Kegerator/Beer Line Cooling Newbie

[SteelersBar]

Hi,

I am new to this forum and to the kegerator world. I purchased a summit built in 2 faucet kegerator for my custom built bar in my basement. I want to mount the tower in a spot not directly above the unit. I am estimating at most a 5-6 foot run of line, including the 12" or so that run into the tower. My question is: Do I need to insulate the lines or rig anything to keep them cold, or is this distance not much of any issue? Also, if I need to insulate, please illustrate or point me somewhere for step by step directions. I am spending a lot of money to make this look good and don't want to constantly have foamy beer. Also, if I do not insulate, howmuch beer will I be wasting and will it spoil the keg??

Thanks!

[cubby_swans]

Originally Posted by SteelersBar

Hi,

I am new to this forum and to the kegerator world. I purchased a summit built in 2 faucet kegerator for my custom built bar in my basement. I want to mount the tower in a spot not directly above the unit. I am estimating at most a 5-6 foot run of line, including the 12" or so that run into the tower. My question is: Do I need to insulate the lines or rig anything to keep them cold, or is this distance not much of any issue? Also, if I need to insulate, please illustrate or point me somewhere for step by step directions. I am spending a lot of money to make this look good and don't want to constantly have foamy beer. Also, if I do not insulate, howmuch beer will I be wasting and will it spoil the keg??

Thanks!

You definitely need to run something like flexible PVC from the top of the kegerator to the underside of the counter/tower, insulate it, and run a blower/fan through the line into the tower. There are literally dozens of examples of this in these forums. search "under counter" and "tower cooling", many of which are highly detailed containing pictures and drawings.

here's a good one that uses a fixed line, obviously if your setup location or under counter location doesn't allow the fixed tubing, you use the flexible PVC instead...

New Blackspash Install Planned - Questions

[SteelersBar]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Do I need to cut a bigger hole in the unit?? I don't want to void the warranty....also, I am allowing 3" of space b/n the kegerator and the counter to allow room for PVC, etc. Is this enough or too much??

[cubby_swans]

Originally Posted by SteelersBar

Thanks for the quick reply.

Do I need to cut a bigger hole in the unit?? I don't want to void the warranty....also, I am allowing 3" of space b/n the kegerator and the counter to allow room for PVC, etc. Is this enough or too much??

You shouldn't need to cut the hole bigger. You could probably try a 2 1/2" flexible PVC pipe, but not sure you're going to squeeze it all in there with insulation. You need to have a little breathing room inside the line for the air flow from the blower to return back to the kegerator, otherwise the air just stalls and the blower is worthless. If possible, I would allow for as much space as possible between the countertop and kegerator. Either by raising the counter an inch, or removing casters/feet from the kegerator.

[SteelersBar]

Sweet.....so just to clarify:

Inside to outside: beer line running inside 1"-1 1/2" flex PVC??-->2 1/2" hard PVC-->foam insulation wrapping........

Fan set up inside kegerator and blowing up to tower through the smaller flex PVC with the beer line in it, right?

Thanks so much for you help and for the guidance to a happy healthy drunk relationship with my kegerator!!

[cubby_swans]

Originally Posted by SteelersBar

Sweet.....so just to clarify:

Inside to outside: beer line running inside 1"-1 1/2" flex PVC??-->2 1/2" hard PVC-->foam insulation wrapping........

Fan set up inside kegerator and blowing up to tower through the smaller flex PVC with the beer line in it, right?

Thanks so much for you help and for the guidance to a happy healthy drunk relationship with my kegerator!!

just do this, you should only need the flex PVC

[SteelersBar]

Thanks!!! I like the yummy beer picture!

[Skinsfan1311]

Originally Posted by cubby_swans

just do this, you should only need the flex PVC

Yummy Beer?? Brilliant!!

[SteelersBar]

Originally Posted by cubby_swans

just do this, you should only need the flex PVC

Thanks Cubby.....last thing...promise!! How big of a fan?? 22cfm, 32cfm. Taking into account my 5-6 foot line run.............I am going to radioshack today after work to by the fan and power supply.......just read some conflicting threads on here as to whether a PC fan will give enough flow.....

[cubby_swans]

I would use a pc fan of any size really. They're cheap, quiet, long lasting, and have low power consumption. You really only need a flow of air, it doesn't have to be like a vacuum cleaner in reverse. When trying to push air through basically a 1" hose, PC fans are pretty inefficient in that they allow air to escape back through them if they're pushing more air than can get through the hose. They're not really designed to force air through a space. So a bigger fan doesn't really help too much.

[SteelersBar]

Gracias Cubby!