Fridge or Freezer?

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HeavensBrew

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Which is better for your homebrew set up; Fridge or Freezer?

I'm not looking to build a keezer, so this is about temperature control during fermenting and spare capacity for keeping beer cold. Perhaps cold crashing, but I have lot's to learn and so I believe there will be important points that I am not considering.
 
I have a chest freezer and whilst it is good for controlling temp and cold crashing and also for storage (as it has a cooling mode where it keeps temps more like a fridge) a key drawback is that you have to reach a long way down into it to heave out a 25L FV. So if any back issues/ general frailty then dont get a chest freezer.
 
Which is better for your homebrew set up; Fridge or Freezer?

I'm not looking to build a keezer, so this is about temperature control during fermenting and spare capacity for keeping beer cold. Perhaps cold crashing, but I have lot's to learn and so I believe there will be important points that I am not considering.
That depends if you want a tall larder style fridge or upright freezer or a chest type freezer or under counter fridge.
Personally I have two tall larder fridges so I can have 2 FV's in each if I want. I'm not sure you can remove the shelves in an upright freezer and do that as they have pipework in the shelf, so that needs to be considered.
I think that a freezer is designed to run at temperatures below what you would normally ferment lager or cold crash at so that could be an issue.
Just my novice thoughts on the matter and what I have read, Im sure many use a freezer succesfully
 
Chest freezers have really good temperature stability. If you're also considering cost of running then chest freezers use about a third of an upright. You could save yourself 80 quid a year.
 
Chest freezers have really good temperature stability. If you're also considering cost of running then chest freezers use about a third of an upright. You could save yourself 80 quid a year.
As a combi Fridge Freezer is estimated to cost £30 per year to run for an A+ and £64 per year for a standard then I would doubt your figures especially when a brew fridge running at fermentation temperatures is not going to be running anywhere like a normal fridge.
Average annual electricity usage per household | Cost of electricity UK
 
So far it seems a fridge would be the winner. The fridge will not be in constant use, rather only when required to reduce the fermenting temperature or when I need additional cold storage of kegged/bottled beers.

couple of side questions to add.
1) Does the fermenter need to breath? Basically, can you close the door like normal or do you need to make a modification to allow some air transfer?
2) Getting the temperature. I assume even a fridge still needs a temperature controller to maintain the desired temperature.
 
So far it seems a fridge would be the winner. The fridge will not be in constant use, rather only when required to reduce the fermenting temperature or when I need additional cold storage of kegged/bottled beers.

couple of side questions to add.
1) Does the fermenter need to breath? Basically, can you close the door like normal or do you need to make a modification to allow some air transfer?
2) Getting the temperature. I assume even a fridge still needs a temperature controller to maintain the desired temperature.
1) Yes you can close the door without mods
2) Yes an Inkbird controlling a heater and the fridge would be typical
 
I have a chest freezer and whilst it is good for controlling temp and cold crashing and also for storage (as it has a cooling mode where it keeps temps more like a fridge) a key drawback is that you have to reach a long way down into it to heave out a 25L FV. So if any back issues/ general frailty then dont get a chest freezer.
Or simply rig a block and tackle over it like wot i have done. Top pulley slides on a rail too, so the PB can be moved to the sink draining board for checking, cleaning (if its looking yukki), or adding finings.
 
Like this.

IMG_1192.JPG
 
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