a inkbird dual stage relay controlling it, and my temps are dead on, and it doesn't run for 48hrs straight. I'm also no hvac guy but I am a master electrician and it seems like you might either have an issue with the coolant leaking, or you're not getting a great seal on the lid. My question to you is, was this built by some DIY kind of guy or professionally? I see a hole where you have wires coming through the wall of the freezer and I am assuming that if the refrigerant lines were nicked that you'd be loosing coolant. I don't know how to test that, but at least it's some genuine feedback and a possible theory. I know my freezer, 7.1 cuft takes about 6-8hrs to cool 6 gallons of beer down to 40F from 74F. That's a 34 degree drop in that time, so you sure do have an issue, but how bad? There's no telling.

It was a DIY project but it is very professional and they did a good job actually. There are no lines going through the freezer wall, those are just lines inside my freezer. The lines go through an insulated collar .

If coolant is leaking it may have happened during transit picking it up, but it didn't get banged around at all. How would I check to see if there is a leak, isn't it all enclosed?

Some of the first things I would look at is the calibration of the thermostat by sticking it in your fridge. Another obvious thing would be to check your door seal where you're getting the ice buildup. Close the door on a dollar bill. if the bill easily moves, the seal needs help. If both of those check out I would put an ohm meter on the run winding, check the condenser fan motor, and clean the coils.

The seal is great as far as I can tell, there's even lines on the top lip of the freezer where you can see that a seal has been "imprinted" into the freezer lip.

Are the coils not enclosed on these units? All I can see under the "hump" is a compressor, some lines, and the control unit from the front of the freezer.

The 42F temp after running 3 days and the inconsistent ice build up suggests the freezer is bad. I had the same issues with mine. Sorry.

That's what I'm afraid of. Just literally drove 3 hours and picked this up Wednesday....sucks.

Unfortunately this is the gorgeous kegerator/bar in distress....

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=576174

 

[agrazela]

To the OP...when you bought / picked up / transported the unit, did you lay it on it's side by chance? If so, did you set it upright for a few hours (or more) before running it?

 

[arnobg]

To the OP...when you bought / picked up / transported the unit, did you lay it on it's side by chance? If so, did you set it upright for a few hours (or more) before running it?

Nope at the most it was angled going up
one flight of starts but then it say for a bit before being plugged in.

 

[wilserbrewer]

That band of frost at the top of the freezer is a sign that the system is low on refrigerant, coupled with the fact that it has been running constantly and not cooling.

I highly suspect you have a dead freezer from what I have seen with units in the past.

 

[JosephN]

That band of frost at the top of the freezer is a sign that the system is low on refrigerant, coupled with the fact that it has been running constantly and not cooling.

I highly suspect you have a dead freezer from what I have seen with units in the past.

That was my thought. If you had this happening to your ac condenser then it's usually low coolant that would be looked at first.

 

[olotti]

That was my thought. If you had this happening to your ac condenser then it's usually low coolant that would be looked at first.

This exactly. This happened to my home ac unit and the guy said if you could've seen the compressor it would been a block of ice. Had frost all over the copper piping coming out of my ac unit outside in summertime. He refilled it with freon and so far so good but there's a leak and prob one in yours. I don't know if you can refill a freezer like an ac unit though but this is prob your problem.

 

[EcuPirate07]

Was it running when you checked it out before buying? Not saying the seller screwed you, it could have just been chance but that sure would suck to drop the $900 he was asking for just to drop at least another $100 on a used freezer if you can find one. Not to mention all the work to build out the new one to fit.

 

[arnobg]

Yeah a brand new one to replace it is about $170 to make sure no modifications are needed for the collar/top of the bar.

The freezer worked fine when I picked it up, or so it seemed. Guess I would have never known anyways because it was set at 45F and I thought it was fine the first few days myself... until I dropped the temperature down because the beer wasn't as cold as I liked. When I asked what temperature to set it at I was told the lines would freeze at 40, so 45 was where he kept it.

Anyone know if the freon can be refilled, or am I pretty much doomed?

 

[day_trippr]

What kind of freezer has a control that goes as high as 45°F?

Cheers!

 

[olotti]

Yeah a brand new one to replace it is about $170 to make sure no modifications are needed for the collar/top of the bar.

The freezer worked fine when I picked it up, or so it seemed. Guess I would have never known anyways because it was set at 45F and I thought it was fine the first few days myself... until I dropped the temperature down because the beer wasn't as cold as I liked. When I asked what temperature to set it at I was told the lines would freeze at 40, so 45 was where he kept it.

Anyone know if the freon can be refilled, or am I pretty much doomed?

I don't know offhand if an ac place could refill the cooling but it'd be worth a shot to call. Freon is expensive to refill but for a small freezer like that it may not be much if they can do it plus the cost of buying another freezer and refitting it may be worth it to get it refilled if they do it so I'd just say call a place and see what they recommend.

 

[day_trippr]

Unless one has an accommodating friend in the A/C business, you can pretty much count on dropping $200 to have someone install the purge and charge fittings, and vacuum test the system. If somehow the unit gets past that, then you get to pay for the refrigerant...

Cheers!

 

[arnobg]

Looks like I'm pretty much screwed. Guess I'll order a new one this week, at least they have free shipping online. After just a few days with a kegerator I am already spoiled by cold beer on tap and can't wait much longer for a fix! I'll make sure to buy an extended warranty on this one if reasonable. Sucks because this is my second one that has died in 12 months so it will be my 3rd chest freezer purchase in 12 months.

Appreciate all the advice here from everyone.

 

[EcuPirate07]

What kind of freezer has a control that goes as high as 45°F?

Cheers!

Good point, if a "freezer" can't freeze that's a red flag. Something smells fishy

 

[olotti]

Unless one has an accommodating friend in the A/C business, you can pretty much count on dropping $200 to have someone install the purge and charge fittings, and vacuum test the system. If somehow the unit gets past that, then you get to pay for the refrigerant...

Cheers!

True I forgot they did purge my ac system it cost me close to 400$ to have it tested and refilled with freon. Do you think they'd still go through all the purging and testing on such a small unit? Idk that's why I'd guess a call wouldn't hurt then if they say yeah thud have to since leaking freon is an ozone hazard I'd just get a new freezer.

 

[arnobg]

What kind of freezer has a control that goes as high as 45°F?

Cheers!

It doesn't? It was set at 45F via temperature controller. When I lowered it to my preferred temperature that's when I found out it wouldn't cool past 40F.

 

[day_trippr]

True I forgot they did purge my ac system it cost me close to 400$ to have it tested and refilled with freon. I think they'd still go through all the touring and testing on such a small unit?

A pro would, if only to avoid the inevitable call-back.

If the OP wants to give the proverbial Hail Mary a shot, pick up a bullet piercing valve and a recharge cylinder of the appropriate refrigerant...

Cheers!

 

[day_trippr]

It doesn't? It was set at 45F via temperature controller. When I lowered it to my preferred temperature that's when I found out it wouldn't cool past 40F.

Ah - ok, I didn't get that.
My chest freezer control ranges from Frozen to Ice Age...

Cheers!

 

[arnobg]

A pro would, if only to avoid the inevitable call-back.



If the OP wants to give the proverbial Hail Mary a shot, pick up a bullet piercing valve and a recharge cylinder of the appropriate refrigerant...

Cheers!

Now this is has my DIY gears turning. Is something like this pretty simple, or easy to mess some stuff up?

 

[day_trippr]

Youtube School of A/C Maintenance, "Installing a Bullet Piercing Valve"
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBUwRf66Afk[/ame]

If you get past that, then you can find a video to show how to use available recharge cylinders without a gauge set...

Cheers!

[edit] As for "messing things up", when you have a freezer on its death bed, how much worse could things get?

[edit2] Don't do what the video guy did wrt "cleaning" the tubing. You're not soldering the fitting, so the tubing doesn't need to be bright.
All you need is smooth and clean-ish. And it definitely doesn't want to be riddled with a matrix of score marks from the 50 grit paper and the wire brush he was gouging the tube with that'll pretty much guarantee the saddle gasket will never totally seal...