Help me, please! Clueless wife...

[sesands]

Hi, I am looking to purchase a kegerator for my husband for Christmas--I just have no idea what I should be looking for. It seems the more research I do, the more lost I am as to what brand I should buy.

My expectations of the product are simple: my husband is no brewmaster; he just wants something that will keep his beer pretty cold, is reliable, and won't break down in a couple of years. I can't afford a True or a BevAir; I am currently hoping to spend no more than about 750-800 bucks, including shipping. I have been looking at Sanyo, Haier, Summit, and Frigidaire, but have heard very mixed reviews on all. Also, I learned I can order a Kenmore through Sears for about 699; it sounds like a good model, I just can't find much info about it on the internet, so I'm a tad skeptical.

I would appreciate any help/suggestions I could get from any of your experienced kegerator purchasers out there. Please let me know what might be my best bet, and what is just hands-down crap. Thank you very much!

Sarah

[darck1]

Originally Posted by sesands

Hi, I am looking to purchase a kegerator for my husband for Christmas--I just have no idea what I should be looking for. It seems the more research I do, the more lost I am as to what brand I should buy.

My expectations of the product are simple: my husband is no brewmaster; he just wants something that will keep his beer pretty cold, is reliable, and won't break down in a couple of years. I can't afford a True or a BevAir; I am currently hoping to spend no more than about 750-800 bucks, including shipping. I have been looking at Sanyo, Haier, Summit, and Frigidaire, but have heard very mixed reviews on all. Also, I learned I can order a Kenmore through Sears for about 699; it sounds like a good model, I just can't find much info about it on the internet, so I'm a tad skeptical.

I would appreciate any help/suggestions I could get from any of your experienced kegerator purchasers out there. Please let me know what might be my best bet, and what is just hands-down crap. Thank you very much!

Sarah

Sarah,

From what I've read in here the Sanyo is your best bet...

http://www.micromatic.com/keg-refrig...d-BC-1206.html

It's certainly the right price and I haven't heard any bad things about the thermostats (as I have with other models).

[oneandonlychaz]

I own a kenmore kegerator and i am loving it. I have put 7 1/2bbl kegs thru mine in about 6 weeks now and it works fine. The first beer you pour of the night is usually foamy due to the lack of a blower in the tower that is featured on the more expensive models but this doesnt usually bother me because we usually will just pour pitchers around here. My unit is in a college apt and has taken a beating and keeps working great. I got it hooked it up, adjusted the t-stat until a cup of water in the kegerator was down to 38, adjusted the pressure to 14psi and have been pouring perfect ice cold beers ever since. Im not saying its the best model on the market but i have had a great experience from mine.

[Beer Dr]

Do your husband a favor and either wait till you can afford a Beverage Air, or borrow the money. The Bev Air has a Stainless steel (S/S) top and a S/S floor inside the unit. They also have galvinized walls inside. Most of the cheap units have plastic inside that usually ends up cracking. My Bev Air is over 20 yrs. old and I've never had to do anything to it other than regular maint.

[sesands]

Thank you guys for all your help! I'm still doing some research, but the personal experiences and suggestions have helped me. Beer Dr, thanks for the tip--I would REALLY love to get him a BevAir, but I just really can't afford it this time. Knowing how good they are, it will definitely be a purchase in the future--anniversary present, maybe? Haha. However, I'm just trying to find some middle ground right now--something that is not TOO expensive and that will last him at least 4-5 years. I would wait til his birthday and save up the money to buy a BevAir, but we are only in Colorado for so long, and he has long been lamenting about how much he loves the microbrews here and wished he could just enjoy them in the comfort of his own home.

Oneandonly, about the Kenmore--does it come with the option for any home repair plan, or any sort of warranty? Like I said, it sounded like a pretty good unit, but I'm just worried that if something breaks, there will be a lack of parts/information out there to help us. Am I wrong? Does Sears have a service plan or anything?

Thanks again, everyone. Take care!

[topgun3208]

I have the Kenmore which is mftd. by Sanyo. got it in Feb 05 and not one issue with it. you can get an extended warranty with it. I like mine, would have liked a perlick, but too costly tho. good luck

[sesands]

Thanks for the info, TopGun. I assume it does, but I was wondering--does the model already come with a tapping kit included? You said it was manufactured by Sanyo, whose models usually include the kit, so I am thinking it does. Thanks again!

[psychodad]

Here are some reviews of a few brands that you can use to compare features. 2006 Kegerator Review

I'd avoid the Danby. I have one myself, but I had to modify mine to get good performance from it. Then again others seem to have few problems if any from their Danby. You have time between now and Christmas to research it.

[dgodfrey62]

Interesting. The review does not say who did the study. I am a little skeptical on the Kegerator 2006 Review. It seems the lower cost units such as the Chinese model Haier scored the highest and the more expensive units were rated lower as the price went up. It appears to be heavily biased on price, not historical reliability, quality, features and durability. I would not put much credibility into this report. There are big differences between the kegerators mentioned in this review.

[psychodad]

Of course you have to be skeptical of nearly anything on the Internet. Especially reviews. I was merely trying to provide a side by side list of features on what appears to be some of the more popular sellers.

Were I in the market for a kegerator today, I wouldn't buy any of these and would opt to build one instead. But buying the parts for her husband likely wouldn't be what she would have in mind.

[Scott Zuhse]

Another alternative to a kegerator would be to purchase a good used refrigerator and utilize a refrigerator conversion kit.

As to the kegerator review, the Haier, Summit, Sanyo and Danby units are intended for home use only. The Bev Air and True are commercial units. The old adage applies - you get what you pay for. Actually, the commercial units are a bargain due to there capability of maintaining temperature throughout the system - unlike the home designs.

[smurph5]

I have had the Kenmore Kegerator for almost five years now and have never had any problems with tempurature, maintenance, etc. As mentioned the tower is not cooled so if your husband doesn't use it a lot then the first beer may be foamy but beyond that I have been very happy with mine. The Kegerator did come with all of the required equipment (Cleaning kit, Coupler, Cylinder, Faucet, Regulator.) Good luck.

[slp45]

Hello, I was new to this also, my fiancee bought me a kenmore and I love it. I have had it since Aug. 06 and haven't had any trouble with it . I set the temp and it stays there. This is one nice Kegger.
Scott

[sesands]

Slp, I'm SOO glad you said that--I ended up going with the Kenmore after much debating. I figured the brand has a good reputation, not many problems, pretty high-quality and well-made, etc. Plus I ended up calling a Sears nearby and they were selling their floor model (never used, just had the tower assembled for displaying) for $450! What a great deal I got the 2-year service plan, just in case (hey you never know, and I'm a girl, so I worry about those things--plus who knows what I could have done to it unloading it from the car!). Now my only problem is keeping it hidden till Christmas...let's hope he doesn't snoop in the basement. Thank you all for you help, suggestions, and testimonials. Take care!

[darck1]

Originally Posted by sesands

Slp, I'm SOO glad you said that--I ended up going with the Kenmore after much debating. I figured the brand has a good reputation, not many problems, pretty high-quality and well-made, etc. Plus I ended up calling a Sears nearby and they were selling their floor model (never used, just had the tower assembled for displaying) for $450! What a great deal I got the 2-year service plan, just in case (hey you never know, and I'm a girl, so I worry about those things--plus who knows what I could have done to it unloading it from the car!). Now my only problem is keeping it hidden till Christmas...let's hope he doesn't snoop in the basement. Thank you all for you help, suggestions, and testimonials. Take care!

I'd suggest buying a nice keg of Sam Adams Winter Ale a couple of days before Christmas. Then if he snooped before that he'd still get a nice surprise. :-D

[psychodad]

Get the co2 tank charged before Christmas too.

[Acmemfg]

Good call on the service contract. I had 2 brand new Sanyo units that didn't work. Had to ship both back across the country..no fun. Finally went with a True; still wondering if it too is a misfit or if by design it it supposed to be this loud...going to call True today and see what's going on.

Other than the noise, this is one fine unit...certainly built for the long haul.

[vinfamous]

youre a few years late buddy.