Warm weather brewers...fermentation chamber...

[mclamb6]

I'm looking to add a chest freezer to act as a fermentation chamber/lagering vessel. I'm somewhat crunched for space and the wife is also somewhat opposed to having another appliance (to go along with the kegerator (converted chest freezer) visible to all and sundry. One option is to put the freezer in the garage, which gets quite warm during Phoenix summers, for a couple of reasons: strain on the freezer and increased electrical bill.

For any warm weather brewers, have you noticed any particular issues (relative to my concerns above) with keeping the ferm chamber in the garage? Any issues that I'm missing?

 

[capitalmedic]

I have an stc-1000 temp controller on my fridge in the garage. I have a pale ale fermenting now at 65 degrees. I keep hops and other beers in the top freezer since it does not get to freezing temps. It has been 90+ degrees in Florida and seems to be working great. It is not enough to notice a change in my electrical bill.

 

[MichaelBrock]

I'm in Florida as well and have two freezer fermenters in my garage. It gets direct morning sun on the door (I really need to insulate it...) and gets pretty hot inside. I haven't noticed any increase in my electricity bills and they do not seem to run unduly often.

 

[traylorbrew]

i'm in the yuma area i have a fifteen year old fridge outside works great, ferment in the fridge store bottles in the freezer, i keep my control box set with about a 3 degree offset