Sarah on April 9, 2014 3 Comments If you’re in the market for a cellar cooler or just want to know what they’re all about, you’ve come to the right place. When searching for the perfect cooling system for your cellar, it’s normal to have at least a few questions. In the hopes that we can address your concerns before you may even know what to ask, we’ve compiled all of the frequently asked questions and their answers here: How is a cellar cooler different from my HVAC? What does self-contained mean? What is a through-the-wall system? What is a split system? Which systems can be ducted? Why would you need a ducted system? Do I need a professional to install a self-contained system? What is the typical lifespan of a cellar cooling system? Is the lifespan different for each system? Do cellar cooling systems produce a lot of noise? Do I need a humidifier as well as the cooling unit? What is a water-cooled system? What is a bottle probe used for? Does a drain line have to be installed? Can the drain line be installed behind the wall? What is a vapor barrier and why do I need one? How is a cellar cooler different from my HVAC? Air conditioners and cellar coolers work similarly; however, cellar coolers are designed to leave a specific amount of humidity in the air. Air conditioners pull out much more humidity, and if used in a cellar, would cause the bottles’ corks to dry out. What does self-contained mean? Self-contained refers to the way the system is set up with both the compressor and the evaporator enclosed in the same unit. What is a through-the-wall system? A through the wall system is essentially the same as self-contained. These units are made to be mounted through the wall of your cellar or wine room. What is a split system? Split systems separate the compressor from the evaporator so that the compressor can be placed in a room adjacent to where your wines are stored, i.e. a garage or utility room. Which systems can be ducted? Many models can be ducted, and with proper installation, this can be very helpful. Each cellar is different, so make sure you weigh all the options before you decide what is best for your situation. Some units can only be ducted on either the exhaust or cooling side, so if you’re sure this is what you need it‘s usually best to go for a unit specifically designed to work with ducting. Why would you need a ducted system? Ducting removes all noise from your wine cellar by placing the cooling unit up to 25 ft. away from the room. Self-contained and split-systems with evaporators fixed within the confines of the wine cellar use mechanical equipment to cool and will make some degree of noise in the cellar. A ducted system is also beneficial if the room a self-contained unit would need to evaporate in to is too small for the unit to function properly. Do I need a professional to install a self-contained system? All self-contained units are easy to install and come fully charged from the factory. What is the typical lifespan of a cellar cooling system? Some of the more inexpensive models may last from 1–5 years, while top of the line units can last up to 20 years. The biggest factor in prolonging the lifespan of your cooling system is proper preparation, installation, and maintenance of your cellar. Is the lifespan different for each system? Yes. Generally split systems’ lifespans are the longest and can last up to 20 years. Ductable units last from 10-15 years and self-contained units last up to 10 years. Do cellar cooling systems produce a lot of noise? Decibel ratings vary by brand and model, but generally fall into the noise levels below: Self-Contained: 50 – 65 dB Ducted: 35 – 55 dB Split: 35 – 60 dB Do I need a humidifier as well as the cooling unit? No. All cooling systems are designed to cool the air as well as keep humidity at the proper levels to keep bottle corks in mint condition. What is a water-cooled system? Water cooled systems are good for applications where ventilation and condenser fan options are unavailable. These can also work well for cellars near an abundant water source like a lake or cooling tower. What is a bottle probe used for? A bottle probe can be used to measure the temperature of a liquid versus the temperature of air. For instance, the temperature in a certain bottle may not be exactly the same as the temperature of air around it. The bottle probe doesn’t necessarily require opening a bottle of wine in your cellar, either. You can fill a bottle with water, leave it in the cellar and test with this method as well. Does a drain line have to be installed? A drain line should always be installed with cooling systems as they maintain humidity through evaporation and condensation. Can the drain line be installed behind the wall? To prevent any molding or water damage, the drain line should not be installed behind a wall. What is a vapor barrier and why do I need one? A vapor barrier serves to protect the insulation and structural walls from condensation damage, prevent air leakage, and keep humidity levels constant inside the room. The vapor barrier needs to be installed on the warm side of the insulation because condensation forms when water vapors move from the warm side of the wall to the cold side. Still have questions? Leave us a comment, and we’ll get you an answer. Wine Storage Tips: BUYER’S GUIDE: Wine Cellar Cooling Systems 6 Tips For Starting a Wine Cellar The 5 Dos & Don’ts of Wine Storage Wine Storage Temperature: How to Keep Your Wine at Its Best
Thomas Kaupas says August 15, 2016 at 1:35 pm My wine cooler’s system broke. Where to I call to get it fixed. Reply
Thomas Kaupas says August 15, 2016 at 1:37 pm My systems cooler broke. Where do I call to get it fixed. I live in Hilton Head, SC. Reply
Brij Sood says April 3, 2017 at 8:54 pm In a split unit, can the controls be set up so that the fan blowing cellar air through the evaporator runs ONLY when the compressor is running (like regular HVAC systems)? Reply
