My Basement Bar Build

[hurst1979olds]

Thanks guys. There's been a lot of hardwork put into this basement. Can't wait till everything is done.

The Mario is a decal kit the wife found online.

 

[63belair]

Any chance you can post a link to said website?

 

[sudsmcgee]

Nice job and good luck. Here is my FIL's bar to give you some ideas. He's installing a kegerator and tower soon.

 

[hurst1979olds]

Any chance you can post a link to said website?

I think this is the site. I know she did a simple search online. http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/a6d0/

Thanks about my username. I'm a car guy what can I say. I take it you are as well.

 

[hurst1979olds]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/pvc-tower-cooling-solution-43072/
Well I found this thread. I was thinking about doing something like this for mine But maybe only the first 3-4' then have a blower with a hose going to the tap tower 5' away?. I have about 5' of 3" PVC coming out the side of the fridge with a 90* elbow going up to the tower. What do you guys think? I will be insulation the PVC on the outside with R-13 Wall insulation.

If it were you what would you do. You can see pictures of the PVC in a previous post of mine.

 

[AZBrewing]

That's a healthy distance to travel and I think it would work but I am not sure how well. You can test it out with a thermometer though to give you an idea.

 

[AZBrewing]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/pvc-tower-cooling-solution-43072/
Well I found this thread. I was thinking about doing something like this for mine But maybe only the first 3-4' then have a blower with a hose going to the tap tower 5' away?. I have about 5' of 3" PVC coming out the side of the fridge with a 90* elbow going up to the tower. What do you guys think? I will be insulation the PVC on the outside with R-13 Wall insulation.

If it were you what would you do. You can see pictures of the PVC in a previous post of mine.

I might be over thinking it but your insulation value is based on it being expanded not compressed around a pipe. A better option may be that reflective insulation stuff that keeps heat out. They sell it at HDs...Others might have a better take on this, just thinking out loud.

 

[Phyrst]

Looking great. Subscribed!

 

[hurst1979olds]

I might be over thinking it but your insulation value is based on it being expanded not compressed around a pipe. A better option may be that reflective insulation stuff that keeps heat out. They sell it at HDs...Others might have a better take on this, just thinking out loud.

Keeping the heat out....makes sense....now would it be easier to keep heat out or cold in? If I were to keep cold in I would have to insulate from the inside not the outside? Looks like I have more research to do.

 

[MississippiSlim]

Insulation doesnt know heat from cold. Basically think of everything as heat. Cold is simply heat loss. Insulation insulates. It keeps heat from being lost or transferred to matter that is less hot.

 

[MississippiSlim]

You basically want the outside air to not transfer heat to your beer, thus keeping ur beer "less hot"

 

[AZBrewing]

You basically want the outside air to not transfer heat to your beer, thus keeping ur beer "less hot"

+1 to what Mississippislim is saying. You will be fine if you use a radiant barrier on the outside...

 

[hurst1979olds]

+1 to what Mississippislim is saying. You will be fine if you use a radiant barrier on the outside...

Thanks. Ill pick some of this up and monitor my temps at the tap. Thanks for help guys.

 

[Ravenshead]

I'd be more worried about getting enough cold air pumped from the fridge than insulation. The insulation will keep your electric bills down but won't help a bit if your tower is still warm. Temporarily install your fan and see what temp you can keep at the far end of your pipe run. I'm guessing you'll be fine but if you aren't you'll need another cooling source closer to the tower.

 

[hurst1979olds]

Well I put that reflective insulation that you guys recomended. I turned on the fridge and ran it. I got the fridge down to 39 degrees. But that pipe was only at 70 degrees. My blower came in yesterday I put that it and were the tap would be I got it down to 57 degrees. The hose for the blower only goes in halfway not long enought yet to reach the tower. The temp dropped is pretty good but not quite enough. I still plan to run my beer lines in copper pipe. Now I'm wondering if I should drill a hole from the freezer to the fridge and put the blower in the freezer and have the line come down and go into my PVC pipe. But would that freeze my line in that one spot you think?

 

[AZBrewing]

If you have room in the fridge...get a bucket filled with water and add a small submersible pump and run it with the beer lines and back. Its cheap and works. Simple heat exchange. The copper your putting in I am sure would help too.

 

[hurst1979olds]

Well I got the it down to 40 degrees at the tap. I plumbed the blower motor to copper pipe in the freezer and it is ran all the way to the tap inside the pvc. Then the beer line all the way to the tap will be in copper....I did it all in copper and soldered everything to seal it. But I did that in case I was going to have to go to a submersible pump and run antifreeze in it. That's for all the input guys....will post more pics when the top is on and I don't know when that will be. For now looks like I'm hooking up a keg.

 

[AZBrewing]

Well I got the it down to 40 degrees at the tap. I plumbed the blower motor to copper pipe in the freezer and it is ran all the way to the tap inside the pvc. Then the beer line all the way to the tap will be in copper....I did it all in copper and soldered everything to seal it. But I did that in case I was going to have to go to a submersible pump and run antifreeze in it. That's for all the input guys....will post more pics when the top is on and I don't know when that will be. For now looks like I'm hooking up a keg.

Sweet... looks great and I am looking forward to your finished product. Enjoy your draft beer!