Keezer issues....is this normal?

[GotPushrods]

...easy to mess some stuff up?

As I've had CPR described to me: They're (essentially) DEAD! If you break a few ribs to keep someone alive is that a big deal?!? Worth a shot in my book!

 

[mongoose33]

Here's my thought: every time I see these keezer in a cabinet deals, I wonder how the keezer/freezer is dumping the heat from the compressor. Many of them have coils in the sides and front that warm up--that's how the heat is dumped.

Putting such a unit inside a closed cabinet means...how does it dump heat? I'd expect a unit like that to run, and run, and run, and have difficulty getting things down to the level I'd want.

Not sure that's what's going on here, but that's the first thing that comes to mind with these types of designs.

 

[wilserbrewer]

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

While it likely could be fixed, it is usually very cost prohibitive.

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

The good thing is if it can still cool somewhat, you now have a fermentation chamber?!

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Here's my thought: every time I see these keezer in a cabinet deals, I wonder how the keezer/freezer is dumping the heat from the compressor. Many of them have coils in the sides and front that warm up--that's how the heat is dumped.

Putting such a unit inside a closed cabinet means...how does it dump heat? I'd expect a unit like that to run, and run, and run, and have difficulty getting things down to the level I'd want.

Not sure that's what's going on here, but that's the first thing that comes to mind with these types of designs.

Ive had mine enclosed for a long time, years now and its made it through a house move too. But mine is framed in 2x4's, so my bar "skin" is 1.5" away from the freezer wall..as it is for most people...no one should be gluing wood directly to their freezer. Besides that the entire back of my fridge is open...its up against a wall but theres plenty of breathing space.

Initial chilling takes awhile yes, but after that it rarely turns on to hold 40F...maybe a dozen or so times a day. All that thermal mass(4.5 kegs) keeps it steady on its own.

 

[arnobg]

The good thing is if it can still cool somewhat, you now have a fermentation chamber?!

The lid is actually gone since it doesn't use it and has been built a couple years ago.

Mine is actually constructed like yours with the framing so it has some breathing room, I initially wondered the same thing because the compressor was so hot, but turns out it is because it was running non stop for days.

That is 2x4 framing against the freezer with 1/8" skin over the framing in the sides leaving an air gap between it and the freezer.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1459244183.162900.jpg

 

[mongoose33]

Ive had mine enclosed for a long time, years now and its made it through a house move too. But mine is framed in 2x4's, so my bar "skin" is 1.5" away from the freezer wall..as it is for most people...no one should be gluing wood directly to their freezer. Besides that the entire back of my fridge is open...its up against a wall but theres plenty of breathing space.

Initial chilling takes awhile yes, but after that it rarely turns on to hold 40F...maybe a dozen or so times a day. All that thermal mass(4.5 kegs) keeps it steady on its own.

I've seen designs where either there is enough space around the keezer to allow for convective cooling, or slats or holes in the sides to allow the heat to escape and be replaced by cooler air.

It just struck me that perhaps OP's problem is related to inability to cool. If it was possible I'd take it out of the cabinet and see if things changed.

 

[user 204491]

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.

Sorry, but doesn't that seem like a big red flag? What lines did he mean would freeze at 40? Chest freezers should be able to operate well below freezing.

Not saying the guy mislead you (in fact I guess he did kinda tell you not to run it below 45), but if I had a chest freezer that wouldn't actually freeze, I wouldn't sell it to someone without flat out stating that.

 

[day_trippr]

I'm guessing the frozen lines bit related to beer lines...

Cheers!

 

[arnobg]

Correct, beer lines. I unplugged it for 12 hours to cool off and take a break. Plugged back in overnight and checked this morning with nothing in it besides a bowl of water. 42F and frosted in the same spot again.

 

[user 204491]

OK, well now that seems even more strange. Why would beer lines freeze at 40F?

 

[wilserbrewer]

OK, well now that seems even more strange. Why would beer lines freeze at 40F?

Trying to analyze a past conversation b/w the OP and the seller of the keezer seems kinda pointless to me. Who knows why he suggested not turning it too low....maybe he froze the beer lines back when it was running properly using the analog controller. Who knows???

It's a shame, I'm sorry for your misfortune but I really think the freezer is toast. I wouldn't even suggest using it for fermentation as it would likely be inefficient.

IMO it is not unlikely for it to malfunction after a move if it was on its last legs.

 

[arnobg]

I agree, didn't intend this to be a court hearing for the seller. Just came looking for some diagnostic advice on my freezer so thanks all for the info. Probably going to buy a new one.

 

[user 204491]

Trying to analyze a past conversation b/w the OP and the seller of the keezer seems kinda pointless to me. Who knows why he suggested not turning it too low....maybe he froze the beer lines back when it was running properly using the analog controller. Who knows???

Totally valid, no knowing what was done in the past, just stuck out as a bit odd to me.

It's a shame, I'm sorry for your misfortune but I really think the freezer is toast. I wouldn't even suggest using it for fermentation as it would likely be inefficient.

Also a good point. From the description sounds like it was running far more than it needed to, so likely would be very inefficient and run up the power bill.

IMO it is not unlikely for it to malfunction after a move if it was on its last legs.

Very true. I've seen lots of the "this thing worked fine until I moved it" sorts of conversations around appliances.

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Trying to analyze a past conversation b/w the OP and the seller of the keezer seems kinda pointless to me. Who knows why he suggested not turning it too low....maybe he froze the beer lines back when it was running properly using the analog controller. Who knows???

It's a shame, I'm sorry for your misfortune but I really think the freezer is toast. I wouldn't even suggest using it for fermentation as it would likely be inefficient.

IMO it is not unlikely for it to malfunction after a move if it was on its last legs.

Might be worth a shot as a fermentation chamber, put a carboy of $5 water in there and in 8 hours see how far it can move it going full out.

I mean once your beer is at its set point, a functioning freezer barely ever even turns on...his will just have to run more.

At this point i say run it into the ground as a fermentation chamber if you can to get some use out of it before you have to pay money to take it to the dump.

 

[arnobg]

Well I got home from work this afternoon and checked up on it. It was running still but it was down at 34F from the 40's it was it this morning before I unplugged it from the temperature control. Seems it does get cooler but it was probably running non stop with the lid closed to get there.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Seems it does get cooler but it was probably running non stop with the lid closed to get there.

Yea, that's a shame

Even if it gets cold enough....the running non stop would put you in the poor house. Much cheaper long term to buy a new one, than feed one power constantly.

 

[JosephN]

I wonder if there would be other uses for the freezer, even if it doesn't get plugged in. I'm one that is all for reusing stuff or finding alternative uses until it falls apart.

 

[arnobg]

Bought a replacement Magic Chef chest freezer today at Home Depot. Can't wait to have my kegerator up and running normal!

Hopefully the collar doesn't need much modification if any, the measurements were very similar on the replacement.

 

[JosephN]

Good stuff, I hope you get much job from it.