Old freezer with coils in shelves

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by JimmyTheDook, Apr 23, 2015.

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  1. JimmyTheDook

    JimmyTheDook Devotee (353) Oct 27, 2011 Texas

    I recently expanded my cellaring and may have been more frugal than I should have been. I purchased an old Montgomery Ward freezer on craigslist with the cooling coils threaded through the wire shelves.

    Are the coils in the shelves a problem for cellaring beer? I am considering adding a barrier on the shelves consisting of 3/4" insulating sheathing sandwiched between two pieces of 1/4-3/8" plywood. If the shelf coils are a problem, is this a solution?
     
    #1 JimmyTheDook, Apr 23, 2015
  2. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    coils shouldn't be a problem. at least i don't think so, but i have never used a permanent shelf freezer for anything except frozen food. you can't remove the shelves though, and that probably means you have to lay everything on it's side. not ideal but it isn't so bad.

    is this frost free? if so, the coils also have a heat line. the appliance automatically runs heat to the coils to defrost the ice. i don't know for certain but suspect they cycle with a simple timing device and don't measure frost build up. you might want to be careful if you insulate both sides of the shelf. even still, the compressor will run very infrequently.

    Cheers.
     
    #2 billandsuz, Apr 23, 2015
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  3. JimmyTheDook

    JimmyTheDook Devotee (353) Oct 27, 2011 Texas

    It is a Montgomery Ward Upright Freezer Model #4939. I don't have a manual and can't seem to find one on the internet. The craigslist seller had it running when I arrived to buy it and plenty of frost was on the shelves. 2 or 3 of the shelves are removable and this allows the bottles to be placed upright.

    I only intended on added the insulation to the top of the shelves where the beers contact. There is about 3" of clearance above the top of bottles so adding the insulation will not put the beers in contact with the shelf above.
     
    #3 JimmyTheDook, Apr 23, 2015
  4. DawgPhan

    DawgPhan Initiate (0) Mar 23, 2012 Georgia

    It isnt ideal.

    I have one and struggle with humidity. Especially in the summer when it rains. I keep my freezer in the garage as well so I am fighting an uphill battle.

    Basically the humidity is going to freeze and thaw on the coils. that is going to drip from the coils. The main problem I have is with the bottom coil since I think that is the first to freeze.

    I have put one of the wireless dehumidifiers in there, but when it rains a lot during the spring I dont think that it can keep up.

    I dont think that the coils need insulation to protect the bottles and I suspect that doing that is going to cause you more problems than not doing it. My solution is to not use the area below the bottom shelf and keep a towel down there and I replace every few days during the spring.

    During the winter when it is dry it isnt an issue. Not sure what the humidity is like in Texas, but in my area humidity stays high.

    I got my freezer for free, so I couldnt beat the price, but I am always looking for another one without the coils to replace it with. I would rather just use this one as a freezer as it was intended. Live and learn.
     
    #4 DawgPhan, Apr 24, 2015
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  5. JimmyTheDook

    JimmyTheDook Devotee (353) Oct 27, 2011 Texas

    Mine was $30 for a working 19 cu. ft freezer and it didn't occur to me that the coils in the shelves might be a problem at the time.

    I got it in January and have also been struggling with humidity. Humidity is pretty high in San Antonio but not as high as the gulf coast. Two wireless dehumidifiers and one tub of damprid knock the humidity down to about 75-80% until it is time to plug in the dehumidifiers.

    I keep small bottles on the bottom but I can move those. I think I may regard this freezer as a short term solution and try to replace it and use it as a typical freezer.
     
    #5 JimmyTheDook, Apr 24, 2015
  6. JimmyTheDook

    JimmyTheDook Devotee (353) Oct 27, 2011 Texas

    If I can find a way to funnel the dripping water away from the tops of the bottles I may put the insulation on the top of the shelves.
     
    #6 JimmyTheDook, Apr 24, 2015
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