[BrewBama]

... pumping anti-freeze through plumbing.

^^^ That’s exactly how refrigeration works.

...but I can see your point: low entry cost and low operating cost (yrs of maintenance free operation).

[Bel Air Brewing]

... pumping anti-freeze through plumbing.

^^^ That’s exactly how refrigeration works.

...but I can see your point: low entry cost and low operating cost (yrs of maintenance free operation).

Yes, low entry cost. And it's a one time expense. And we should never need to add any freon. Much less anti-freeze or glycol. Or worry about the associated plumbing and pumps required.

But hey, we are always trying to save a few $$$.

It works for us. You might choose other options.

[ynotbrusum]

One other thought, though...I don't run my refrigerant through the fermenter jacket year-round.  I only need to run it when the ambient temperature in my garage is above 50 (about eight months out of the year +/- for lagers) and only when I am fermenting a beer below ambient.  So, I don't have a freezer running non-stop for fermenting when using the glycol jacket wrap.  On the other hand, I have a warming wrap for the cold weather fermenting, so it may consume close to the same amount of electricity (though the insulated cooler bag) helps on both directions of temperature control....

https://www.morebeer.com/products/cool-brewing-fermentation-cooler-bag.html?msclkid=69b4b6c9f2c01a9cf00ce91b6e3efd9b&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BPA%20-%20Items%20-%20Fermentation%20Equipment&utm_term=4577198190627228&utm_content=BPA%20Item%20-%20Fermentation%20Equipment%7C60-150%7CC%3A40

[Bel Air Brewing]

One other thought, though...I don't run my refrigerant through the fermenter jacket year-round.  I only need to run it when the ambient temperature in my garage is above 50 (about eight months out of the year +/- for lagers) and only when I am fermenting a beer below ambient.  So, I don't have a freezer running non-stop for fermenting when using the glycol jacket wrap.  On the other hand, I have a warming wrap for the cold weather fermenting, so it may consume close to the same amount of electricity (though the insulated cooler bag) helps on both directions of temperature control....

https://www.morebeer.com/products/cool-brewing-fermentation-cooler-bag.html?msclkid=69b4b6c9f2c01a9cf00ce91b6e3efd9b&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BPA%20-%20Items%20-%20Fermentation%20Equipment&utm_term=4577198190627228&utm_content=BPA%20Item%20-%20Fermentation%20Equipment%7C60-150%7CC%3A40

This makes sense. This time of year, our freezers are not running at all. The set temps are 66, 58, and 56 degrees. My garage temp runs from 52 to 60 degrees right now. I could probably just ferment in the garage!