Here is the situation: I just bought a house with a basement, I generally do 10g all grain batches, I also do wines, ciders, and meads, I do everything in kegs (beergun if I need to bottle), and recently doubled my keg inventory to a total of a bit over 70 kegs (bought 36 kegs for 80 dollars). I currently have two temp controlled chest freezers and a 6-tap kegerator, giving me a total of 27 kegs I can keep in temperature controlled cold storage. Currently, about 24 of those spots are taken, so I am quickly running out of space.
Originally I was thinking of just getting more chest freezers, but then I am looking at another three large chest freezers plus the temp controllers, that would put me at six chest freezers total. This is too many, and not very economical in my mind. This is when I started thinking of converting the storage area into a walk in cooler. I don’t know the dimensions of the top of my head, but it is plenty large enough to hold all that I want currently.
Here is my problem, I have no experience working with air conditioners or fully insulating a room for cooling and protecting from condensation.
I have done some research, and there doesn’t seem too be too much information in one place. I found a thread by blktre from 2006 (the pictures have been taken down though), and an assortment of advice from some other threads, and I am just looking for more information so that I can build something that won’t be a nightmare.
I like how blktre has two zones, and I plan on doing something similar. I can actually add another section to the storage area that will go into the garage area. I think I will drop down the ceiling for some high R-value attic insulation for the ceiling, in addition to some foam board insulation. I was also thinking of doing this to the sides - putting in high R-value wall insulation, in addition to foam board for the sides. For the floor, I am not sure of the best way to insulate since I will be walking on it, and placing kegs and fermenters on it, so it also needs to be strong.
I would appreciate any advice at all on this project, and any indication of a realistic budget for what I am doing (I know it depends on the size of the cooler I want to build).
So here are some questions:
What kind of material do I get for a moisture barrier (on the warm side, from what I’ve read, correct?), is it just plastic sheeting? How can it be mounted? If I put staples or nails into it, will that destroy the barrier?
Where can I get the good foam board? I remember reading that what is sold at home depot/lowes is the low grade stuff, and isn’t a very high R value. How expensive is this stuff?
I’ve been reading I need 4 inches of good foam insulating board for good insulation. The way I have in mind, I will frame out the walls and ceiling, put in wall/ceiling insulation, then use 2 inches of the foam board. does this sound reasonable?
I still don’t know what to do about the floor insulation though. suggestions?
Doors - where can I get appropriate insulating doors? I haven’t looked yet at home depot, do they have appropriate doors? How much should I look to spend on the doors?
my plans - two zones, one at 40F, the other varying from 50-65, depending on what I am fermenting. I will use two love controllers, one controlling the window AC unit (will I need an SSR, or will the love controller handle the amps?), the other will control a fan in the wall separator of the two zones, turning on when it needs to cool the other zone. I assume I also need to have a circulation pathway for the air? Where should the fan(s) be mounted? I plan on putting the probe for the 40F thermostat in some gel (blktre uses ice gel packs, i’ll probably do the same), and then for the fermenting zone, i’ll put that in the ambient air. How does that sound? Also, is there an easy way to extend the love controller thermistors - can I just add wire, or would it increase the resistance too much and throw off my temperatures? (I know I could set an offset with the love).
Sorry for the long post, and for the many questions. Any help, pricing, suggestions, are appreciated! Thanks!
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