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Best Wine Cellar Cooling Units in 2024
If you're looking to invest in a wine cellar cooling system, you need to make sure it's right for your cooling needs. In this post, we'll explain the types of unit on offer, along with the best units for each situation and price point.
Read on to get to it.
Types of Cellar Cooling Units
Wine cellar storage units come in three major types. Read on to find out more about these options.
Through-wall wine cellar cooling system
This is a self-contained unit that works well in most wine rooms and wine cabinets. You don’t need any ducting or piping, and these small, compact systems are generally easy to install.
Pros:
- Ideal for smaller wine cellars
- Affordable and convenient
- Humidity and temperature controls are built-in
- Don’t need experienced professional for installation
- Little to no renovation required
Cons:
- Noisest of the options
- Unit may need to be uninstalled for repairs and maintenance
- Unit sticks out of wall
Ducted wine cellar cooling system
This kind of system makes use of ventilation ducts to protect your wine collection. As your ducts can be installed outside, you won’t need to install any sizeable pieces of equipment inside your cellar. They can either be self contained (where the evaporator and consender are within the same unit) or split (the evaporator can be located away from the consenser, as they're separate).
Pros:
- Ideal environment for long-term wine storage
- Installed outside of your cellar
- Less noise
- Few vibrations
- Flexible installation
- Ideal for larger wine cellars
Cons:
- HVAC licensed professional required for installation
- Installation expensive
Access to walls and ceilings needed
Split wine cellar cooling system
This option is designed for cellars that don’t have access to sufficient ventilation. With this kind of system, you can choose for it to be ductless (the evaporator is stored inside your cellar, with all the other parts being set up externally so they can draw fresh air into your space) or ducted (both the evaporator and condenser are located away from the cellar, up to 25 ft away).
Pros:
- Great for bigger cellars
- Evaporator can be installed internally or via ducts
- Ideal for long-term storage
Cons:
- Separate controls needed for humidity
- Not the most cost efficient if you have a smaller cellar
Next, we'll go over the best products in each of these types by price, power, and other features.
Best Through-The-Wall Cooling Units 2024
Here we go over the best through-the-wall wine cellar cooling units, including self contained and split models.
Best Budget Cooling Unit: Breezaire WKL 1060
Pros:
- An excellent price, the best budget cooling unit.
- Accurate and easily adjustable.
- Power outage protection.
- Ultra-quiet operation.
- Ships within 24 hours.
Best for Small Cellars/Rooms (up to 300 cu. ft.): WhisperKOOL SC PRO 2000
Pros:
- High powered unit, that packs a punch in a small size.
- Condensate management system.
- Smart refrigerant metering.
- Advanced digital controls.
- Cools up to 300 cu. ft. cellars.
Best for Large Cellars (up to 2000 cu. ft.): WhisperKOOL Extreme 8000ti
Pros:
- A through-the-wall unit that's very powerful.
- Cools up to 2,000 cu. ft. cellars.
- Variable-speed fans.
- 55°F temperature differential
- Simple installation.
Best Ducted Cooling Units 2024
This section covers the best ducted wine cellar cooling units, from top brands like WhisperKOOL.
Best Small Ducted Unit: CellarPro 2000VSi
Pros:
- Can be installed ducted or through-the-wall.
- Compact, yet powerful.
- Intuitive LED display.
- Adjustable humidity control.
- Condensate mangement system.
Best Large Ducted Unit: WhisperKOOL Platinum Split Twin Ducted
Pros:
- Cools cellars up to 3000 cu. ft.
- Full ducted split system.
- Virtually silent operation.
- Double evaporators make it effective for cooling large spaces.
Best All Round Ducted Unit: WhisperKOOL Fully Ducted Extreme 3500tiR
Pros:
- Cools up to 800 cu. ft. cellars.
- A versatile unit, appropriate for most mid-sized cellars.
- Variable-speed fans.
- 55°F temperature differential
- Quiet operation technology.
- Can be ducted up to 25 feet from the cellar.
Best Split System Cooling Units 2024
Here we go over the best split system wine cellar cooling units, including both ducted and ductless split systems.
Best Ducted Split System: WhisperKOOL Quantum SS9000
Pros:
- Cools up to 3,000 cu. ft. cellars.
- Split system - freedom to relocate evaporator and condenser.
- Can be fully ducted.
- Includes cold weather start kit.
- Quiet and efficient operation.
Best Ductless Split System: WhisperKOOL Platinum Mini Split
Pros:
- Cools cellars up to 500 cu. ft.
- Compact size, perfect for smaller spaces.
- Ultra-quiet and efficient.
- Pump down system for longer compressor life.
Best Value Split System: Breezaire WKSL 4000
Pros:
- Unbeatable price.
- Split system offers flexibility of installation.
- Power outage protection.
- Ultra-quiet operation.
- Cools up to 1,000 cu. ft.
Best Ceiling Mounted Split System: CellarPro 8000Scmr Recessed Ceiling Mount
Pros:
- Cools wine cellars up to 2,000 cu. ft.
- Can handle extreme outside temperatures.
- Remote display with 20ft low-voltage wiring.
- Quiet cooling system.
Things to Consider When Buying a Wine Cellar Cooling System
Many people love to relax with a soothing glass of wine at the end of the day. However, it’s important to take care of your wine so its flavor is not compromised. Flavors can start to break down once temperatures rise. If temperatures even reach 70 degrees, wine can start ageing too quickly. When temperatures rise even higher, there’s a big chance the wine could start “cooking”, which can affect its quality considerably.
One of the most effective ways to take care of your wine is to store it at a temperature between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. 55 degrees is said to be the ideal temperature for wine, but you shouldn’t worry too much if you go up to ten degrees above or below this figure.
If you’re only a casual wine drinker, you should be served well by your refrigerator. This is because casual drinkers normally consume their wine within days or weeks of purchasing it. However, if you want to store your wine for at least a few months before you drink it, you will need to look at other methods for keeping it fresh.
The best environment for storing your wine bottles is a cool, dark place. Light can seriously affect the quality of your wine, with UV lights from the sun and lightbulbs causing significant harm. If you’re storing your wine for a lengthy period of time, you should keep the bottles on their sides so the corks don’t dry out. If you’re looking at medium-term storage, storing them vertically or horizontally should suffice.
Before you go ahead and create a wine cellar, it's a very wise move to speak to a specialist first. They will be able to tell you what steps to take to create the right conditions for your wine collection. These might include darkening your windows, investing in installation or adding new ductwork to your space. You may also be able to find out whether it’s possible to reach the 55-degree temperatures that you require by assessing the environment yourself and carrying out checks.
If your space is too dry, there's a big chance the corks could shrink, leaving you with air inside your bottles. If the environment is too humid, your corks may begin to mold. To win the battle against dryness and humidity, you could invest in a wine cellar cooling system.
Before you go ahead and purchase a system, you need to find out how big the proposed area is. The size of your proposed wine collection will determine how much storage space you need. The vast majority of wine cellar cooling systems are able to handle a space of 1000 cubic feet maximum. However, specialists suggest keeping the area to a maximum of 500 square feet to cut the cost of keeping the space cool.
Related post: What Should I Have in My Wine Cellar?
You will also need to decide whether you wish to cool your wine cellar actively or passively. People who opt for active wine cellars usually use appliances such as air conditioners. If you have a passive wine cellar, you’ll be to rely on the natural cooling that you get from keeping your wine underground. If you do have an underground space, you should be able to achieve genuine passive cooling.
However, all is not lost if you don’t have one, as you can set up an active wine cellar in any part of your home, such as a closet. If you do plan to maintain a passive wine caller, you’ll need to keep a close eye on temperatures as these can fluctuate considerably. This is why you’ll need a cooling system to keep your wine at the required temperature.
Related post: How to Ventilate a Wine Cellar?
Get the best cooling unit for your wine cellar
Some wine cooling units are particularly expensive. Nonetheless, you don’t need to pay for the costliest available to achieve the right results. Look for a system that meets your storage needs and provides the ventilation you require.
Key tips and advice for wine cellar cooling systems
It’s vital that your cellar is well insulated so your system doesn’t need to do extra work
Measure the area you’ll be keeping your system in. Make sure your unit is suitable for the space.
Be careful about condensation. Although this won’t affect the wine, it can ruin the labels. This can be problematic if you are a wine collector. Mould can also damage your bottles, including the corks. You can reduce the risk of mold damaging your bottles by choosing a cooling system with condensation management.
Think about where your cooling system will be stored. Some systems are designed to slide into closets and cabinets. Others come with mounts that allow for hanging on your wall.
Related post: How to Build an Underground Wine Cellar
You also need to think carefully about power requirements. If your unit draws a large number of amps, your utility bills may increase considerably. You may be able to save a substantial sum by opting for an energy-efficient wine cellar cooling unit
A unit that comes with a thermostat can give you a clear idea of how much energy you’re using.
Some units can be very noisy. However, this might not be an issue depending on where you’re keeping your unit. Nonetheless, cooling systems that emit very little noise are available.
You should also think very carefully about durability. It may be worth spending a little more to source a system built from high-quality materials so you don’t need to replace your unit a few years down the line. Check the warranty terms before you proceed with a purchase too.
If your system isn’t being installed by a professional, ensure the wiring in the storage area can support the voltage of your unit.
You may wish to purchase tools that will help you monitor the internal temperature of your wine. Some units even come with probes that can assist with this.
Some units are designed to improve the airflow of your space. If this feature is offered without excess power being used, this can be great for your household budget.
Don’t forget about safety. Consider buying a cooling system that shuts off when conditions become dangerous, such as when fan failures and blockages occur.
Related post: How Many Cooling Units Does Your Cellar Need?
Conclusion
Before you purchase your cooling system, think carefully about your ventilation requirements as well as the nature and size of your space. If you’ve been thinking about buying a split wine or ducted system, decide whether the evaporator needs to be installed inside your cellar or ducted externally.
There are many affordable wine cooler systems available to you that come with generous warranties that cover parts and labor. If you’re not comfortable about installing your system yourself, it’s always best to ask a professional to help. This should keep you safe and help you avoid making costly mistakes.
Contact us today so we can help you decide on the best wine storage for you!
Randy is a true wine storage aficionado and expert in wine cellar design. He gained construction experience as a partner in a general contracting business before niching into and passionately focusing on creating wine storage solutions for clients in 2016. He takes great pride in bringing these designs to life, and is dedicated to ensuring that every wine cellar he creates is not only functional but also a beautiful addition to any home or business. The Wine Cellar HQ team also includes refrigeration sizing experts and licensed HVAC technicians to ensure optimal climate control for your wine cellar, so that your wines can age to perfection.
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