Most self-contained refrigeration systems can cool the air in the room only 30°F (17°C) below the ambient temperature outside the enclosure. If the outdoor temperatures in your climate exceed 85°F (29°C)- and most do-plan to exhaust heat from your cellar into your home's living space. The refrigeration unit should also either recover moisture from the cooled air with an internal condensation collector that allows condensation to evaporate again or use a split refrigeration system with an extra-large evaporator-to-condenser ratio to minimize the loss of humidity.
Refrigeration systems for wine cellars resemble whole-house air-conditioning systems, but they are specially designed and dedicated cooling systems able to ensure proper wine storage conditions. You'll likely need only a small-capacity, high-efficiency cooling unit to ensure an ideal environment in the heavily insulated, refrigerated wine room.
Types of Refrigeration systems
Select the system that best suits your cellar's location. There are three main types
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| A split-refrigeration system has an evaporative coil mounted high on the cellar's wall and an outside condenser with a fan to dispel the heat. The two units are joined by a coolant line. |
The first category includes self-contained, stand-alone, wall-mounted units that superficially resemble window-mounted air conditioners and vent through the wall into an adjacent space. While generally too noisy for use in areas where the cellar is adjacent to a bedroom, they are suitable for mounting next to a well-vented utility area, storage closet, laundry room, or unfinished spaces.
The second type of refrigeration systems is the split unit. A split-heat pump is ideal for a basement location. Its noisy condenser and fan are located outside the cellar, typically on the other side of a shared exterior wall.
The last category of cooler is an air-handling system. It is the best choice for a large cellar.
All cooling systems require you to run a new, dedicated circuit to the unit. Remember as you plan electrical circuits for your cellar that you will also need power for lighting and power outlets. For this, splice into existing wiring if a nearby circuit has sufficient capacity, or install new circuits specifically for the wine room.
Though its primary purpose is wine storage, a well-built, functional wine room can also serve supplemental uses, including short-term storage of fine furs, bulk fruit and vegetables, cut flowers-or even cigars-all items that benefit from cool, humid climate conditions. Allow for these other uses in separate closets, cabinets, or side rooms within the wine room.
Finally, include a small island, table, or counter for opening or decanting wine or a quick sampling with a few guests-but plan adjacent space outside the cellar for extended dining and tasting parties.
Passive Cooling
For centuries, wine-makers have relied on caves and other below-grade or underground chambers to store and age wine. The 19th-century Far Niente winery in Oakville, California, for instance, features nearly 20,000 square feet of full-height caves and tunnels burrowed into the hill behind the facility, which provide naturally stable underground climate conditions to age wine. These caves were dug specifically with wine in mind.
Thermal mass and other passive cooling methods are far less reliable for an in-home cellar located in a basement or other below-grade space than are such deep, hillside caves. Seasonal climate changes cause temperature fluctuations in your home cellar and can harm your wine collection.
Use passive cooling as a supplement for active refrigeration. It also extends the life of refrigeration equipment by allowing it to run less frequently and for shorter periods of time than for rooms surrounded by higher temperature conditions, making your cellar cost less and saving energy.
From the book The Home Wine Cellar by Perry Sims et al. Copyright © 2004.. Reprinted by arrangement with Running Press, a member of the Perseus Books Group, www.perseusbooks.com. All rights reserved.