Category Archives: cooling & humidity

New Wine Cellar Cooling Product from CellarPro…

Will It Work For You?

A new product has just been released and it is causing quite a stir.  This is a truly great fully ducted wine cellar cooling system by CellarPro, it is extremely versatile and can be configured to be used in many different ways.  For example, the cooling units can be stacked vertically when floor space is limited; or they can be stacked horizontally when ceiling height is limited; or the evaporator and the condensing unit can be split apart, and the condensing unit even can be placed outdoors, when space or access are limited

This new Wine Cellar Air Handler comes in both the 6500 and the 8500 sizes.  Therefore, these units are meant for larger cellars, up to 1750 cubic feet and up to 2500 cubic feet, respectively, with proper insulation and vapor barrier installed in the wine cellar.  The self-contained (ie Horizontal and Vertical) units are pre-charged and factory set so that they do NOT have to be installed by an HVAC contractor.

There are several different ways these wine cooling systems can be installed:

  • These wine cellar cooling units can be placed horizontally or vertically.
  • They can be used as one unit or separated as a split system.

  • An optional remote digital display is available for use inside or outside the cellar when the units are ducted to and from the cellar.
  • The evaporator can be ducted into and from the cellar with the condenser attached.
  • The evaporator can be split and connected to the evaporator via 2 copper lines.
  • The evaporator could be placed inside the room and connected through the wall to the condenser via 2 copper lines.
  • Each unit is 18.6w x 18.6 d x 19.3 h… so each section is quite large.
  • The condenser can be connected to the evaporator directly.
  • The condenser can be “split” and connected to it via 2 copper lines and be separated up to 100 line ft. away.
  • The units can be ducted to the wine cellar from the evaporator and to the outdoors or another large space from the condenser up to 100 equivalent ft. (50 ft. per duct).
  • The units are also available so that the condenser can be placed indoors or outdoors to temperatures from -20 degrees to 110 degrees when used with the optional low ambient kit.

 

The way you will install your unit must be determined before ordering to receive the correct unit configuration.

Optional Humidifiers and Heaters are available that can be installed at the factory upon placing your order.  These must be factory installed and cannot be added later.

The integrated Humidifier is perfect for increasing the humidity level in commercial or residential wine cellars. They are controlled by digital controllers that are mounted inside the wine room and are wired to the humidifier that is mounted to the rear of the Air Handler.  Humidity levels can be set from 5% to 70% in 5% increments.

The 900W integrated Heater is for cellars that are unheated and exposed to conditions below 55 degrees.  When the heater system is added, it is integrated with and controlled by the digital control panel and automatically adds heat or refrigeration based on the temperature inside the cellar.  A safety thermostat provides protection from overheating.

Here is a photo of recent install of an AH6500Sch CellarPro system installed by one of our partner contractors in Memphis, TN.  Located in the attic above the wine cellar the air was ducted to and from the wine cellar.   The hot air was ducted outdoors and the fresh air was received from the fully insulated attic.   The contractor who installed this unit purchased an extra duct collar for the unit. He is currently getting his supply air from the attic. If he finds that the attic gets too hot over the summer, he will change out the grill to the duct collar, adding a duct to the outside for the supply air.

Go here Custom Wine Cellars Memphis to see an example of a CellarPro Wine Cellar Cooling Unit installed is a recent residential wine cellar project.

To find out if this type of system is right for your wine cellar …. Or to see what cooling system is the best type and size for your wine cellar, call Wine Cellar Specialists to have a heat load calculation performed and get a unit recommendation.

Texas: 972-454-0480  Illinois: 773-234-0112 or Toll Free: 866-646-7089

Custom Wine Cellars – What you need to know about the flooring

Wine Cellar Floors

Floor Preparation

When thinking about the flooring for custom wine cellars, you should remember that as part of a climate controlled room it must be prepared properly. This is an area that some people make the mistake of ignoring when creating a wine cellar in their home. If the floor in your cellar is above ground, you must add the same vapor barrier and insulation that you do to your walls and ceiling. Remember, the wine room must be wrapped up tight like a package. If your floor is on a cement slab which rests on the ground, you can get away with adding a vapor barrier only to the cement before applying your floor covering.

We recommend a product called Bostic’s MVP4. It is a Moisture Vapor Protection that is applied with a trowel and left to dry before adding your floor on top.  It is usually available at your local hardware store. Once the moisture barrier is in place, you can add a plywood base or add your flooring directly on top of the vapor barrier.

Flooring Materials for Custom Wine Cellars

What you use for your actual wine cellar flooring material is up to you, as long as you stay away from anything resembling carpet. Carpet or carpet-like materials can mold or mildew in the higher humidity of a wine cellar. Slate, stone, tiles of many materials are fine in a wine cellar. Engineered wood floors are also great for traditional wine cellar designs. However, do careful of wood flooring unless it has previously been aged in a humid environment.

For a particularly special looking custom wine cellar floor reclaimed wine barrel flooring is an excellent choice and becoming more widely used in wine cellars. It is oak and made by master craftsmen from real oak wine barrels that are between 6 and 50 years old. Because these barrels previously held wine, the wood has already been exposed to extreme humidity levels. The barrels are sent through a process that implements a variety of specialized techniques to create an olde world style product line. The flooring can be glued or nailed over an area that has been prepared with a vapor barrier.

 

Three separate styles are available. The Cooperage flooring is made from the barrel head with all of its patina, cooperage stamps and special markings. The Wine Infusion flooring is made from the inside of the wine barrels where the wood has been naturally stained by the wine during the maturation process. The Stave flooring is created using the outside of the wine barrels. When the outside hoops are removed they leave behind distinctive markings and texture.

The wine barrel flooring is a statement of style and brings the history and aged beauty of wine into the personality of your wine cellar. A real conversation piece, this reclaimed wine barrel product is also available in drop-in ready tabletops and counter-tops.

Cork flooring is another great way to create a wine cellar floor. It is durable and very inexpensive. It is what you call a “floating floor” installation. Cork flooring comes in tongue and groove pieces that snap together and are held in place with a simple molding. Several styles, patterns and colors are available.

Both reclaimed wine barrel flooring and cork flooring are very unique and obvious ways to say “this is my special and unique wine cellar”.

Custom Wine Cellar Builders Contractors Installers Chicago Illinois

Check out this sneak peek of a new residential custom wine cellars builders project we recently completed in Naperville a location near Chicago Illinois. As Full Service Wine Cellar Builders, Contractors, and Installers we love building and designing beautiful custom wine cellars, wine tasting rooms and simple closet conversions like this example job. For the full story, interesting before and after images go to custom wine cellars design Chicago.

Custom Wine Cellar Builders Contractors & Installers Chicago Illinois

Custom Wine Cellar Contractors Chicago

Naperville is a smaller city just outside Chicago Illinois. Interestingly it has been voted as the best place to live in the United States several times, even at one time making it to the number two best place to live position. As a smaller U.S. city with a population of around 142,000 (2010), it is actually quite an affluent city with numerous corporate headquarters located in the downtown area. Surprisingly in a 2010 article, Naperville was named as the wealthiest city in the Midwest!  As Custom Wine Cellar Builders it should be no surprise therefore that we maintain a local presence of Wine Cellar Contractors in Naperville, Chicago, and Illinois generally.
If you live in one of these areas and are considering converting an unused room into a Wine Tasting Room or Custom Wine Cellar simply call us Toll-Free: at (866) 646-7089 or complete a FREE Wine Cellar Designs form and we will create a stunning 3D CAD Design Package tailored to your specific requirements without obligation and completely free of charge.

Bistro de la Reine Custom Wine Cellars Commercial Wine Bar

Bistro-de-la-reine Louisiana Commercial Wine Cellars Wine Stores

Check out one of our latest projects in Slidell which is near New Orleans in Louisiana. This Retail Wine Store and Bistro Bar is a great example of what can be done to enhance a Retail Wine Store into something with character and style. Enjoy the video and visit our Commercial Wine Racks New Orleans Louisiana page.

Commercial Custom Wine Cellars and Racks New Orleans Louisiana – Bistro de la Reine

Aging wine correclty over long periods requires a stable environment - Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units

To Cool or Not to Cool? (my Wine Cellar) That is the Question! #2

Part Two – Wine Cellar Refrigeration

Many times we hear this question, “Do I need to add a refrigeration unit or climate control system to my custom wine cellar?” In order to make a decision about this, there are several things you should think about. This is the second of three blog posts where we will attempt to answer this question.

1. Do I plan on storing my wines for more than 6 months?

If you plan on drinking all of your wines within 6 months of purchase, you may not need a cooled wine storage environment. However, if you want to invest in several bottles of a favorite wine for the future or have wine investment in mind, a climate-controlled room with a Wine Cellar Refrigeration System is a necessity.

Your wine can age 2 to 8 times faster at 73 degrees than at 55 degrees. OR three years at 73 degrees can be the equivalent of 6 to 24 years at 55 degrees. Wine reacts differently at different temperatures. There are good and bad reactions to different temperatures. At higher temperatures, the rates of bad reactions increase more dramatically than the rate of good reactions.

 Aging wine correctly over long periods requires a stable environment - Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units

There’s a reason the word “Cellar” is in the phrase “Custom Wine Cellars”

Humidity is also a factor. Most homes maintain a humidity of around 20-30%, though this can vary enormously in different regions. In order to maintain the separation of your home’s humidity and the humidity needed in your wine cellar, the room must be prepared properly and a climate-controlled system installed. With too low a humidity, the corks can dry out and air seeps into the bottles, destroying your wines. With too high a humidity, the labels could fall off and mold and/or mildew could occur.

This could be disastrous, imagine a group of you special most loved vintage wines, after one or more years of anticipation, spoiled!  Simply due to improper storage conditions.

Have you measured the day-night variance in your Wine Cellar? - Wine Cellar Refrigeration Variance

To Cool or Not to Cool? (my Wine Cellar) That is the Question! #1

Part One – Wine Cellar Refrigeration

Many times hear this question, “Do I need to add a cooling unit or climate control system to my wine cellar?” In order to make a decision about this, there are several things you should think about. This is the first of three blog posts where we will attempt to answer this question.

1. What is the ambient temperature of the areas surrounding my wine cellar?

If your wine cellar is below ground level, in a basement, you are more likely to have a cooler environment than an above-ground cellar would have. Knowing the year-round temperature and humidity is important. If you are attempting to build a “passive” wine cellar (a wine cellar with no climate control), you need to make sure both the temperature and humidity are consistent and within the required limits year-round.

The temperature in a wine cellar should stay between 55-60 degrees and the humidity should range from about 50-75%. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity are some of the biggest factors that can destroy your wine collection. If your environment does not lend itself to a passive cellar, you may want to consider climate control, technically described as a wine cellar refrigeration system.

Have you measured the day-night variance in your Wine Cellar? - Wine Cellar Refrigeration Variance

Have you measured the day-night variance in your Wine Cellar? – Wine Cellar Refrigeration Variance

Natural seasonal and in particular, day/night cycles generate surprising variations in temperature. These often vary more than most people realize. Wine Cellar Refrigeration may be vital to the long term stability of your wine collection.

Residential Custom Wine Cellars Dallas Howell – Sneak Peek

Check out our new page for this project that tells the full story and detail behind our recent Custom Wine Cellar Closet Dallas Texas conversion. You can also enjoy a sneak peek of the project by watching the video below.

Custom Wine Cellars Builder Dallas Texas – Howell Closet Conversion Peek
 

Wine Cellar Cooling Systems by US Cellar Systems

See other similar projects such as the Johns Residential Wine Room Dallas Texas or the Commercial Wine Racks Bistro Wine Store

WhisperKOOL SC Pro Series Bottle Probe

Liquid Temperature vs. Air Temperature – Wine Cellar Cooling

Liquid Temperature vs. Air Temperature when Choosing a Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

Measuring the air temperature in your Wine Cellar

Custom Wine Cellar Climate Control Systems or Wine Cellar Cooling Units have two different ways to measure temperature. Some systems measure the temperature using a probe that measures the air temperature of the wine room. Other types of systems use a probe that is placed into a wine bottle of water that measures the liquid temperature of your wine. Continue reading →

Your cooling unit

You will most likely need a wine cellar cooling unit. Even if you decide to put a cellar in your basement, which may have the properties you’d expect from a wine cellar, you probably will not want to try to get by without a cooling unit. Basements, especially in the United States, can be too warm at times to properly store your wine. It may be the correct temperature… and even the correct humidity during some of the year. However, the fluctuation of temperature and humidity is what can destroy your wine. It will most likely not be stable enough all year round for your wine collection and storage needs. Continue reading →

Wine Cellar Cooling Tips for Texas Wine Enthusiasts

So you’ve decided to build a wine cellar in your home. Do you know the environment to create in your wine cellar to best protect your wine? Learn all about it and more in this, the first in a series of blog posts about creating an ideal environment in your wine cellar.

Achieving Optimum Temperature and Humidity Levels for Graceful Wine Aging

Wine Guardian Cooling Unit in Attic

Wine Guardian Cooling Unit in a Teas Home Wine Cellar

Your Texas wine cellar should constantly be at a temperature of about 55 degrees. As important as temperature is, so is humidity. Keep the humidity in your wine cellar somewhere between 50 and 75 percent.

Too high of a humidity can cause mold and mildew and your labels to fall off. Too low a humidity can cause your corks to dry out, air can seep into your bottles, and your wine can be ruined.

Do you live in a low-humidity area? Some types of climate control units help to regulate your humidity by adding moisture, others simply get rid of excess humidity. Some wine cellar owners like to add a humidifier to their cellar while others might want a fountain.

The poor man’s method is a container of water across the room from the cooling unit. The unit will pull the moisture through the room. Most areas of the country do not need any type of humidification.

When cooling a Texas wine cellar with the liquid mass of the wine in the bottles, the humidity naturally rises. Your cellar will automatically have a higher humidity than it will have outside the room. The vapor barrier in the walls, floor and ceiling helps to keep the humidity inside the room. This is why most cooling units are made to get rid of the excess humidity.

Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Wine Cellar Cooling unit

Picking a wine cellar cooling unit is where you need to be sure to consult an expert. He or she is best able to help you pick something that will work for your wine cellar. Many things are considered when deciding what you can use.

  • Where in the house or building is the cellar located?
  • Do you want to see the unit or not?
  • Are you OK with hearing the unit or not?
  • How big is your wine room?
  • What is the amount of insulation in the room?
  • What is the type/style of wine cellar door installed?

The size of the room, the amount of insulation, even the style of the door being used are all factors in determining the size of unit you can use. Your cooling unit expert at Wine Cellar Specialists can do a free heat load calculation for you by plugging in all the factors needed to determine the correct BTU’s necessary for your unit. All cooling units need to have a dedicated circuit and all units will have a drain line for excess condensation.

Types of Wine Cooling Units Recommended for Texas Wine Cellars

  • types of wine cellar cooling systems TexasSelf Contained or Through-the-wall: A unit that is mounted through the wall (hence the name). It pulls air from the adjoining room and also releases hot air into the same room. This separate room must be heat and air conditioned and be at least two times the size of the wine cellar. Some of these systems can have the hot air ducted to another area. Consult your expert.
  • Ductless Split System: Called a “split” because the evaporator coil is in the room where the unit is. It is connected to the condenser in another room or outside the home via 2 copper lines. If you live in a climate where you have winter days of below 40 degrees, this must be taken into consideration when choosing your unit. Some units can withstand these temperatures. On others you must add a low ambient kit for cold weather.
  • Split-air handler or Ducted Split System: This system requires ducting to the wine cellar from the evaporator coil, which can sit in another room, closet or attic. The evaporator is connected to the condenser via 2 copper lines. The condenser can be in another room (at least 1-2 times the size of the cellar) or outdoors. Again, if placing the condenser outdoors, be sure your wine cellar expert knows your climate temperature fluctuations year round to be sure your unit has everything for the conditions it will be in.
  • Water-cooled system: This system uses cold water to cool the coils in the unit, and is installed in an indoor space. By using water, no refrigerant is needed or used, and an air handler creates the cold air you need in the room. This type of unit is usually only used when the building has a water reservoir in place that circulates through the building and can be tapped into. You do not want to hook this up to a regular city water and sewer system.

A climate control system will do more than simply circulate air in your cellar. The right system will help protect your wine by maintaining constant wine cellar temperature and humidity. The fluctuation of temperature and humidity is the biggest cause of ruined wine.

More Wine Cooling Tips

Wine Cellar Specialists, a wine cooling expert in Texas, always make sure that the room is prepared for the installation of the wine refrigeration system. They install the proper amount of insulation, a vapor the barrier, and sealing components for the door and flooring.

Installing the Proper Insulation and Vapor Barrier Can Protect Both Your Wine Cooling System and Wines

Climate-controlled wine cellars must be insulated by a professional to prevent the environmental factors from damaging your wine. The R factor (thickness of insulation) depends on the thickness of the walls and ceiling. R19 is the minimum insulation that must be applied the interior walls of your wine cellar. For the ceiling, above ground floor and any exterior walls, R-30 insulation is recommended.

wine cellar door Texas

Wine Cellar Door with Proper Sealing Components by Wine Cellar Specialists Texas Builder

Wine cellar builders should be using closed cell spray foam as insulation and vapor barrier. Before the foam is sprayed, any seams should also by polysealed. Proper vapor barrier and insulation can help to prevent mold growth by sealing the wine cellar and allowing the proper sized cooling unit to work efficiently. When closed cell foam is used as your insulation in the correct thickness, another vapor barrier is not necessary.

Some contractors use plastic sheeting applied to the warm side of the walls. At Wine Cellar Specialists we only recommend closed cell foam. Plastic sheeting is too easy to be compromised over time and can then allow moisture to enter the room, causing mold or mildew issues.

With the appropriate insulation and vapor barrier installed, your Texas wine cellar can store your collection safely for years to come. It also allows your wine cooling system to function properly, preventing significant expense. Your wine cooling unit may not work correctly, overworking the refrigeration system, if your wine cellar has not been properly sealed.

Sealing the Door and Flooring

An exterior grade door must be used in a cooled wine cellar. It must be equipped with weather stripping on all four sides of the doorjamb. It will prevent unwanted entry of the outdoor air. It is also imperative to add a threshold or bottom sweep to the door. Our wood and iron doors have the option of an automatic door bottom which is a great way to seal against the loss of air from your wine cellar.

Your floor will need to have a vapor barrier and insulation if it is above ground. Flooring should be made of a solid material applied to a level surface. Ideal flooring materials are ceramic tiles, hardwood, and marbles.

Need Help? Contact a Wine Cellar Cooling Expert.

Wine Cellar Specialists offers quality cooling systems for Texas wine cellars. Contact them at +1 (866 ) 646-7089!

Your Cooling Unit

You will most likely need a wine cellar cooling unit. Even if you decide to put a cellar in your basement, which may have the properties you’d expect from a wine cellar, you probably will not want to try to get by without a cooling unit. Basements, especially in the United States, can be too warm at times to properly store your wine. It may be the correct temperature… and even the correct humidity during some of the years. However, the fluctuation of temperature and humidity is what can destroy your wine. It will most likely not be stable enough all year round for your wine collection and storage needs. Continue reading →

Wine Cellars – Design & Efficiency

After deciding to build a wine cellar in your home (or have one built), you should look at the cellar’s overall efficiency first. How the wine cellar will look, and whether or not it will match how the rest of your house looks, should be a secondary concern.

Wine Cellars – Design & Efficiency

Of course, design isn’t an afterthought, but at the end of the day, the colors you use in your wine cellar, if you use colors, will not help you protect and store your wine collection.

Making sure your cellar is efficient means that your wine cooling unit must be the proper size for the room and emit the proper BTU’s to efficiently cool the room according to your specific conditions. (see other blog posts for information on cooling unit options)

Your cooling unit, more than likely, is going to look and sound very different from what you might be thinking. Depending upon which type of unit you can use in your situation, the look of your cooling unit could vary greatly.

Selecting the right Wine Cellar Cooling Units

climate control system Texas

Wine Cellar Climate-Control System

When you pick your wine cellar cooling unit, there is usually an external temperature display on it. The wine cellars’ cooling unit will help you monitor and regulate your wine cellar’s temperature. With some units this display can be placed in a spot inside or outside of your wine cellar.

On others, it is attached to the unit itself. This temperature display will show you how hot or cold your cellar is, and if the temperature fluctuates out of your preset range, it will “tell” the cooling unit to readjust the temperature inside the cellar. This should happen automatically.

Because your wine cellar, as one expert puts it, is “dark and damp,” always install moisture-resistant materials during the build-out of the project. These materials can be covered with a latex paint.

Types of Wine Cooling Systems for Texas Custom Wine Cellars

Depending on how you plan to use your wine cellar (is it for an investment, or do you plan to drink the bottles of wine you will store in your cellar), you will want to choose the best cooling option for you. Wine Cellar Specialists can help you decide the system to put in place in your home.

Through the Wall or Self-Contained Units

self-contained wine cooling system

Self-Contained Cooling System

When it comes to practicality and ease of installation, the self-contained or through the wall cooling system is a top choice. Since this cooling option does not require a licensed HVAC/R technician, it will save you from the labor cost. The unit can be mounted between the wall studs.

An adjacent room, which must be at least twice the size of the cellar, is required. It serves as an exhaust of the heat generated by the refrigeration unit.

Ducted Self-Contained Systems

ducted self-contained refrigeration system

Ducted Self-Contained System

With a ducted self-contained unit, noise is reduced. The unit is installed 25 ducted feet away from your Texas custom wine cellar, resulting in a quieter operation compared to the self-contained system.

Another advantage of choosing this type of refrigeration system is that no cooling equipment is visible in your wine storage space. If you want a clean look in your cellar, go for the ducted self-contained system.  

Split Refrigeration Systems

split wine cooling system

Split Refrigeration Systems

Just like the ducted-self-contained cooling system, the split system allows for quiet operation. The condenser and the evaporator are installed separately. The condenser, which is a noisy component of a refrigeration system, is installed outside your wine cellar, while the evaporator is placed in the room.

Incorporating a wine cellar into your house is not overly complicated. Doing it right means taking your time, focusing on efficiency, and making sure you have the right people helping you make the right decisions that will best protect your investment and give you your desired result.

An Expert Can Handle Temperature & Humidity Challenges in Chicago Custom Wine Cellars

Chicago wine cellar

Chicago Home Wine Cellar Installed with a Cooling System

Poor conditions can be detrimental to wine. Investing in a climate-controlled wine room can protect your investment from harmful external factors.

Wine Cellar Specialists offers a turnkey solution for clients who want to have a custom wine cellar in Chicago that has the ability to maintain the right temperature and humidity levels.

Temperature and Humidity – Factors that Affect Wine Quality

A wine storage room is much more than the wine you choose to store inside it. In fact, the wine, contrary to what you might think, is less a factor in an effective wine cellar than the cellar itself.

For Chicago custom wine cellars of course, ultimately, the wine inside your wine room is what will matter, but in the beginning, and, to some degree, going forward, the cellar itself is what will make or break your collection.

The optimum conditions in a wine cellar can be achieved by regulating the temperature and humidity.

Optimum Conditions Needed by Wine for Proper Maturation

Chicago Wine Cellar Design

Without the right temperature and humidity in your wine cellar, and in less than ideal conditions, the wine you hope to one day enjoy or sell (wine as investment is not as rare as you may think) will not be there.

Ideal Wine Cellar Temperature

wine cellar temperature Chicago

A Stable Temperature Keeps Wine at Its Best

In order to preserve wine’s complex characteristics, it needs to be stored in a room where the wine cellar temperature is approximately between 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wine Cellar Humidity

In addition to temperature, humidity can indirectly affect the quality of your wine. Your wine cellar should be able to keep the humidity level between 50-75%.

Too low of a humidity level in your Chicago wine cellar may dry out the cork, allowing unwanted oxygen to get into the bottle. When this happens, oxidation occurs. Oxidation causes off flavors and flat aromas in wine. It also causes wine discoloration. Premature browning in reds and a deeper yellow color in whites are indications that wine has been oxidized.

Too high a humidity level can trigger mold growth that can damage the wine labels and wine racks.

Achieve Proper Storage Conditions by Careful Planning and Choosing the Cooling System Ideal for Chicago Custom Wine Cellars

Wine-Guardian-split-cooling-system

Wine Guardian Refrigeration System Offered by Wine Cellar Specialists Chicago

With some careful planning, forward-thinking, and the right cellar, how you want your wine to be when you one day drink it is achievable and very possible.

Some people choose to build their Chicago custom wine cellar in a basement, and while this may be the best space in your home in which to create a cellar, (assuming you actually have a basement), keep in mind that the conditions in your basement are not necessarily ideal for wine storage or more importantly the proper aging of your wine collection.

Also, you should create an environmentally controlled space for your wine collection.

Installing a Refrigeration System Can Help Maintain Constant Temperature and Humidity in Chicago Wine Cellars

wine cellar cooling system

Wine Cooling System Can Protect Your Investment

A wine cooling system should be protecting your collection and investment.

So make sure that regardless of the conditions outside, or even in your home, you are using an efficient refrigeration unit.

Such a system also means that your cellar does not have to be in a basement.

Effective wine cellar cooling units correctly controlling your wine rooms climate means the sky is the limit when it comes to cellar location, or is at least only limited by the size of your home.

 

Location of Your Wine Room Should be Considered When Choosing the Type of Cooling System

Of course, where you place your wine cellar is based on how a cooling system can be installed. If installing a self-contained unit, you need to be able to vent directly through the wall outside (only units specifically designed for extreme conditions) or to another room that is heat and air-conditioned and is at least twice the size of your cellar.(the most cost-effective method.)

If using a split system, you can place your condenser up to 50 feet from the evaporator and either copper lines or ducting might be used. There are many ways and types of cooling systems.

Avoid These Common Custom Wine Cellar Cooling Mistakes

Wine Mold in Chicago Custom Wine Cellars

Whether it’s traditional or modern custom wine cellars, proper cooling systems are required to prevent wine molding.

Knowing the right thing to do doesn’t mean you’ll end up with no mistakes during the process. Even if you’re knowledgeable about proper custom wine cellar cooling, there’s always room for error (as well as improvements). That said, you should avoid these common mistakes when dealing with a cooling unit:

  • Blending or mixing hot air exhaust and fresh air intake — the cooling unit won’t work correctly if it re-uses its hot exhaust air. If you’re challenged by room space, there are various types of cooling units to choose from, such as a split system, ducted system, and self-contained system.
  • Making the wine cellar the source of fresh air — make sure that fresh air will come from an external source and not within the cellar to ensure proper airflow. 
  • Not paying attention to the cooling unit’s extreme temperature capability — as a custom wine cellar owner, you should be familiar with the capacity of your cooling unit. There are seasons when the temperature is extreme. Make sure the custom wine cellar cooling unit is capable of adapting to a consistently changing environment.
  • Picking a cooling unit based on one factor — never ever choose a cooling unit based on one factor. A lot of things can affect humidity. Not only the size of the wine cellar itself but also the walls that surround it. Whether it’s glass, wood, or any specific material that encloses a wine cellar, this affects the thermal load of a room which contributes to the humidity level.

Consult a Wine Cellar Specialist to Determine What Can Be Used in Your Situation

You must choose the correct cooling unit for your Chicago custom wine cellar so that it cools efficiently for your particular conditions. Not only the size of the room but the insulation, the door, where the cellar is located inside the home are all factors when determining the correct size of the unit.

At Wine Cellar Specialists, they make a careful assessment of their client’s needs to ensure that all the components are of high quality and installed properly.

Heat Load Calculation

Wine Guardian Refrigeration Unit Installed by a Chicago Expert

Wine Guardian Refrigeration Unit Installed by a Chicago Expert

A wine cellar specialist can do a heat load calculation to determine the size of unit that you will need. The correct unit can be counted on to keep your wine collection safe. Do not size your cooling unit solely by the cubic footage of your wine cellar. A heat load calculation will take into account the size of your room as well as the amount of insulation, glass, the number of doors, interior and exterior walls, etc. to determine the amount of BTUH needed to correctly cool your room.

You will find that temperature and humidity will become common words around your home, as these are the two aspects in your cellar that are keys to proper wine storage.

Digital Control – an Important Feature of Cooling Units for Chicago Custom Wine Cellars

Wine Cooling Unit Digital Controller

Wine Cooling Unit Digital Controller

Most wine cellar cooling units have digital controls. This type of control allows you to monitor the temperature in your cellar, and tell you instantly if there are any changes.

The cooling units automatically run in cycles to maintain the correct temperature.

Digital controls are part of most units, but is offered as an option, consider going with it, even if it adds to the price of your unit.

Protect Your Wines from Being Damaged. Contact a Professional.

Wine Cellar Specialists - Wine Cellar Builder in Chicago

Wine Cellar Specialists – a Reliable Wine Cellar Cooling Expert

Prevent wine spoilage by choosing a wine cellar cooling expert in Chicago. Let Wine Cellar Specialists help you determine the refrigeration system that can maintain the ideal temperature and humidity in your wine room.

Contact them today at 866-646-7089 or request a 3-D wine cellar design for FREE!