Wine Cellar Cooling Units - What to Look for in a Quality Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

When it comes to storing a large collection of wine properly the best method is with a wine cellar cooling unit within a cellar. By dedicating a separate room in your home to your wine storage, and by controlling the environment in that room, you will ensure that your precious wine collection is allowed to age properly.

Size Matters

The size of the wine cellar cooling unit you will need will depend on the size of the room you are cooling, along with a few other factors. Typically, it's the size of the cooling unit's compressor, or BTUs that you will need to pay attention to. The larger the room, the more powerful your cooling unit will need to be.

Other factors that may influence cooling in your cellar are how well the room is insulated and if there is any direct sunlight entering the room. A proper cellar should be well insulated, to keep excess heat or cold out of the room, and any windows in the room should be completely blocked. UV rays not only warm a room, but direct contact with sunlight can ruin the ageing process of wine.

What Should Your Unit Do?

Besides regulating the temperature in your wine room, a high-quality  unit should also control the humidity in the room. Ideally, you will want to maintain a temperature of 55 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit, with a relative humidity of between 60 to 70%.

Higher temperatures may speed up or interrupt the ageing process of your wine, while excess humidity can cause your wine corks to mold and wine labels to be ruined-a very undesirable outcome if you plan on selling any of your wine collection in the future. Too little humidity in a room is also a problem, as a lack of moisture in the air will cause your corks to shrink, allowing unwanted air into the bottle to spoil your wine.

Types of Displays

Once your cellar cooling unit is installed you are going to want to be able to check that it is keeping your cellar at the proper temperature and humidity levels. An easy to read digital display is ideal for keeping tabs on your wine cellar's environment. What is even better is a unit that allows you to mount the display outside of your wine cellar, eliminating the need for unnecessary opening of the wine cellar door. A unit that lets you monitor and change the setting from outside the cellar is your best choice.

As you can see, there are several factors that must be considered before you choose the right wine cellar cooling unit for your needs.

Learn more on wine cellar cooling units at our blog. Just beginning to collect wine? See our reasons for building a home wine cellar.