How to Build a Beer Tap Refrigerator
Building a beer tap refrigerator, also known as a kegerator, is something that many have pondered during football games or lavish parties. Having beer on tap is impressive, less expensive than buying beer by the case and lots of fun. With a spare refrigerator and a kegerator conversion kit, you can install your own beer tap and enjoy having that convenience at home as well as the envy of your friends. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Refrigerator
- Tape measure
- Kegerator conversion kit
- Spare refrigerator
- Drill
- Hole saw drill attachment
- Drip tray and mounting kit
- Hand saw
- Door spacer tube
- Shank
- Faucet with knob attached
- Shank nut
- Adjustable wrench
- Beer line
- Hose clamps
- Carbon dioxide tank
- CO2 regulator
- Gas line
- Keg coupler
- Keg of beer
Instructions
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1
Find a refrigerator with an interior that accommodates a keg with an attached coupler. Some standard keg sizes include: a five gallon with 8.5-inch diameter and 25-inch height; a sixth of a barrel with 9.25-inch diameter and 23.3-inch height; a short-quarter barrel or "pony keg" with a 17-inch diameter and 14.8-inch height; a slim quarter barrel with an 11-inch diameter and 23.3-inch height; and a half-barrel with a 17-inch diameter and 23.3-inch height. A keg coupler is a few inches tall, so add that to the height of your planned keg and make sure the whole assembly fits in your fridge.
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2
Measure up from the floor along the refrigerator the length listed in the instructions in your kegerator conversion kit. Following manufacturer's instructions, drill a hole with a hole saw attachment completely through the door. The diameter of the hole depends on the diameter of the door spacer tube.
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3
Mount your drip tray according to the manufacturer's instructions. Depending on which drip tray you use, you might need to drill another hole in the refrigerator door. The size of this hole depends on the diameter of the return hose.
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4
Saw a tube with a slightly larger diameter than the shank of the faucet for the beer. The length of the tube is the same as the width of the refrigerator door. Insert the tube through the tap hole in the door.
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5
Assemble the faucet, shank and knob--if it did not come pre-assembled--and slide the shank through the tube. Tighten the shank nut on the inside of the door with an adjustable wrench. Connect the beer line to the shank on the inside of the refrigerator door and clamp it tightly.
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6
Insert the threaded valve at the top of the carbon dioxide tank into the CO2 regulator and tighten it with the adjustable wrench. Slide the gas line over the bottom of the regulator and clamp it down.
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7
Slide the other end of the gas line to the gas connection on the keg coupler and clamp it down. Place the carbon dioxide tank in a corner of the refrigerator. Attach the loose end of the beer line to the top of the keg coupler.
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8
Buy a keg of your favorite beer and set it upright on the floor of your tapped fridge. Connect the keg coupler to the top of the keg.
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Tips & Warnings
You can build kegerators out of a smaller refrigerator, so long as it is big enough to accommodate a standard sized keg. If it is not big enough for both a keg and the carbon dioxide canister, you need to drill another hole through the back of the fridge for the gas line to go through.
Many conversion kits for tapping your refrigerator come with various parts included. Shop around for a well-priced kit before you buy all of the parts individually.
