Buying Guide For Through The Wall Wine Cooling Units
Thinking of having your own wine storage in your home? We listed the things you need to consider when you are planning to construct your own home wine cellar.
Think of the wine cooling unit as the heart of your wine cellar. Without it, your wine storage would be nothing more than just a bunch of wine racks.
Have you ever considered building your own wine cellar? Have you thought about updating your wine storage? Or are you trying to figure out what kind of wine cellar cooling unit you'll need? This article helps: A Guide For Building Your Own Wine Cellar
What are Through The Wall Wine Cellar Cooling Systems?
We already know what self-contained, ducted, and ductless split wine cellar cooling units are, but what are through-the-wall cooling systems?
Through wall wine cellar cooling units or Self Contained Through The Wall Wine Cooling Systems are basically self-contained units that are non-ducted. A hole is drilled in a wine cellar wall and the unit is placed in it. The through wall wine cooling unit evaporator side extends into the wine cellar, circulating cool air throughout the wine room. While the condensing side extends into a nearby utility room or into the outdoors.
The upside of getting a through-the-wall wine cellar cooling unit is you do not have to hire a professional HVAC-R technician to install them. A handy person who is knowledgeable about air conditioning installation will do.
Most of these wine cooler wall units are designed to be installed on an interior wall. They're most effective in a cellar with a utility room adjacent to it. They're excellent for small wine cellars, but for larger cellars you’ll need a different solution.
Advantages of a Through the Wall Wine Cellar Cooling Units
- Does not require any ductwork.
- Easy to install and operate.
- Most cost-effective and convenient.
- Temperature and humidity control.
Disadvantages of a Through the Wall Wine Cellar Cooling Units
- The cooling units can be noisy.
- They can protrude from the wall, making them less appealing.
- The units must be installed on an exterior wall that can withstand temperatures of up to 105°F (or more if you live in a hot climate) to work efficiently.
Buyers Guide for Through the Wall Wine Cooling Units
First and foremost, you need to think about what is the main purpose of your wine cellar. Is it for storing and aging wine or do you want to entertain your guests and showcase your collections? How many bottles and what types of wine do you want to store in it? What kind of racks do you want --- the traditional wood racks or contemporary metal racks?
If you are looking for a cost-effective wine cooling unit that's easy to install and will last for more than 10 years, a Self Contained Through the Wall Wine Cellar Cooling Unit might be the best solution for you.
Identify the Location
The most important part of planning for your own wine cellar for your home is its location. Basically, you can have your cellar anywhere in your home but the location you choose will have an impact on the cost you spend in maintaining your cellar.
Wine cellars should be placed in the coolest and most humid part of your home. When the temperature is closer to 55°F - 58°F and the humidity to 55% - 75% the smaller the size of the cooling system you will need. Which means less money you will need to spend.
The heat surrounding your wine cellar will affect it too. If the surrounding environment is above 65°, you will need to get a much larger cooling system which is more expensive, to maintain the ideal temperature inside your wine cellar.
Determine the Size of the Wine Cellar
This is step #2. In order to determine the size of your wine cellar, you need to know how many bottles you wish to store, if you have other things, like a center island, you want to add, and how much space you can devote to your cellar.
Most of our self contained through the wall wine cooling solutions are particularly well-suited to small wine cellars. They can accommodate wine cellars from 100 cu. ft. to 1000 cu. ft.
Add 3 Critical Components
Let's now talk about the 3 most important components of a wine cellar to properly store and age your wine.
Insulation
It's a great idea to insulate the ceiling and walls of your wine cellars. You can save some bucks when your cellar is properly insulated. We recommend a minimum of R19 batt insulation for your 2x6 walls and R30 for the ceiling, supposing you have 2x10 joists.
If your cellar is located in the basement, you do not have to insulate your floors but otherwise --- for example, a closet or if it is on the second floor of your home --- it will be wise to insulate the joist bays as well. You can also add some thick carpeting to help with the insulation.
If you are converting a closet or an existing room into a wine cellar, you can also consider blowing insulation between the joist bays.
Vapor and Moisture Barrier
Vapor and moisture barriers are materials designed to prevent water or moisture from getting passed through the barriers. These are needed in your wine cellar to make sure you get the desired humidity and temperature to properly store and age your wine. The most common vapor barrier used for wine cellars is 6 mil polyethylene sheeting or Visqueen. It is wrapped around your entire cellar on the outside of the insulation.
The Door
Not just any door will do. You will need an insulated exterior door or a solid interior door to keep warm air from going in your wine cellar and cool air from escaping. If you are going for a solid door, you need to add a little weather stripping around the jamb and at the bottom sweep.
There are certain units that have to be mounted over the door of the wine cellar. This is in the case of the WhisperKOOL Slimline unit so that the hot exhaust air vents into a hallway or whatever room is outside the cellar.
Airtight Seal
It is necessary that when the door is closed, no air should come in and out of your wine cellar.
Investing in a Wine Cellar Cooling System
Select a wine cellar cooling system that can last for a long time and is made by a known company to make sure you get what you paid for. Brands just like Breezaire, WhisperKOOL, and CellarCool are just a few of the best wine cooling units out there.
Our valued clients' reviews will speak for themselves: Wine Cellar Cooler Reviews
Wine Racks
Wine racks help store, organize, and display your wine bottles inside your cellar. There are various wine racks you can have in your wine cellar but here are 4 popular types:
Individual Bottle Storage
This type cradles your bottles individually in their own cell, either single or double deep. The great part of having individual bottle storage is that the cradles can have various sizes perfect for storing various types and sizes of wines. It can be made from wood or metal, depending on your preference.
Diamond Bin Storage
If your aim is to store or age wines in bulk, diamond bins are for you. They are very flexible and can accommodate various-sized wine bottles. This type of rack is ideal for long storage or aging of wine because it will be difficult to access the wines at the bottom part. Careful and gentle handling is needed if you choose to store your wine in this type of rack.
Case Storage
This type of rack lets you store your wine in its original cases or boxes. There are wood and cardboard cases. Wood cases are wider and shorter while cardboard cases are narrower but taller. It is also great to have sliding shelves to easily access your wine.
Tabletops
Tabletops offer convenient and attractive cases great for opening and pouring wine. It can be made from wood or stone surfaces. This type of rack is great for displaying your wine and accessories.
Read on for more information on wine racking solutions:
6 Best Through the Wall Wine Cellar Cooling Units
Now, let's look at 6 of the best through-the-wall wine cellar cooling systems with different specifications and features!
WhisperKOOL SC PRO 3000 Self Contained Wine Cellar Unit
Featuring high-end components at a very affordable price, the WhisperKOOL SC PRO 3000 comes with a new blower fan system that significantly lowers the noise it produces, liquid temperature measuring probe, coated evaporator coil, front or rear power switch, and advanced digital controller.
This cooling system also reintroduces a condensation management system --- a process where it effectively evaporates up to 3oz of water per hour --- which is great for storing and aging wine for long periods of time. If you are planning to have a small wine cellar, the WhisperKOOL SC PRO 3000 can be the one you are looking for.
Specs
- Cellar Size: Approx 650 cu. ft., if the cellar is fully insulated and sealed with proper vapor barriers.
- Dimensions: 17.5"D x 14.25"W x 15.75"H
- Refrigerant: R-134a
- Ducting Options: Exhaust air can be ducted with the optional ducting kit
- Weight: 65 lbs
- Installation: Through the Wall, Partially Ducted
Check for more specifications here: WhisperKOOL SC PRO 3000
Also available
- WhisperKOOL SC PRO 2000 for 300 cu.ft. wine cellar
- WhisperKOOL SC PRO 4000 for 1000 cu.ft. wine cellar
- WhisperKOOL SC PRO 8000 for 1500 cu.ft. wine cellar
Breezaire WKL 4000 Cooling System
Breezaire WKL 4000 combines the attractive metal cabinet with great functionality. This cooling unit features an ultra-quiet operation great for preserving the atmosphere of isolation inside your wine cellar from the outside environment, vibration control perfect for storing and aging vintage wines, and automatic humidity control to prevent cork and label deterioration.
It also comes with adjustable temperature control from 50°F - 60°F and uncompromising quality. If you are planning to have a wine cellar up to 1000 cu.ft., the Breezaire WKL 400 is definitely a wine cellar cooling system worth looking into.
Specs
- Cellar Size: Up to 1000 cu. ft., if the cellar is fully insulated and sealed with proper vapor barriers.
- Dimensions: 21.63"D x 14.25"W x 19.75"H
- Weight: 81 lbs
- Installation: Through the Wall, Flush Mounted
Check for more specifications here: Breezaire WKL 4000
Also available
- Breezaire WKL 1060 for 140 cu.ft. cellar size
- Breezaire WKL 2200 for 265 cu.ft. cellar size
- Breezaire WKL 3000 for 650 cu.ft. cellar size
- Breezaire WKL 6000 for 1500 cu.ft. cellar size
- Breezaire WKL 8000 for 2000 cu.ft. cellar size
WhisperKOOL Slimline LS Cooling Unit
The Slimline wine cellar cooling unit is one of WhisperKOOL's most compact and quietest self-contained through the wall cooling system. The WhisperKOOL Slimline LS Cooling Unit is designed to be mounted between the cellar door and ceiling providing efficient cooling and cannot be easily seen by people.
It is equipped with utilizing advanced system protection technology for efficient cooling performance and this cooling system's life. You can also add UV Light Technology to improve the air quality inside your cellar. If you are looking for an amazing cooling unit for your wine cellar, check this model out.
Specs
- Cellar Size: Approx 650 cu. ft., if the cellar is fully insulated and sealed with proper vapor barriers.
- Dimensions: 19"D x 22"W x 10.25"H
- Refrigerant: R-134a
- Weight: 50 lbs
- Installation: Through the Wall (Above a Doorway)
- Outside Venting: Not recommended
Check for more specifications here: WhisperKOOL Slimline LS Cooling Unit
Breezaire WKCE 1060 Cooling System
If you are looking for a cooling unit that you can install in a wine cabinet, the Breezaire WKCE 1060 might be the one for you! This cooling system features a compact design with a cold air vent on the bottom which makes it ideal to be installed in a wine cabinet. It is made specifically for cabinets and other constricted enclosures and is not rated based on cubic feet. Breezaire WKCE 1060 comes with an easy-to-read large green LED display, a power outage protection system, and uses a thermoelectric compressor.
Specs
- Enclosure Size: Up to 140 cu. ft., if the cellar is fully insulated and sealed with proper vapor barriers.
- Dimensions: 16.50"D x 18"W x 10.50"H
- Weight: 43 lbs
- Installation: Through the Wall, Flush Mounted
Check for more specifications here: Breezaire WKCE 1060
Also available
WhisperKOOL Extreme 5000tiR Self-Contained Cooling Unit (w/ Remote)
Designed with easy installation in mind, you won't need to hire an HVAC-R technician to install the WhisperKOOL Extreme 5000tiR. This cooling system uses the KDT Plus remote controller and thermostat which can be mounted up to 50 ft outside the wine cellar allowing you to monitor the temperature and humidity inside without having to enter the cellar. If you are looking for a cooling system that doesn't need you to hire experts to install and save money, the WhisperKool Extreme 5000tiR might be the one for you.
Specs
- Cellar Size: Approx 1250 cu. ft., if the cellar is fully insulated and sealed with proper vapor barriers.
- Dimensions: 28"D x 14.25"W x 15.75"H
- Refrigerant: R-134a
- Weight: 115 lbs
- Installation: Can be installed up to 25 duct feet away from the wine cellar
Check for more specifications here: WhisperKOOL Extreme 5000tiR
Also available
- WhisperKOOL Extreme 3500tiR for 800 cu.ft. wine cellar
- WhisperKOOL Extreme 8000tiR for 2000 cu.ft wine cellar
CellarCool CX Series Wine Cooling Unit CX4400
The CellarCool CX 4400 offers a dynamic air flow for optimum air circulation throughout the wine cellar. it comes with a digital controller with system safety management, anti-frost functions, and a “best-in-class” 30 degree temperature variation.
You would love the user-friendly digital control system that allows you to regulate the temperature in your cellar from 55°F to 58°F and the humidity from 50% to 70%. Also, you can purchase this as a direct replacement for Breezaire or Wine Mate Through-the-Wall cooling units.
Specs
- Cellar size: 1000 cu.ft. (Approx in a fully insulated and sealed environment with a proper vapor barrier)
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 14.25” x 19.75” x 21.63”
- Refrigerant: R-134a
- Weight: 67 lbs
- Installation: Through-the-wall, partially ducted
Check for more specifications here: CellarCool CX 4400
Also available
- CellarCool CX 2200 for 300 cu.ft. wine cellar
- CellarCool CX 3300 for 650 cu.ft. wine cellar
- CellarCool CX 8800 for 2000 cu.ft. wine cellar
Best Through the Wall Wine Cellar Cooling Systems
Through-the-wall wine cellar cooling units are great if you are looking for more affordable but effective cooling systems for your wine cellar. This type is also ideal for smaller wine cellars. They are very easy to install in a standard sheetrock wall.
However, many people with bigger and spacious wine cellars prefer ducted and split ones because they are quieter. Venting through-the-wall units into real living spaces are not ideal because they are louder.
If you can't have a wine cellar in your home, it might be a great idea to have a wine cooler instead. Here's a guide on How to Choose the Best Wine Cooler.
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