Cellar Heating Issue

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by hopswap1, Feb 25, 2015.

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  1. hopswap1

    hopswap1 Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2012 Illinois

    I live in Chicago and my cellar is an old fridge that I have a temp controller for in the garage . The garage isn't insulated therefore I have to heat the fridge in the winter. I'm using a reptile heating pad attached to the back of the fridge that is hooked up to the temp controller.
    The issue I'm having is that the temperature fluctuates based on which shelf the beer is on. Obviously heat rises so my bottom shelf is sitting at 40degrees, middle at 50, and top at around 56.

    Anyone know a way to get better heat distribution?
     
    #1 hopswap1, Feb 25, 2015
  2. will1256

    will1256 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2010 Minnesota

    I bet if you hooked up some sort of small fan like a computer case fan inside the fridge to circulate the air it would balance out.
     
    #2 will1256, Feb 26, 2015
  3. hopswap1

    hopswap1 Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2012 Illinois

    You kno that's actually not a terrible idea. Maybe attach it to top and aim it down to push hot air down?
     
    #3 hopswap1, Feb 27, 2015
  4. HighWine

    HighWine Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2010 Illinois

    Would the fridge stay at 40 degrees inside with the door closed and no heat?

    If not it seems like it would be easiest to just take out the external temp controller and use it as an actual fridge that will maintain itself at around 38 degrees anyway.

    Edit: I'm from California and relatively new to the Midwest. I don't have a fridge in the garage here so I don't know if the insulation in the fridge is enough to keep the temp inside below freezing when it's brutally cold outside.
     
    #4 HighWine, Feb 28, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2015
  5. hopswap1

    hopswap1 Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2012 Illinois

    A new fridge might be insulated enough but this is a 15 year old fridge. It gets the job done really well but if the temps dip down into single digits the temp in the fridge will dip. Had a scare the first year it happened but I caught it before the temp in the fridge dipped below freezing and put in the pad as a quick fix.

    For reference: I have no where to put the fridge indoors nor is a new fridge an option with a wedding being planned.
     
    #5 hopswap1, Mar 3, 2015
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