Does anyone use a ready made kegerator? I was considering one for the compact size vs using my existing chest freezer. Any disadvantages to this setup?
This way I could still ferment and have a keg ready at the same time.
I knew plenty of folks with off the shelf kegerators. My only issue is the size. For me two or three beers isn’t enough. Four would be fine, five or six ideal.
I’ve got a three-keg premade setup.
I’ve only had two real issues with this setup.
First is with three taps crowded into the tower if anything goes wrong with the beer line/tap connections it’s almost impossible to work on. I think I’ve finally managed to get everything leak free and well tightened.
Having the CO2 bottle inside the kegerator is nice from an appearance standpoint, but it’s a pain in every other regard.
I bought an one-tap retail unit from my supervisor at my old job. It’s meant for one half keg but I can fit two 1/6 bbl in it.
My opinion is do a custom job if you need more room- convert a chest freezer or buy a big upright fridge and have taps in the door…
I have two, 2 tap homeowner style kegerators. Costco was clearing them out many years ago. They were originally single tower, but I changed that. Two corny’s in each one. That’s plenty of capacity for me. They work great. I bought them before I was even homebrewing.
If all you need is one or two taps, then go for it. But as others have said, sometimes two just isn’t enough. I had a chance to buy a True commerical style kegerator about a year ago for only $200. Nice little machine, but was very loud. I passed.
bought my sanyo in 1998 upon return from Germany tour. fits 3 of the shorter profile 5 gal kegs and co2. has worked great for all these years.
3 kegs? Did you remove the interior of the door?
I fit two in mine, and fill the door with stored yeast slurries.
no…although i cant say my interior extrudes very far though. mine fits a 1/2 keg and 5lb co2, so no issues with 3 5 gal kegs (as is said must use 2 of my shorter no black base kegs)
I’m a goof. I read “sanyo” and assume the 4920 mini-fridge like I have. You’ve got a pre-built kegerator, which will be different.
I’ve got one from Bev Factory too. So far so good, I agree on the CO2 complaint, haven’t had issues with the first issue mentioned. Sticky faucets if you don’t pull from one for a few days are my main complaint, but that’s not unique to this setup I don’t think.
I spritz some starsan up the tap at the beginning and end of a session.
When you can, invest in Perlick faucets. They’re completely ‘stick-free’. Awesome faucets.
For sure! Took me over 15 years but I did it.
I really regret not going with Perlick in the first place. Balked at the price, ended up with SS faucets that are VERY rough on the inside. They stick, but they work.
Too many other more pressing upgrades to splurge on perlicks for now.
great advice on the faucets, sorry to hijack the thread for a bit… back to the OP, I think your strategy is sound. Keep the chest freezer for ferm temp control instead of changing it over to a kegerator.