If you invest in wines, proper storage is important in maintaining their taste and flavor.  This means storing them in conditions where temperature and humidity remain at constant levels.  Wine cellar cooling units are specifically designed to control the climate conditions inside your wine storage room.

These cooling systems are not the typical AC units commonly used in households and offices.  Wine cellar cooling units are engineered to regulate the wine cellar environment, in order to make it conducive for storing and aging wines.

The two common types of wine cellar cooling units are ducted and non-ducted.  Each cooling unit comes with its own unique features and functionality.  Deciding which cooling system to install in your wine cellar depends on your preferences and storage constraints.

Generally cooling systems for wine cellars are made up of two components:  the evaporator and the condenser.  Condensers tend to generate a lot of noise, which is why they are installed away from the wine storage room using ducting kits.

Ducted Wine Cellar Cooling Units

Ducted cooling units use ducting to link a cooling system to a wine cellar.  They are installed at a remote location and can be ducted up to 50 feet away.  Employing ducting kits not only removes all noise from the wine room, it also leaves more space for storage.

Ducted Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

Ducted wine cellar cooling units can be used for both self-contained systems and split systems.  A self-contained system has both the evaporator and condenser housed in one unit.  A split system houses its evaporator and condenser in separate compartments, and needs to be installed by a licensed HVAC professional.

A self-contained ducted unit is usually mounted into the wall, and most models of this unit can only be ducted on one side.  You can choose to use ducting kits to supply cold air to the wine room, or duct warm air away from the storage area and into an adjacent room or outside.

A split system ducted unit is costly to install but provides plenty of advantages for your wine cellar environment.  Since the cooling unit is installed away from the wine room, it offers more storage space and provides a quiet atmosphere.

Ductless Wine Cellar Cooling Units

A ductless wine cellar cooling unit is ideal for wine cellars with cramped spaces or that have space restrictions that can hinder a ducting

Ductless Wine Cellar Cooling System

installation.  This unit can also be used for both self-contained systems and split systems.

The most common example of a self-contained, non-ducted unit is the through the wall system.  As the name implies, this cooling unit is mounted through the wall.  It is considered the least expensive of all cooling systems for wine cellars.  One major disadvantage to this unit is the noise it generates inside your wine storage room.

Split systems that are non-ducted do not require venting into an exhaust room.  The evaporator is placed inside the wine cellar, while the condenser is installed outside.  Both units are connected by copper piping and electrical wiring.

When you’re deciding on a cooling unit for your wine cellar, you should take into consideration these important factors:  location, size of your wine storage room, and ambient conditions.