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Other topics for members => FOOD! FOOD! FOOD! => Topic started by: revid on September 22, 2017, 10:38:20 AM

Title: Root cellar
Post by: revid on September 22, 2017, 10:38:20 AM
First of all don't know if the right place to post so if not mods can you move to tight place. I built a root cellar the other year out of cement and built my shed over it so I guess down to it through a trap door. It keeps everything good in wintertime but I would like it to be cooler this time of year so was looking for advice on how I can do this. I was thinking  I buy a second hand bar fridge and leave the door open and use it like that or would it fool up ?
Title: Re: Root cellar
Post by: Magicman on September 22, 2017, 01:45:43 PM
If you use a fridge, the heat would have to be captured and vented/ducted out.  To me, it would be simpler to use a small AC unit and duct the cold air down into the cellar and leave the hot air on top.
Title: Re: Root cellar
Post by: thecfarm on September 22, 2017, 01:55:38 PM
Trap door insulated? Any cement exposed to the outside?
Title: Re: Root cellar
Post by: revid on September 22, 2017, 05:03:09 PM
Yeah the ceiling of cellar/ floor of shed is insulated. I forgot about the heat given of by fridge. Will look around for old ac unit and try that.thanks
Title: Re: Root cellar
Post by: Gearbox on September 22, 2017, 05:28:32 PM
If you can run your domestic water through it if it is well water it may be in the low 40s F
Title: Re: Root cellar
Post by: 21incher on September 22, 2017, 05:30:51 PM
Mine only stays 55-60 deg in the summer also. I think you can modify a window air conditioner to make it put out colder air without freezing up. Check for videos on youtube. :)
Title: Re: Root cellar
Post by: grouch on September 22, 2017, 09:09:59 PM
Underground temperature will be the average annual temperature for where you are.

Avg annual temps by state (USA) (https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-annual-state-temperatures.php)

Couldn't find one for Canada. It gave average daily highs and lows, instead of an annual average.
Title: Re: Root cellar
Post by: revid on September 22, 2017, 09:13:51 PM
Right now we are averaging around 16 c and cellar is 14-15 . Too warm to store vegs
Title: Re: Root cellar
Post by: Don P on September 22, 2017, 11:36:34 PM
a koolbot works with a digital window ac and acts as the thermostat. its one way to make a cooler that some growers are using to build walk ins. some of these guys could probably figure it out with an arduino or electronics, it is a fooler, it heats the ac unit thermostat until your setpoint is met.
Title: Re: Root cellar
Post by: grouch on September 23, 2017, 09:06:20 AM
Quote from: revid on September 22, 2017, 09:13:51 PM
Right now we are averaging around 16 c and cellar is 14-15 . Too warm to store vegs

Your cellar is too shallow or is gaining heat from somewhere on the surface.

Annual average temp here is about 13C and that's what you'd find in a decent size cave, in spite of daytime temps reaching 31C now.