Table of Contents: I. Reasons to Buy a Kegerator

II. A Look at the Different Types of Kegerators

III. Features to Consider When Buying a Kegerator

IV. What's Needed Take a look at the modern home. Do you see it? Look a little closer. Yep, that's a kegerator. Just as wine refrigerators used to be considered a specialty appliance and are now as common as the microwave, kegerators have quickly become a standard built-in appliance for many home kitchens, wet bars and outdoor entertainment areas. Traditionally, kegerators were thought to be only for dispensing kegs of beer, but many other beverages are now available by keg. Kegerators are now available to dispense your favorite beer, wine, mead, cider, cold brew coffee, soda, kombucha, sake, water, sparkling wine and basically anything you can put in a keg. If you recently started brewing beer or making wine, a kegerator can showcase your creations and eliminate the hassle of bottling. With so many beverage choices, kegerators have become a requirement for most homeowners and higher beings. Reasons to Buy a Kegerator Beer... It's that one little word that sends a million thoughts and emotions down your spine. It is the social glue that we look forward to at the end of a long day. We dream about it, we talk about it and we have always hoped for an endless supply of it. Whether you are a beer geek, wine nut or just a fan of fizzy water, a kegerator can save you some serious time and money. It is probably a dream of yours to have cold beer flowing in your home, but aside from the obvious reason - that it's just plain cool - there are practical reasons for buying a new kegerator or installing a kegerator kit in an old refrigerator too. 1. Money Saved Owning a kegerator is like bringing the pub to your home. It is a small refrigerator that can hold an entire keg of beer. The beer stays fresh for almost two months and can save the beer drinker an extensive amount of money. 2. Sophistication A kegerator has class. They are sleek and beautiful. They are the ultimate conversation piece for a holiday party or sports gathering. Your guests will walk through the door and enter into your kitchen/ bar area, seeing this mysterious yet intriguing device and be drawn to it like a cat to a bag. 3. Less Mess If you are tired of all the bottles and cans being politely deposited to the nearest living room table for discard, then you will be amazed at the amount of "trash take-out" a kegerator will save you. No more embarrassing walks to the curb with a trash bag full of clinking beer bottles and the neighbors looking over at you with judging eyes. 4. Safety Safety is another huge benefit to owning your own kegerator. You can stay at home and not drive around intoxicated after a night at the local bar. You can call your friends over to your house and have your own pub night. A Look at the Different Types of Kegerators There are two major kegerator configurations to look at. The beer kegerator and the wine kegerator. The major differences between the two are the gas and fittings used to dispense. CO2 gas is used to dispense beer, mead, sake, cider, sparkling wine, soda, sparkling water and kombucha. A mix of nitrogen and CO2 called "beer gas" is used to dispense still wines, water, sake, cold brew coffee and cocktails. Kegerators come in many styles. Sizes, finishes and the accessories are all customizable and they can be built into counters, they can stand free, sit on countertops, live outside or be converted from an old refrigerator. Kegerators come in residential grade models or commercial grade models. Heavier insulation, thicker wall metals and security features are found in most commercial kegerators.

Freestanding Kegerators The most common style kegerator on the market. These models are ideal for those who wish to have kegged beverages at home but don't want to make the investment into having a permanent home bar. Freestanding keg refrigerators are mobile and usually have rolling caster wheels for pushing into a garage, poolside, or just to the end of a kitchen island or bar. For commercial applications, a free-standing kegerator is useful for catering and wedding businesses. Bars and restaurants use them for temporary outdoor events or off-site festivals. Kegerators.com provides a free comprehensive feature comparison chart for the most popular freestanding kegerators. PROS: Affordable. Freestanding kegerators are also portable, giving you the freedom and flexibility to move the unit around the home or business. This especially becomes useful when off-site dispensing is needed. They are less expensive than other more specialized models and have a compact small footprint.

Affordable. Freestanding kegerators are also portable, giving you the freedom and flexibility to move the unit around the home or business. This especially becomes useful when off-site dispensing is needed. They are less expensive than other more specialized models and have a compact small footprint. CONS: Usually made with less durable materials and their compressors tend to be loud.

Built-in Kegerators These kegerators are best utilized when building them into cabinetry and when a draft tower is needed on a countertop. Built-in kegerators are designed with specialized ventilation, usually from the front toe kick, but some built-in units have cooling fans mounted near the rear compressor. You will find these kegerators are a little more expensive than free-standing units due to the specialized venting configuration. Sometimes called "build-in ready", these units do not need rolling casters or glass guard rails. The air tank will be mounted on the inside and some models can be fitted with custom cabinet door faces to match your existing cabinet style. PROS: Blend in well with modern kitchen and bar design. A draft tower mounted on a countertop adds a level of class in comparison to a freestanding unit.

Blend in well with modern kitchen and bar design. A draft tower mounted on a countertop adds a level of class in comparison to a freestanding unit. CONS: Expensive. Once you build-in a kegerator it is not easily removed, so they have no portability.

Outdoor Kegerators Outdoor rated kegerators, also known as wet-rated kegerators, are perfect for patios and other damp areas. Use outdoor kegerators anywhere in your home that might be exposed to water or high levels of humidity. Patios and pergolas are some common locations where people use these products. All wet location kegerators are UL rated and most feature thicker insulated walls. They also come in efficient Energy Star varieties. Wet-rated outdoor kegerators are manufactured with rust-resistant exterior materials and stainless steel towers and faucets to endure rain, snow, ocean spray, or any kind of water. Kegerators with damp or wet ratings are available in a number of widths, styles, and finishes to complement your style. When designing your outdoor kitchen or bar, think about incorporating an outdoor kegerator. PROS: Weather resistant and available in freestanding or built-in models. Brings beverages closer to the outdoor party.

Weather resistant and available in freestanding or built-in models. Brings beverages closer to the outdoor party. CONS: Expensive. Though weather resistant, outdoor storage covers and insulating tower covers are recommended in extreme hot and cold weather.

Professional Grade (Commercial) Kegerators Commercial kegerators are the large keg refrigerator units you often see at a bar or restaurant. They come in many sizes and are built with extremely durable materials. They have a large keg capacity (some will hold up to 5 kegs). Choose from single or multiple draft towers to dispense multiple beers using the same refrigeration space. The larger units have additional space for storing bottles, cans or other bar related supplies. Due to the constant use these kegerators endure they are outfitted with some features not usually found in residential kegerators like steel floor plates, door alarms, locks, interior lighting and draft tower cooling fans. Some of these commercial keg dispensers can get quite large, as well as pretty costly, but they will last much longer than a home kegerator. PROS: Long warranties. Professional grade materials and spacious storage capacities.

Long warranties. Professional grade materials and spacious storage capacities. CONS: Expensive.

DIY Kegerator You can make your own kegerator from a variety of different freestanding refrigerators and freezers with a kegerator conversion kit. For just a few hours of your time you can have your own multi-keg draft system at home. If you have an unused refrigerator, all you need is a conversion kit and a few tools to put it all together. You can purchase conversion kits for mounting taps in the door of a refrigerator, on top of a small dorm (apartment) refrigerator, or you can build a keezer and mount taps in the wooden collar. There are many places you can source a used refrigerator or freezer like Craigslist or eBay, but don't forget about used items on Amazon or apps like LetGo. You also can also check online scratch and dent and open box stores. PROS: Very affordable when you build it yourself.

Very affordable when you build it yourself. CONS: May not be the prettiest belle at the ball. No warranty.

Countertop and Mini Kegerators A space and dollar saving choice for those wanting small amounts of draft beer available at home. The kegs for these units vary in size and can be sourced from your local grocery store or your local brewery. A great feature with mini kegerators is their portability. You can take these units practically anywhere you have power. Great for RV's, boats, and golf carts. These units have a very small footprint, so they don't get in the way. Mini kegerators are fairly inexpensive and have a limited selection of 5L kegs available. The most common are imports like Heineken, New Castle and Warfsteiner. You can also fill these 5 L mini kegs with home made beer or have them filled by local breweries. PROS: Compact, very affordable and portable.

Compact, very affordable and portable. CONS: Limited keg selection and capacity.