Wine Cellar Cooling Systems

Wine Cellar Refrigeration Systems

Winecellarhq.com help cool wine cellars with our reliable refrigeration systems to keep your cellar's temperature and humidity consistent.

How do you control your cellar humidity?

Maintaining the humidity level of your cellar at between 50-70% is important to prevent the corks from drying and breaking the wine bottle seal.

We have a range of systems with built-in humidity control, such as the CellarPro 4200VSi.

This helps when you live in a humid environment, as too much moisture can be bad for your wine collection.

Which type of cooling unit do I need?

The type of unit you need will depend on your requirements and budget.

Here are the typess we sell at winecellarhq.com:

• A split system separates the condenser and evaporator, for when you need to locate the condenser in another location. This is good for reducing noise in the wine room itself.
• A ducted system uses ducts to funnel away hot air and pump cold air into the cellar, and it is the most professional unit. This is also the least noisy option.
• A self contained system has the condenser and evaporator in the same unit, usually installed through the wall (cheaper, and doesn't require a HVAC technician). However, it is the noisiest solution.

We have a full guide on choosing the right type of cooling unit here: How to Choose the Right Cooling Unit for Your Wine Cellar.

These units usually use one of two cooling methods: evaporative cooling or compressor-based cooling.

• Evaporative cooling units circulate air through a wet pad, which then evaporates the water inside and cools the air.
• Compressor cooling units use vapor compression, where refrigerant enters the compressor as a low-pressure gap, is pressurized, then moved to the condenser, where it's cooled to be a high-pressure liquid. This is then moved to the expansion valve, converted to a low-pressure liquid/gas mix, then moved to the evaporator to cool the air.

Which brands do you recommend?

We verify and recommend every single brand that we stock here at winecellarhq.com.

Each brand is slightly different, so browse the links below to see more about each one:

• WhisperKOOL
• Wine Guardian
• CellarPro
• Breezaire
• CellarCool

How do I calculate the unit's energy efficiency?

The energy efficiency will differ for each unit, but we provide the start and running AMPS so you can calculate the energy usage based on your electrical tariff.

Example: If your home voltage is 120V and the unit uses 8 AMPS during use, the power used is 960W, or 23.04kWh per day. If your electricity rate is 13 cents per kWh, it costs roughly $3 per day or $90 monthly.

How noisy are they?

Each unit will vary, but we provide the noise output in Decibels (dBA) for each unit on the product page. Typically a low-level (quiet) value would be around 25-35 dBA, and a louder unit would be around 60-70 dBA.

You should go for a low noise level unit if you plan on installing it near living areas like a kitchen or living room.

Are these units corrosion-resistant?

It's vitally important to have a corrosion-resistant unit, as the high humidity levels in a cellar can corrode non-protected internal parts. Brands like CellarPro openly state their units are corrosion-resistant. Choosing a unit with an epoxy-coated evaporator coil will have excellent protection against corrosion.

FAQs

What's the best way to cool a wine cellar?

The best way to cool a wine cellar is to have proper insulation, racking, and a proper cooling unit.

For more information, visit our full guide on how to build a wine cellar yourself here.

How often does the unit need to be serviced?

Most manufacturers recommend servicing a domestic unit every spring and fall, which is twice yearly. This should also include regular cleaning of exterior and interior parts, to keep up fan speeds and account for any contaminated air (such as if the intake is near a kitchen).

Author: Randy Green

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.