There’s a science to selecting the right wine cellar cooling unit, even if you’re refrigerating a smaller space that doesn’t require much cooling. Part of maintaining a healthy home is to design energy efficient living areas, and if your wine cellar cooler is too big or too small then it’s probably inefficient or in-optimal for the task of keeping your wine stored at the perfect temperature. Also small storage spaces can have annoying cooling units that are too loud, or too inaccessible, or they vent in such a way as to make standing in the cellar uncomfortable.
Select the Best Small Wine Cellar Cooler Unit for your Space
Small cellar managers don’t need to worry so much about calculating the heat load of their wine storage space, or charting the changes over the course of a hot summer days and cold winter nights. With a small space the load is pretty constant and manageable. That being said however, cellar owners should decide on the best type of unit for the intended application. They should know the various styles, sizes, capacities and venting options of all suitable solutions, and then decide on the proper make and model. Wine cellar cooling units come in four different styles, and each type employs a different refrigeration methodology or ducting pattern:
Self-contained (the evaporator and condensing unit share the same housing)
Fully ducted self-contained (the unit is fully ducted – instead of being mounted in the cellar, it is installed elsewhere and the air is “conducted” in and out of the cellar)
Split system (the evaporator is in the cellar, and the condensing unit is outside or in an attic or adjacent utility room; a line set connects the two halves of the system)
Fully ducted split system (the evaporator unit and condensing unit are both separate and ducted – instead of being mounted in the cellar, they are both installed elsewhere, and the air is “conducted” in and out of the cellar)
The cooling fans inside self-contained units and non-ducted split systems will generate noise. If you prefer a quiet cellar environment, you should select a fully ducted system. And fully ducted cooling units allow more versatile installation options as well, but they can be more complicated to access for routine maintenance.
Cellar Pro 1800 Series Wine Cooling Unit
CellarPro 1800 small wine cellar cooling unit
The CellarPro 1800 wine cooling unit series was designed for cabinets and small spaces. This popular model is 18″w x 16.5″d x 10.5″h and is a good fit for both residential and small commercial cellars or dining establishments where there’s a lot of foot traffic at mealtimes. This unit offers a choice of top or rear hot exhaust. If the unit’s location does not provide sufficient room for airflow, you may need to purchase a rear duct kit. These cooling units can be installed above the wine cellar when used with our front intake hood. They can also be installed completely inside the wine cellar when used with our rear duct kit, which allows supply and return air flows from the rear of the cooling unit to be ducted up to 100 equivalent feet (50 feet per duct). Energy-saver mode, quick-chill mode, and auto-defrost cycle provide convenient solutions to common cellar needs.
CellarPro cooling units are designed to operate in environments ranging from 40 to 95 degrees. For installations in environments down to 20°F, we recommend adding our compressor heater modification to the cooling unit. Below 20°F, the cooling unit’s performance will begin to degrade.
This unit has cooling capacity for cellars that are 200-400 Cu. Ft.
CellarPro 1880H Houdini was introduced in 2018
The new CellarPro 1800H (the Houdini) is shorter, narrower and longer than the other 1800 series cooling units. It was introduced in 2018 and marketed by the company as “the first cooling unit specifically designed for glass-enclosed wine cellars“. This factoid is on their website. It is designed for wine cabinets or cellars of up to 200 cubic feet.
The highly versatile Houdini can be installed inside the cellar, above the cellar, in the ceiling or in the next room. It may also be partially or fully ducted. Ambient temperature range is 40F to 95F. By adding low ambient accessories, the unit will then tolerate cold as low as -20F. The removable power cord can be plugged in from the rear or the side of the cooling unit. The unit includes a three amp receptacle for power (eg to a light) inside the cellar, and it includes a fresh-air filter for easy maintenance and upkeep.
Breezaire Compact Series
Breezaire’s most popular wine cellar cooling systems are completely self-contained modules that are simply mounted in a wall.
Breezaire WKCE Compact Series Cooler Units are smaller-sized cellar cooling units that blow the cold air out the bottom. The air flow direction makes them ideal to be installed in cabinets or narrow width spaces. Compact units can be configured with hot air blowing out the top of the unit as opposed to at the back which is standard. The fresh air intake is still needed at back of unit so plenty of room is needed for air circulation or perhaps a wall-cut to access adjacent space.
Breezaire is sometimes selected by cellar owners because of its attractive metal cabinet that blends in with the decor of their cellar area and can be flush mounted to any wall. Another popular selling feature is their easy installation. Breezaire’s most popular wine cellar cooling systems are completely self-contained modules that are simply mounted in a wall and connected to a standard 115AC source (230V/50Hz also available as special order). No plumbing, no complicated wiring or special procedures are required for on-site installation (you may want to prepare for a drain line). (Split system requires professional installation by a licensed refrigeration technician). Units are shipped from the factory fully charged and ready for use when mounted in a wall and connected to 115 AC volt source.
Two Breezaire Compact Series models available for capacities of up to 265 cubic feet.
Koolspace KoolR 600
Are you looking for a real quiet wine cellar cooling unit? This make and model is the standard for which others measure the noise of their products. The KoolR Plus (Magnum) Wine Cooling Unit (KoolR 600) leads the industry in efficiency, power and quality. Koolspace, koolR™ may be a good choice for a small spaces.
KoolR Plus (Magnum) Wine Cooling Unit (KoolR 600)
Ideally, koolR / KoolRPlus Magnum units should be installed above the cellar door as they need air circulation around and below the unit. The cooling unit’s rear end conveniently monitors the temperature inside your wine cellar with a digital display. The koolR & KoolRPlus (Magnum) wine cellar cooling units come with an off-white colored front grill which can be painted any colour to allow the back end of the device to blend-in with existing decor.
The units come standard with a High-Temperature Alarm. The system’s electronic controls come with advanced EMI / RFI filters. EMI Filters, or electromagnetic interference filters, also called RFI Filters or radio-frequency interference filters, are an electrical device / circuit that mitigate the high frequency electromagnetic noise present on the power lines.
WhisperKOOL Mini Split Wine Cooling Unit
WhisperKOOL Platinum Mini Split is a compact wall mounted wine cellar cooling unit that cools wine cellars up to 500 cubic feet.
The Platinum Mini Split is small and compact, yet powerful and quiet. This efficient wine cooling unit can cool rooms of up to 500 cubic feet. It’s a good choice for a converted closet, pantry, and or economical wine cellar. As with all of the Platinum Models, the Platinum Mini Split comes with our most advanced controller and gives the user complete control over their cellar environment. If you don’t mind seeing the grill of your cooling unit in your cellar, a wall-mounted split system is what you need. If you prefer your unit to be out of sight, you should get a fully ducted split system.
The Platinum Series of split systems allow you to decide where the evaporator unit and the condensing unit will be located. The condensing unit can be located up to 100 feet away from the evaporator unit. The evaporator unit will be mounted in the cellar, or it can also be located nearby with air ducting.
Please note it’s strongly recommended that buyers also purchase the exterior housing with the WSSMINI regardless of positioning. Without the housing, the inner fan is exposed. There is no additional delivery cost if the housing is ordered with the cooling unit, while there will be a delivery fee if the housing is ordered separately afterwards.
A Ceiling-Mount Mini Split is also available where the evaporator may be fully or partially recessed into the ceiling for a very discreet appearance.
Maintaining Your Wine Cellar’s Chill
After a wine cellar has been built, regardless of its size, volume and material specifications, the time will still come when regular inspections are needed to keep an eye on its integrity and make sure you’re not inadvertently cooling down your entire house or restaurant. Even giving the unit a good vacuum occasionally will help to clear any build-up.
During wine cellar inspections, the use of thermal imagery can determine whether the conditions of the cellar plus the wine cooling unit still provide the ideal environment for wine storage.
What type of cooling system is best for your wine cellar? Is it a self-contained, through-the-wall system (covered in a previous post on this site)? The ductless split wine cellar cooling unit is another of three primary types of refrigeration systems for wine cellars. The third is the ducted split air handler wine cellar climate control system.
A wine cellar with a ducted wine cellar cooling system .
No other component of a wine cellar does as much as the cooling unit to provide the ideal wine storage environment. Choosing the right kind of refrigeration unit is essential. Experts like the builders at Rosehill Wine Cellars know which to recommend, based on location, size, and other aspects of the wine cellar. The following is information about a ductless-split wine cellar refrigeration system and a ducted split air handler wine cellar cooling system.
Ductless Wine Cellar Cooling System
There are two mechanical components to a ductless split wine cellar cooling system, and they are: The condensing unit and the evaporator unit. The “split” aspect of the system means that the two primary components are in separate locations. The evaporator coil is placed inside the wine cellar. It doesn’t produce any noise, since all of the noise and heat are produced by the condenser, which is installed in a separate and remote location. The two parts of the unit are connected with small copper tubing and electrical wiring.
Benefits of a ductless split wine cellar cooling unit include the following:
Maintenance and repair is performed on site.
The unit is durable and has a long life expectancy.
There is no fan noise or any other noise produced by the unit in the wine cellar.
There is no heat exhaust.
Servicing can be done on site.
Ducted Split Air Handler Wine Cellar Climate Control System
The ducted split air handler wine cellar cooling system is very similar to the above-described unit. The primary difference is that the wine cellar has no visible equipment inside of it. Cooled air is ducted to and from the wine cellar. With a split air handler, the evaporator and condenser are in separate locations7, both of which are outside the wine cellar. The other type has a self-contained air handler, meaning the evaporator and condenser are housed in the same unit.
The Importance of the Cooling Unit
Choosing the right cooling unit is very important and is a decision best left to experts like the pros at Rosehill Wine Cellars. Factors that are considered in determining the size of a cooling unit include size of the wine cellar, insulation, any outdoor walls, whether or not there are glass doors or walls, and the number of wine bottles to be stored. Getting it right is worth it because it all comes down to preserving wine for maximum enjoyment. If you are ready to have a custom wine cellar built, contact Rosehill, where wine cellar construction is what we specialize in.
Wine is best enjoyed when it is stored and served at certain temperatures. A wine cooling unit is made especially for the purpose of maintaining the correct conditions for wine storage. There is no way a standard air conditioning unit can provide the right environment for a wine room or wine cellar. The cooling unit is a foundational part of a wine cellar, though many other factors contribute to its effectiveness. There are three basic types of wine cellar cooling units, those being: Self-contained, ductless-split, and ducted-split air handler climate control systems. Is a self-contained cooling unit best for your wine cellar?
Air Conditioning Units Won’t Do
Whisperkool wall-mounted cooling unit
A self-contained through-the-wall wine cellar cooling unit resembles a window air conditioning unit, but they are not the same thing at all. An air conditioner provides cold blasts of air for short spans of time to create a certain temperature in the room. Spikes in temperature are common with basic air conditioning. Wine cooling units, on the other hand, run much more frequently. They keep a room at a much more constant, colder temperature. In addition, self-contained wine cellar cooling units regulate humidity.
When is a Self-Contained Wine Cooling Unit Best?
The most affordable wine cooling unit is the self-contained variety, and it is also the easiest to install. This type of cooling unit is best for use in wine rooms and wine cabinets that have adequate ventilation. These are one-piece, wall-mounted units that are vented through the wall. There are no drain lines for this type of cooling unit. Everything needed is built right in, other than the need to vent, since it contains exhaust. These units are quiet but do make a noticeable amount of noise, same as split systems.
A huge consideration when installing a self-contained wine cellar cooling unit is which wall is best for placement and exhaust. Oftentimes, these systems mount to an interior wall, exhausting hot air and creating fan noise in an adjacent room. The adjoining room must be well-ventilated, in order to contain the heat that the unit vents. The adjoining room should not exceed 80°F. It should also usually be no smaller than the wine storage space.
A down side to self-contained systems is that the manufacturer usually requires that they be uninstalled and shipped in for repair or service. A benefit of a self-contained wine cooling unit is that it allows for maximum racking space in the wine cellar, and it is virtually an invisible feature.
Contact Professionals
When creating an ideal wine environment in your home, it’s best to contact professionals, such as the experts at Rosehill Wine Cellars. At Rosehill, we only focus on wine cellar construction. We can ensure that all components of your wine cellar are appropriate for wine storage, including the wine cooling unit. With help from our experts, you will get the best advice on whether to install a self-contained wine cooling unit or another variety.
Wine cellar cooling units can rightly be considered the cornerstone of a proper wine storage environment. There are many other factors that impact the effectiveness of a wine cooling unit, however. The following are more facts about wine cellar cooling units, including information about other components that affect how the unit performs.
1-Vapor Barrier
During construction of a wine cellar, it’s essential to include a vapor barrier or vapor retarder. Because sudden or frequent temperature and humidity fluctuations in a wine cellar can damage wine, the vapor barrier and insulation are both of tremendous importance. A vapor retarder prevents warm air from entering the cool environment in your wine cellar. Various factors determine the thickness, finishes, and applications of a vapor barrier. Those factors include the size, capacity, and location of your wine cellar. The vapor barrier must be installed on the warm side of the wall, and the process must be thoroughly done. The effectiveness of the vapor barrier impacts the performance and effectiveness of the wine cellar cooling unit.
2-Insulation
Professionals in wine cellar construction understand the unique role insulation plays, to ensure that wine cellar cooling units can do the job they are designed to do. Insulation must be properly installed in the walls, floors, doors, and windows. The requirements for insulation are determined by the outside wall the cellar occupies and the depth of the cellar below grade. Some of the challenges to proper wine cellar insulation include ductwork, plumbing pipes, and electrical wirings.
3-Drain Line
Another important aspect of a wine cellar that many people don’t know about is the condensate drain line. The condensate fitting and tube allows overflow condensation to exit from underneath the wine cellar cooling unit. The drain line must be connected at all times, so that the walls and other wine cellar components aren’t damaged by water. Maintaining the proper temperature and humidity in a wine cellar requires a drain line. However, when a wine cellar is built properly, condensation is minimal.
4-Electrical Circuit
The electrical work on a wine cellar is also important, to ensure that the cooling unit can perform at an optimal level. A dedicated electrical circuit helps to minimize the risk of a tripped circuit breaker. If the electricity ever went out for a prolonged period, it could mean the wine environment is altered and the wine is spoiled.
5-Maintenance Required
Previously in this two-part series it was mentioned that wine cooling units operate up to 70% of the time. Quality wine cellar cooling units, such as those made by manufacturers Breezaire and WhisperKOOL, can be depended upon to work dependably usually for 35,000 hours before any type of mechanical service is required.
All of the essential elements of building a quality wine cellar have an impact on the wine cooling unit. When you trust professionals like the wine cellar construction experts at Rosehill Wine Cellars, you can be confident of top quality results. Contact Rosehill Wine Cellars today to get started on your own wine cellar in southern Ontario. Recommendations will be made on the best wine cooling unit to choose, based on the specifics of the wine cellar itself.
If you have a wine cellar, a wine cellar cooling unit is essential. The entire point of a wine cellar is to provide the right environment in which to store wine. The cooling unit is the component that does the most to accomplish that crucial function. With a wine cooling unit of the appropriate size from a leading manufacturer such as Wine Guardian, CellarCool, WhisperKOOL, or CellarPro, you can rest assured that your wine is being beautifully preserved. With these cooling units plus other top brands, you can anticipate enjoying your wine collection, including the vintages that are best when stored for years. The following are five facts about wine cellar cooling units that you may not be aware of.
1. Wine Cellar Temperature
To keep the temperature in a wine cellar unit at the desired levels, wine cellar cooling units typically run between 50% and 70% of the time, depending on size and construction of the wine cellar.
2. Temperature Differentials
Temperature differential must be checked before you can make the right determination on the wine cellar cooling unit you need. The area a unit is exhausting into is part of the equation. A 30°F temperature differential means that if the exhaust environment is 90°F, the cooling unit can only cool the cellar down to 60°F.
3. Noisy Cooling Units
Cooling units make noise, though it is minimized as much as possible. Noise is generated from the compressor and airflow through the fans. The location of the cellar and the cooling unit exhaust should be considered, with regard to having acceptable levels of noise.
4. Proper Ventilation
During the operation of a wine cooling unit, heat is absorbed from the air and dissipated from the unit. In other words, a large amount of heat is generated by cooling units. For this reason, proper ventilation is essential.
5. Proper Humidity Control
Precise humidity control is another aspect of creating perfect conditions in a wine cellar. In low humidity, wine corks tend to dry out, crack, and shrink. This causes oxidation of the wine, which destroys the flavors. If the humidity level is too high, mildew and mold can grow in the cellar, including on wine labels. Some wine cellar cooling units, such as all WhisperKOOL cooling systems, remove excess humidity as well as maintain the proper temperature.
When you have a custom wine cellar built by experts like the professionals at Rosehill Wine Cellar, you can trust that all aspects of the cellar will be a perfect match for the recommended options for a wine cooling unit. There’s more to learn about wine cooling units in the second part of this series.
Pull your favorite wine from a custom wine cellar by Rosehill Wine Cellars.
It’s thirsty Thursday…only one more day until the weekend..you can almost taste the freedom. You find your mouth begin to water as soon as you notice it’s almost 5 o’clock. Happy hour calls your name! As soon as you walk in the bar, drink specials offend you, with names like Scorpion Pee and Smoker’s Cough. You reluctantly gaze into the wine cooler and see it overstocked with cheap white zinfandel and pink moscato. The bar is already filling up, so you order a half bottle of the house cab and hope to catch some hint of a buzz before you begin to take on the scent of the hipster one stool over. You spend the next hour guzzling a watery red wine while wishing you could take off your shoes and wondering how long it’s going to take the bartender to run your credit card. At the end of the night, you get home with aching feet, 3 sketchy new Facebook friends, and a promise to yourself that you will not do it again.
Happy hour was created to improve the quality of your busy work week! But, these days, happy hour does not mean you have to go into the bar nearest work with the intentions of “waiting out the traffic.” Happy hour is about quenching that insatiable thirst in your most comfortable environment. It’s about opening your favorite bottle of wine, in your favorite room, with your favorite people. Where are you pulling that bottle of wine from? Hopefully from a custom wine cellar or wine cabinet with a reliable wine cooling unit from a top manufacturer like Breezaire, but I digress.
We live in the era of comfort and convenience..where groceries and even fast food are delivered right to your house. You can stream the hottest movies right to your television. Why not customize your happy hour? Say no to wearing uncomfortable clothes while sitting at a bar full of strangers and drinking sub-par beverages. Go home. Get comfortable. Pull out your favorite bottle of red and let it breath…as you breathe in the happiest hour of your day.
Welcome to Rosehill Wine Cellar’s blog where we share our creativity and offer insights into the best practices for storing fine wines. Our blog details how recent scientific advancements meet old world traditions in the wine cellars we design and build. We display our installations and reveal our inspirations as we extol innovation across the entire industry. Our original photos and authentic stories celebrate good wine cellar designs and wherever possible we showcase the work of our experts and their efforts to further the art and science of proper wine storage.
