Turning your fridge into a draft system: Guide to building your own home kegerator

1. The principle of the “Do It Yourself” (DIY) Kegerator

Turning a standard refrigerator into a beer dispenser relies on a very simple yet highly effective layout:

• The cold zone: The fridge interior is used to store your kegs and your gas cylinder at an ideal serving temperature (between 3°C and 6°C). Constant cold stabilizes the CO2 in the beer and prevents foam formation during pouring.
• The wall passthrough: Instead of keeping the beer lines inside, you drill the fridge door cleanly to install a stainless‑steel shank. This part creates a sealed connection between the beer line hidden inside and the draft tap mounted outside.
• The “Home Pub” look: The tap proudly sits on the front of the refrigerator. You no longer need to open the door to pour a glass, reducing cold loss and energy consumption.

2. Focus on the JIVAY Draft Service Kit and its 4 versions

The great strength of the kit designed by Jivay is that it isn’t limited to homebrewer kegs. It also allows you to buy or rent a professional‑format keg from a local brewery and connect it directly at home. Since the coupler links the CO2, the keg, and the beer line, you must choose your kit according to the keg standard you plan to tap:

• The A‑Type Coupler Kit: Designed for kegs equipped with an A‑type spear (a very common flat system). This coupler includes a handy non‑return system that prevents accidental beer spills when changing kegs.
• The S‑Type Coupler Kit: Suitable for S‑type kegs (the “deep” system), one of the most widely used standards among craft and industrial breweries.
• The KeyKeg Coupler Kit: Dedicated exclusively to disposable bag‑in‑keg formats from KeyKeg. Note: these kegs are becoming increasingly rare, so this version is likely to disappear.
• The Ball‑Lock Connectors Kit: The perfect version for homebrewers. It replaces the traditional coupler with quick Ball‑Lock connectors, allowing instant connection to your SodaKeg, Oxebar, or pressure‑rated fermenters.

3. Components and technical precautions of the kit

To make installation in your kitchen or garage as simple as possible, the Jivay kit uses compact and accessible fittings:

• CO2 supply (Beerstream): The kit includes a support for the gas cylinder and a regulator specifically adapted for Sodastream‑type CO2 bottles. It’s an ideal solution for home users, easy to refill in any local shop.
• The beer line: The kit includes all essential push‑fit quick connectors and John Guest tubing lengths needed to link the regulator, the coupler (or Ball‑Lock connectors), and the tap without leaks.
• The Classic compensator tap: Dispensing is handled by a draft tap equipped with a flow compensator. This small side lever lets you manually restrict the flow rate directly at the tap, which is essential for adjusting foam levels depending on keg temperature or pressure.
• Dimension constraints: The included shank is 65 mm long, allowing installation on a refrigerator door with a maximum thickness of 55 mm. If your door insulation is thicker, simply replace it with a longer shank (80 mm).

4. Comparison table: Factory Kegerator VS DIY Home Kegerator

If you’re still unsure whether to buy a ready‑to‑use serving fridge or build your own setup, here’s a comparison to guide you:

5. The 4‑step build protocol

To install your draft kit on your refrigerator safely, follow these technical recommendations step by step:

Step 1: Choosing and inspecting the fridge

Choose a refrigerator without a freezer compartment (“full fridge”) to maximize space for your kegs. Before drilling, always check for hidden cooling circuits in the drilling zone. Golden rule: NEVER drill the side walls of a fridge, as they contain refrigerant lines. Drill only in the center of the front door, which contains only insulating foam.

Step 2: Drilling the door

Measure the ideal height for your future tap (usually elbow height for comfortable pouring). To install the Classic compensator tap from the kit, drill a clean 24 mm diameter hole straight through the door (using a hole saw or step bit). Carefully remove any plastic or foam burrs.

Step 3: Installing the shank and tap

Insert the 65 mm shank through the 24 mm hole. Place the sealing rings and gaskets on each side of the door panel and tighten the locking nut from inside the fridge to secure the draft axis. Then screw your Classic compensator tap onto the threaded exterior end.

Step 4: Connecting the lines and starting up

Inside the fridge, assemble your John Guest tubing onto the quick‑fit connectors. Connect the regulator to your Sodastream bottle, then link it to the gas inlet of your coupler (or grey connector). Connect the liquid outlet of your coupler (or black connector) to the back of your shank. Tap your well‑chilled keg, adjust the pressure, and pour your first pub‑style beer!