Can I convert a fridge into a walk-in cooler?

Turning a Fridge into a Walk-in Cooler

 

Q: I have a chest-type freezer that works well for lagering. It gives me little space, however, for lagering and controlled fermentation year round. Can I turn a currently serviceable refrigerator/freezer into a small “walk in” cooler? The idea seems feasible provided the cooler is properly insulated, but I’m not a refrigeration technician and wonder if I’m asking a fridge to do too much.

Here’s the plan: I would remove both the refrigerator and freezer doors and construct an add-on box to fit the door openings. Styrofoam insulation between the studs and on the interior will provide the insulation. I would like to ferment lagers at about 50 °F (10 °C) and ales at about 65 °F (18 °C). My basement is about 58 ° F (14 °C) in the winter and about 72 °F (22 °C) in the summer.

Is this feasible? How many cubic feet should the “cool box” occupy at the maximum?

 

A: Several home brewers I have talked with have successfully doubled the size of their refrigerators by removing the doors and building on a homemade insulated box. Because the fridge is not opened frequently, the compressor can keep the larger space cold without working too hard. A few pointers:

• Make sure to use waterproof materials. Styrofoam is the best choice for insulation.
• Get a really good tight seal around the door. The seal makes more difference than the “R” value of the insulation.
• Make sure all the inside surfaces of your add-on box are cleanable.
• Use an auxiliary thermostat with a range of 30–70 °F (–1 to 21 °C). Most refrigerator thermostats will not hold a temperature higher than 45 °F (7 °C), which is a little too low.

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