How do you refrigerate a wine cellar?

When it comes to refrigerating a wine cellar there are different types of systems that can get the job done. Sometimes you may have a few options to explore, and in some cases, you may only have one.  Typically, an ideal scenario would be having an exterior wall close by or adjacent to the desired space of the cellar; attic space is also very beneficial. Different systems have different components.

There are typically two system types to cool your custom wine cellar; HVAC units and refrigeration units.  AC units are not ideal for climate-controlled wine cellars.  This is because air conditioning units will suck all the humidity out of the room, dry out the corks in the wine bottles, and potentially expose the room to mold and mildew.  Clearly, that is not what we are trying to achieve in a wine room. 

A commercial-grade refrigeration unit designed for wine cellars is going to maintain humidity and give you the best results long term.  Let’s take a look at different types of refrigeration units so you can better understand which one will work best for you.

SELF-CONTAINED

Through-the-wall units are going to be the most cost-effective units.  In order to install a self-contained unit, you must have an exterior wall leading to the outside so the unit can vent hot air.  You always want to make sure that nothing is obstructing the cool air supplying the wine cellar (racks, glass), etc. 

DUCTED SYSTEMS

For example, the Wine Guardian system... to be installed outside of the wine cellar which helps keep your wine cool and your cellar quiet and aesthetically pleasing. There is no need for cutting any copper, you just need to connect the ductwork, drain line, and access to power. 

SPLIT SYSTEMS

A split system is the most ideal cooling unit you can have in your cellar and is industry standard. Similar to your central air conditioning setup. These types of systems have a separate condenser that can be placed outside or in a mechanical room. There are then two refrigeration pipes that run from the condenser to the evaporators. These are extremely quiet as only the fan is producing any sound. They keep the most consistent temperature and humidity levels and have a shelf life of 12-25 years. 

DUCTLESS SPLIT 

This type of split system is a flexible machine for optional cooling and a favorite for minimizing any noise. These are installed and mounted in the wine room itself while the condenser is placed outside or in an indoor space that has access to fresh air, all the way up to 100 feet away. These can be rack-mounted, or ceiling-mounted and will hide any bulky attributes of the split-type cooling unit The condenser and cooling unit are connected by small cables and a refrigerant line.  

DUCTED SPLIT 

This is the favorite and ideal option when building a wine cellar for wine cellar professionals. A unique distinction to ducted split systems is their ability to connect multiple cooling units to one condenser. This cooling system can also be used in large custom wine cellars and is more extensive. There is a lot more flexibility with these cooling units due to the cooling unit being able to be separated from the condenser.