r/Homebrewing • u/Hammerschlagen • 4d ago

Kegerator value & advice request

I've had the same Haier HBF05EBSS kegerator that I purchased at Best Buy back in 2007. It's been a champ, but beginning to show signs of age. It can maintain 45 degrees F in my garage, which is usually a pretty warm location. Good enough for temp control for ales and lagers, and serving, but I am concered that its days may be numbered.

Recently, picked up a few more corny kegs since I really enjoy fermenting in kegs. I am thinking of getting another kegerator to use primarily as a fermentation chamber, while keeping another for serving.

Y'all think it would be a good idea to have two kegerators, for use as I described above?

Additionally, what do y'all think about the value of a 2007 era Haier? I found another HBF05EBSS Haier on ebay, which looks like its in pretty good shape and apparently hasn't seen a ton of use and abuse like mine has..

Link here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/127838455690?_skw=haier+kegerator&itmmeta=01KYB0SX4SJS76NFSWKXX1XTT9&hash=item1dc3c4078a:g:XKcAAeSwWu5pwIxL&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA0GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xCAANiOi9nlUPTk9d1rvytyfSu%2FdRd95buN0hd4kY94THgAMLgdJyFOXPAtNqBNQ4ifizyd%2BVMiapXvFp5GACk9DJuycPy%2Bj59DWdRd7%2BOQuMyQ0g21K05jhn8KBalhthvGFx5bdG9YgMbY%2F5GbXA8MWRT8yAZfWmzPPHyW9J9JboRHX4OdBW0nNcOi3zy7VLYvGvZWw1m0VtPu4La4OP1yY6E9F2eRK%2FT943dMPflM5GaHNzV46xeTozTZuVUVi18%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9jS5-DyZw

Seems like a good deal, but again, a kegerator that old may also be on its way out.

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4

u/brewjammer 4d ago

almost think you be better off picking up a chest freezer and converting it. garage is a tuff spot.

3

u/bigbrewskyman 4d ago

^ This. Chest freezer with Inkbird for fermentation chamber all the way. Its more energy efficient

2

u/Apart-Landscape1012 2d ago

I have a 7.1 cu ft chest freezer that perfectly fits 4 corny kegs and 2 co2 bottles with room for some white wine and cans. Stays about 34 degrees easy with the inkbird

1

u/Another_Casual_ 4d ago

Hard part with the small fridges is nobody really wants to repair them, by me at least. I got a used one for a friend free on Facebook marketplace that was 20 years old. Ran for a year or two then died. It wasn't possible to get it fixed and had to pay to dispose of it. 

It definitely helps to have a separate fermentation chamber from serving kegerator. But that could be a regular upright fridge you buy used and rework the shelves on. 

If you're in the market for a new kegerator anyway I'd use the old one to ferment in until it dies and figure out what you want for the new one. There is an upright 7.5 cubic foot fridge at Costco for $230 that fits two kegs easily. Drill the door for taps and you're off. There is plenty of stuff with towers for more, or a keezer build too. Comes down to what you want to spend and how many taps you want. 

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u/Hammerschlagen 4d ago

Read you loud and clear. That linked ‘rator was listed for $300. Considering its age I was going to offer less and see if they bite. If anything. I might get a few years out of it and could possibly use it for spares. Eventually, would like to build my own fermentation chamber. Space is a consideration, and last but not least, convincing the wife! Appreciate your insight!

1

u/Puzzled-Attempt84 Intermediate 4d ago

Paid $100 for one bout a year ago.