Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber  (Read 4170 times)

Offline Lazy Ant Brewing

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 634
Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« on: April 24, 2018, 11:47:11 am »
I'm using a 21-cu ft. fridge located in an unheated garage  as my fermentation chamber.  I'm currently struggling to keep a 5- gal batch of saison in a plastic bucket fermenting at 72 F. 

I've tried using both a fermenter wrap with the inlaid wiring inside plastic around the bucket and an old heating pad underneath the bucket.  Neither will get the job done when the temp outside the garage is in the 30-degree F range.  The temp will stall out at about 68 F.

I've thought about brooder lights like are used in hen houses for young chicks, but I'm afraid the light would penetrate the white plastic bucket and skunk the developing brew.

On the other hand, I've just ordered a S/S fermenter so that could be a solution for future.

I'd like any suggestions (easy and  cheap preferred)  to fix the problem.

Thanks in advance for your advice.
It's easier to read brewing books and get information from the forum than to sacrifice virgins to appease the brewing gods when bad beer happens!

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27093
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2018, 11:52:45 am »
I use a reptile heater lamp.  Inexpensive and very effective.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline Nathan

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 89
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2018, 11:54:18 am »
I'm using a 21-cu ft. fridge located in an unheated garage  as my fermentation chamber.  I'm currently struggling to keep a 5- gal batch of saison in a plastic bucket fermenting at 72 F. 

I've tried using both a fermenter wrap with the inlaid wiring inside plastic around the bucket and an old heating pad underneath the bucket.  Neither will get the job done when the temp outside the garage is in the 30-degree F range.  The temp will stall out at about 68 F.

I've thought about brooder lights like are used in hen houses for young chicks, but I'm afraid the light would penetrate the white plastic bucket and skunk the developing brew.

On the other hand, I've just ordered a S/S fermenter so that could be a solution for future.

I'd like any suggestions (easy and  cheap preferred)  to fix the problem.

Thanks in advance for your advice.
Small oil filled radiator type heater and an old quilt or sleeping bag for insulation


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11326
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2018, 12:17:28 pm »
I've been using heat tape similar to these for years. They work great!

http://www.reptilebasics.com/heat-tape

Offline Bob357

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 895
  • Consensus means nothing to me. I am who I am.
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2018, 12:25:46 pm »
A 40 watt incandescent light bulb is about the least expensive and gives off plenty of heat.
Beer is my bucket list,

Bob357
Fallon, NV

Offline jjw5015

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 28
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2018, 12:26:26 pm »
Does it need to be in the ferm chamber? Keep it in your house and add some heat to it.

Offline 802Chris

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 151
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2018, 02:18:40 pm »
Does it need to be in the ferm chamber? Keep it in your house and add some heat to it.

This is a good suggestion.


For reference, I use a 7cu ft fridge in an unheated garage, in Vermont, that routinely sees temps well below zero all winter. This is my fermentation chamber.  I use a 40W light bulb with  a SS brewtech brewbucket.  I never have issues keeping temp up towards 75 when I D rest.

Also I use a 100W ceramic heater like the reptile ones denny suggested. They are usually around $10 on amazon. I use one in my 12 cu ft chest freezer for all my kegs during winter and it works great.

Offline linda987

  • 1st Kit
  • *
  • Posts: 1
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2018, 02:31:32 am »
I think you can find the equipment you need here,https://yolongbrewtech.com
beer brewing is very happy, we can make the best beer.
Cheers!

Offline jeffy

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4222
  • Tampa, Fl
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #8 on: September 19, 2018, 04:20:17 am »
Why do you want it so hot?  Most ale yeasts make better beer in the 60’s.
Jeff Gladish, Tampa (989.3, 175.1 Apparent Rennarian)
Homebrewing since 1990
AHA member since 1991, now a lifetime member
BJCP judge since 1995

Offline KellerBrauer

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 808
  • Bottoms Up!
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #9 on: September 19, 2018, 06:30:33 am »
I use a 100W ceramic reptile heater.  The heater is screwed into a ceramic light socket located on the lower rear left side of my fermentation chamber (formerly a kegerator).  On the side of the light socket is a 115V receptacle where I plugged in a USB adapter.  Plugged in to the adapter is a very small fan I mounted on the upper front right side of the chamber to help stratify the heat within the chamber.  The ceramic light socket (heating side) and the cooling side of my chamber are plugged in to my Inkbird controller.  System works great!  The heating side of this system cost under $35 complete.
« Last Edit: September 19, 2018, 06:34:55 am by KellerBrauer »
Joliet, IL

All good things come to those who show patients and perseverance while maintaining a positive and progressive attitude. 😉

Offline Slowbrew

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2857
  • The Slowly Losing IT Brewery in Urbandale, IA
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #10 on: September 19, 2018, 10:10:41 am »
Why do you want it so hot?  Most ale yeasts make better beer in the 60’s.

He said he's brewing a saison.  They are summer beers and fermented warm.

Paul
Where the heck are we going?  And what's with this hand basket?

Offline yso191

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1816
  • Yakima, WA
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #11 on: September 19, 2018, 11:54:44 am »
I use a hair dryer.  They are cheap, and do a good job of air circulation.
Steve
BJCP #D1667

“Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.” ― G.K. Chesterton

Offline klickitat jim

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8604
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #12 on: September 19, 2018, 01:00:20 pm »
I like a "low mass" heat source. Things like snake rocks tend to take a while to heat up and cool down. So they hit the high mark, your controller turns it off, but since the rock stays piping hot for a while, your beer temp keeps rising, causing the cold side to kick on. Now the cooler is trying to chill the rock, and you get an overkill underkill cycle going.

I prefer a heat pad. Costs about $15 on Amazon. Quickly heats and cools off quickly. If you go this route make sure you get one that does not have the automatic cutoff safety thing, intended to protect people from falling asleep on it. With a large heat pad I can maintain 90f in my 17cf freezer so long as my shop stays above 40f. Sometimes in the winter my shop is 0f, or lower, and I can easily hold 65f.

Air circulation could be nice, but sometimes I open ferment... I just use dry-z-air or damp rid to control moisture
« Last Edit: September 19, 2018, 09:17:13 pm by klickitat jim »

Offline Robert

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4214
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #13 on: September 19, 2018, 02:52:47 pm »
+1 and +1 on low mass and Damp Rid instead of worrying about circulation.  I get fine results from a FermWrap taped to the back wall of the chamber.  40W, simplicity itself.
Rob Stein
Akron, Ohio

I'd rather have questions I can't answer than answers I can't question.

Offline ynotbrusum

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4882
Re: Suggestions needed for heating fermentation chamber
« Reply #14 on: September 19, 2018, 04:38:11 pm »
Agreed with Robert and Jim.  I tape the thin plastic heat wrap to the back wall of my chest freezer.
Hodge Garage Brewing: "Brew with a glad heart!"