Cellaring unit moisture problems

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by Rosswopat, Oct 19, 2015.

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  1. Rosswopat

    Rosswopat Initiate (0) May 10, 2015 Oregon

    Hello all,

    I recent purchased a used upright freezer from Craigslist and installed a Johnson digital external temperature control. It is currently set to keep the ambient temperature 52-54 degrees and it has been working quite well for about a month.

    I was adding a bottle to the collection the other day and I noticed that the top of several Firestone boxes were wet. These beers are on the middle shelf and what appeared to be happening is that the cooling element in the shelf directly above them was gathering condensation and this was subsequently dripping all over the beers below it. Additionally, this only seemed to be happening on the top shelf cooling element as the two shelves below it remain completely dry. There was also a small amount of ice forming directly on the top shelf, though the ambient temperature was definitely NOT below 52 (I confirmed this with two other thermometers). Since this is only happening on the top shelf, I am concerned that that shelf is the only functional cooling element.

    My questions are these:
    • has anyone had this issue and, if so, how did you fix it?
    • would using a de-humidfier like Dry Z Air be useful?
    • should I be using a refrigerator for cellaring instead?
    Thanks so much for any assistance!
     
    #1 Rosswopat, Oct 19, 2015
  2. Joshjv

    Joshjv Initiate (0) Nov 12, 2013 Michigan

    #2 Joshjv, Oct 19, 2015
  3. Rosswopat

    Rosswopat Initiate (0) May 10, 2015 Oregon

    Thanks for the info! I'm glad it's a common issue and not something too unexpected. I will give it a try.
     
    #3 Rosswopat, Oct 20, 2015
  4. vette-ss

    vette-ss Zealot (737) Nov 5, 2014 Michigan
    Trader

    Lots of posts on here suggest putting a tub of damprid in there, available at your local Walmart or equivalent.
     
    #4 vette-ss, Oct 20, 2015
  5. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana

    I'm using an Eva Dry 500 and it works great. I'm sure the 333 would work just as well in my freezer.
     
    #5 fredmugs, Oct 20, 2015
  6. Rosswopat

    Rosswopat Initiate (0) May 10, 2015 Oregon

    Awesome. The Eva Dry 500 should arrive on my doorstep tomorrow. I'm stoked to see how it works.
     
    #6 Rosswopat, Oct 20, 2015
  7. JimmyTheDook

    JimmyTheDook Devotee (353) Oct 27, 2011 Texas

    My experience cellaring in an upright freezer has been bad but that may be because mine is very old. I bought a Montgomery Ward brand model upright freezer on craigslist, which is probably at least 25 years old. It has the cooling coils running through the metal shelves and during the freezer's off cycle it rains down on the bottles/boxes. Two Eva Dry 333s and a tub of Damp-Rid can only get the humidity down to 75% at best. I have a chest freezer next to it that I took one of the Eva Dry units out of for the upright freezer and the chest freezer's humidity still hovers 45% without the dehumidifier.

    My advice and the solution to my humidity problems is to get a second chest freezer. I picked one up yesterday and will be moving bottles out of the uright freezer by the weekend. I haven't decided whether to get rid of the upright freezer or use it as an actual freezer.
     
    #7 JimmyTheDook, Oct 20, 2015
  8. Rosswopat

    Rosswopat Initiate (0) May 10, 2015 Oregon

    Interesting. Mine isn't quite that old so hopefully that has something to do with it. I also have pretty limited space and an upright just made more sense for me. Fingers crossed.
     
    #8 Rosswopat, Oct 21, 2015
  9. Bigtimmyb

    Bigtimmyb Initiate (0) Jul 3, 2015 California

    What settings did you put into your temperature control unit? I just bought a Johnson one as well yesterday and was kind of confused on setup. My current settings i seem to have: It turns off at 55 degrees with a 3 degree variance i guess so it will kick back on once it hits 59 degrees. Does this seem right? This is my first crack at trying to cellar beer so I am hoping I am not messing up to bad. Thanks in advance for any help.
     
    #9 Bigtimmyb, Oct 21, 2015
  10. badboy7113

    badboy7113 Pundit (980) Jan 19, 2011 Florida
    Trader

    Did you have any luck? My friend is having the same problem
     
    #10 badboy7113, Oct 28, 2015
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