Wine cellar cooling units are air conditioners specifically designed to operate at an ideal cellar temperature, usually 55 - 57 degrees. As with other air conditioners, these systems must provide an evaporator coil to cool the air and condense moisture inside the cellar and a condenser coil which uses a compressor to remove the heat coming out of the room.
Wine cellar cooling systems come in many different sizes and shapes, but they all fall into one of the three categories. Here is an overview of your choices.
1. Through-the-Wall Design
One of the most popular, reliable and least expensive styles used in private cellars is a "through-the-wall" configuration, in which a self-contained air conditioning unit is mounted literally through the wall. These units are best for smaller cellars as they have a limited cooling capacity. Thought must be given to the best placement of these units, so as not to interfere with the racking. The condenser side of the unit is outside of the cellar, and generates some heat and noise, another factor to be taken into account when determining the location. A room air conditioner is NOT an alternative to purchasing an air conditioner specifically designed for use in a wine cellar from a reliable manufacturer.
2. Ducted System
A versatile style available from some manufacturers is a self-contained ducted unit which offers maximum flexibility in design and installation, and has the cooling capacity to be used in any size cellar. A grille on the inside wall is connected by insulated flexible ductwork to a self-contained unit outside of the cellar which contains the evaporator, fan and condenser. This unit can be placed in any indoor, out-of-the-way location outside the cellar. The result is a quiet cellar with literally no obtrusive equipment taking up space. This system is ideal for private, larger cellars or commercial use, as it can be sized for any cellar capacity.
3. Split System
Available from some manufacturers is a split system comprised of two separate mechanical elements (condenser and evaporator) that can be used when ducting is not feasible, especially when the condenser must be installed outdoors or in an unheated space, such as a garage. Split systems have the evaporator fan mounted inside the wine cellar with the condenser located outside the room and connected to the cellar by refrigeration tubing. Unlike the first two styles, the split system must be installed by licensed electrical and refrigeration technicians. Locating the condenser outside can be problematic, as it must be able to hold its set-point in both summer and winter temperatures. These may also be a noise factor inside the room due to the type of evaporate used. The split system can be sized for any size cellar.
Correctly Sizing Your Unit
Counting the number of bottles or adding up the cubic footage of the cellars is a first step but not really sufficient information to select the size, type or capacity of the wine cooling unit. These are important facts but only two parameters that enter into the calculations for proper selection. A trained technician from a reputable manufacturer or distributor will take into account the amount of insulation available, the temperature of the surrounding spaces, the cellar's location in the building, frequency of door openings, frequency of wine turnover, lighting intensity and duration, size and insulation of doors and windows, and any other variable present in the cellar's environment.
