Cooling units help maintain a stable temperature in your wine cellar, providing optimal storage conditions for the aging of your bottles.
No matter how you use it or what installation limitations you have, the wine experts at Vinum Design can offer you many different cooling system solutions for your wine cellar. Without further ado, here are some tips on how to choose the right wine cellar cooling unit.
Key factors when choosing the right wine cellar cooling unit
Before choosing your wine cellar cooling unit, you should first consider certain factors:
Power requirements
Make sure you have the dimensions of the room (Height X Depth X Width) on hand. This will give you the cubic measurement of the space to be cooled.
Wine cellar cooling unit manufacturers generally set a maximum capacity range in cubic volume for each model.
However, it is important to ask a professional to make this calculation when you plan to install glazing, because it greatly influences thermal needs.
Wine cellar insulation
Wine cellar insulation is another important factor to consider. Without proper insulation, humidity, heat and cold air will easily get into the wine cellar, which will adversely affect the quality of the stored wine.
For the best possible wine storage conditions, we recommend an insulation with a minimum thermal resistance R-value of R-20 on all the walls and ceiling of the cellar.
If some walls are glazed, it is necessary to provide even more insulation for the closed walls since the glazing does not have an insulating factor.
Wine cellar environment
The next step is to evaluate the unique environment of the wine cellar in order to identify the physical constraints and determine which type of system will be most appropriate for the space. In some cases, you can use any type of wine cellar cooling unit, while in others, you can use only one type.
Bearing in mind all these factors, the professionals at Vinum Design will know exactly which models are best suited to your needs and propose various wine cellar cooling solutions.
Different types of wine cellar cooling units
In addition to the various factors that need to be considered, you should be familiar with the specific features of each type of product. Installing the perfect cooling unit can only be done with an understanding of the different options available on the market. Here are the most popular:
Self-contained non-ducted cooling units
The self-contained wine cellar cooling unit is often the simplest and cheapest option on the market.
The first type of wine cellar cooling system is installed through the wall. This type of unit resembles a window air conditioner and is generally installed in a wall between the wine cellar and an adjacent room (mechanical or other room). A word of warning is in order with this type of cooling unit, because the cold generated in the wine cellar creates heat in the room where the unit exhausts the air.
This self-contained system can be easily installed in an opening in the wine cellar. All that is required is an electrical outlet and a pipe for draining off the condensation.
It is essential to talk to a professional if the unit is installed in a drop ceiling before building the cellar space and choosing the unit because several parameters must be respected to ensure the efficiency of the unit.
At Vinum Design, we offer self-contained wall-mounted wine cellar cooling units in a variety of sizes and capacities to fit any size cellar.
WhisperKool Self-Contained Wine Cellar Cooling Unit - SC PRO 4000
Cooling capacity up to 1000 ft³ (about 28 m³)
Self-contained ducted cooling units
In the event that a monobloc system cannot be installed in the wall, there are also monobloc units that can be installed remotely from the wine cellar and connected via air ducts.
Depending on the size of the wine cellar, the air ducts vary in diameter. Four ducts are also required: a return flow for the cold section, one going to the wine cellar, and a return flow for the hot air.
A technical advisor should therefore be consulted to choose the right unit.
Split cooling units
Using two complementary components, split systems separate the refrigeration unit (the evaporator) from the condensing unit (the compressor).
Depending on the chosen model, this solution has several advantages. The cooling system can be completely hidden in the ceiling of the wine cellar and also positioned for optimal air circulation. This is often the best solution for those with large wine cellars.
Another advantage is the quiet design of this type of unit, since the source of noise from the condensing unit (compressor) will be located in a mechanical room.
Wine Cellar Cooling Unit MINI WhisperKool – Ceiling Mount Series H.E.
Cooling capacity up to 500 ft³ (approx. 46 m³)
The split units are connected together by pipes that circulate the cooling gas. Consequently, this type of installation requires a certified refrigeration specialist since only a professional can install the two components of a split system perfectly.
At Vinum Design, we routinely work with refrigeration specialists and can help you get in touch with one to ensure the proper installation of this type of cooling system.
Vinum Design helps you choose the right cooling unit for your wine cellar
Even if you take all these factors into account, choosing the right cooling system is difficult to do without professional expertise.
At Vinum Design, we offer a wide range of wine cellar cooling solutions. Whether you wish to buy your cooling system in our shop or simply benefit from our advice, we invite you to contact us. We would be delighted to provide you with our expertise and help you choose this essential part of your wine cellar.
