Keeping mash temps cool in a hot garage

[okie]

I am looking at an aquarium chiller the ones with a compressor and Freon that cool or heat. I was thinking a water bath tub and my fermenter inside with lines running to and from the chiller. I can set the thermometer inside the mash for a more accurate reading.

Anyone using these or what do you use?

[Fruit Squeezer]

Put it on a concrete floor in the north corner of the garage (assuming you are in the northern hemisphere).

Open windows at night, if possible, or open doors and windows a few hours at sundown. Or, put under an open window, so it cools over night.

Split your ferment into smaller containers and store inside the home?


Maybe save up materials and ferment seasonally. This stuff was being made centuries before chillers were invented. There is a way.

[okie]

We had a week of over 100 degrees. one day was 117. this is why I am asking

[Kareltje]

We have had no rain and all sun for at least a month: trees are losing leaves and dropping seeds. Today, when walking the dog, I tried to picture my neighbourhood with all the trees wilted and died. Is much more scaring than polar bears dying or gletchers in Greenland melting.

My first thought was of the stoneware flasks through which the water passed a bit. So if the sweat on the outside vapourized, it kept the inside cool. I found that wet rags on my copper riser or ss cooler work very well, even if they are hot. As long as they are wet, they cool the inside.
Maybe enough for your ferment?
Costs little water and no electricity, only your own attention. It is not steady or regular, but temperature always changes during the day.

[kiwi Bruce]

Set up a swamp chiller...put your fermenter in a tub that will hold a little over 5 gal...wrap it in a blanket, and wet it down...put about 5lb of ice in your tub and 2 lb of winter deicing salt and 3 gal of water...set 2 or 3 electric fans blowing on high, aimed directly at your fermenter.
If it gets too cold set your fermenter on bricks or something to lift it out of the water and just use the evaporation off the blanket to cool it down. Keep adding ice every three days or so...in a heat wave you may need to add ice each day. The biggest problem with a swamp chiller is it can drop the temp a little too far, you can adjust it by using only one or two fans and lowering the fan speed.
These chillers work well and they are cheap to run.

[Reverend Newer]

Use SuperStart yeast by Lallemand, they enjoy up to 105 degrees, no off flavors, I been sold on them for quite some time.


Hydroponic chillers are expensive

[okie]

Use SuperStart yeast by Lallemand, they enjoy up to 105 degrees, no off flavors, I been sold on them for quite some time.


Hydroponic chillers are expensive

Thank you very much

[shadylane]

As pointed out, using yeast that matches the temps is the simplest option.
Another is to use a wort chiller or put the fermenter in a water bath.
My garden appreciates getting watered on a hot summer day