What determines the kind of wine cellar cooling unit that is most appropriate for your wine cellar?
A number of factors will determine the best wine cooling unit for you.
A simplistic initial approach....
FIRST - determine size of your wine cellar in cubic feet (length x width x height)
SECOND - Do you have an adjacent climate controlled room equal size or larger than the wine cellar in which to use a simple "Through the wall" system. This allows the most options, please see first chart below. Please keep in mind that ALL through the wall cooling units will have some heat and noise at the back of the cooling unit into adjacent space. If this is not acceptable, this may be reason to look at a ducted or split system.
Depending on your situation, you may need a Through the wall system for inside application or for outside application. You may also need a split system or ducted system. Keep in mind that a ducted system may allow for ducting of the cold air, the hot air or both.
Through the Wall Wine Cooling Systems (Self Contained Systems)
Most simplistic, these units sit in a hole in the wall roughly the same size as the cooling unit itself. The front end blows cold air into the wine cellar, the back end allows for hot air exhaust and cold air intake.
Advantages: less expensive, simple installation
Disadvantages: heat & noise exhausts from back of unit
Ducted Systems
Ducting allows the option for the cooling unit to be installed within the cellar or not. Ducting can be set up in a variety of ways. You can duct the cold air into the wine cellar, or duct the hot air exhaust away from the cooling unit/cellar or both. The length of ducting available will depend on the particular cooling unit If you are ducting cold air into the cellar then you won't see the cooling unit in the cellar; noise will be reduced or eliminated.
Advantages: very quiet in the wine cellar
Disadvantages: cost
Split Systems
Split Systems are similar to central air conditioning. The evaporator is located in or near the wine cellar and the condenser is located elsewhere. The evaporator and condenser are connected via a line set. A professional HVAC/Refrigeration technician is required for this installation and charging the system.
Advantages: quiet
Disadvantages: cost, professional required for install
Please refer to the charts below for assistance and let us know any questions you may have. The first chart relates to the Wall Mounted Systems. The second chart relates to Split and Ducted Systems.
MODEL COMPARISON CHART - Wall Mounted
|
Wall mounted |
|
|
Whisperkool |
Koolspace
KoolR |
Breezaire |
CellarPro |
Wine Guardian TTW |
|
Cooling range in cubic feet? |
Up to 2000 cubic feet |
Up to 600 cubic feet |
Up to 2000 cubic feet |
Up to 1500 |
Up to 1500 |
|
Requires hole in the wall the size of the cooling unit? |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
Can be installed in thick walls? |
XLT max depth 11.5" Slimline and CX max depth 6" |
max depth 6" |
max depth 15" |
max depth 19" |
max depth 20.5" |
|
Vents to adjacent climate controlled space? |
yes, ducting also available |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
Vents to the outside? Temp Delta |
30F some units
Extreme Series 55 |
no |
30F |
30F-40F |
30F-40F |
|
Can the cooling unit be used/installed in a really hot environment? |
see Whisperkool Extreme series |
no |
no |
moderate |
moderate |
|
Needs to be installed by refrigeration technician? |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
|
Cost? |
XLT & Extreme higher Slimline and CX, low |
low |
low |
higher |
higher |
|
Wall mounted |
|
|
Whisperkool |
Koolspace
KoolR |
Breezaire |
CellarPro |
Wine Guardian TTW |
|
Electrical Requirements - 115 Volt Dedicated Circuit |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
Bottle Probe Option Available? |
standard |
no |
option |
option |
no |
|
Is a drain line necessary? |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
The drain line is on which side? |
some warm some cold |
cellar |
cellar |
warm |
warm |
|
Can drain line be hidden in wall? |
not recommended |
|
Remote Sensor Available? |
no |
no |
WKE only |
yes |
yes |
|
Digital Readout? |
yes - most models |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
Power Cord |
your choice |
cellar |
cellar standard- optional modification available |
your choice |
your choice |
|
Does this manufacturer also make a split or ducted system? |
yes |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
MODEL COMPARISON CHART - Split & Ducted
|
Split & Ducted |
|
|
Whisperkool Split |
Whisperkool Extreme |
Breezaire Split |
Cellar Pro - Split & Ducted |
Wine Guardian Ducted |
ONAM Water Cooled |
|
Can this be ducted? |
yes, for Platinum model |
yes |
no |
yes, for split & wall mounted warm or cold air |
yes |
yes |
|
Is this a split system? |
yes |
no |
yes |
yes, for split |
no |
no |
|
Evaporator wall mounted in the wine cellar? |
Yes
Platinum can also be ducted |
no |
yes |
yes, for ducted models
no, split models |
no |
no |
|
Cold Air can be ducted into the cellar? |
yes, for Platinum model |
yes |
no |
yes, ducted models |
yes |
yes |
|
Warm air can be ducted away from back of unit? |
no |
yes |
no |
yes, ducted models |
yes |
yes |
|
Temperature Differential |
55F |
55F |
30F |
30F - 40F |
Over 95 degree use the water cooled |
n/a |
|
Needs to be installed by refrigeration technician? |
yes |
no |
yes |
yes - split no - ducted |
no |
no |
|
Cost? |
Moderate |
Moderate |
Lower |
Moderate |
High |
High |
|
Cooling range in cubic feet? |
500 - 2000 |
Up to 2000 |
Up to 1000 |
Duct, Up To 1,500
Split Up to 2,000 |
Up to 5500 |
Up to 2000 |
|
Electrical Requirements- 115 Volt Dedicated Circuit |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes - larger units 220 volt |
yes |
|
Split & Ducted |
|
|
Whisperkool Split |
Whisperkool Extreme |
Breezaire Split |
Cellar Pro - Split & Ducted |
Wine Guardian Ducted |
ONAM Water Cooled |
|
Bottle Probe Option Available? |
standard |
standard |
option |
option |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Is a drain line necessary? |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
The drain line is on which side? |
cellar |
depends |
cellar |
cellar |
Warm |
depends |
|
Can drain line be hidden in wall? |
Not recommended |
|
Remote Sensor Available? |
ducted, yes |
ducted, yes |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
Digital Readout? |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
Power Cord? |
no, hard wired |
yes |
no, hard wired |
yes, ducted models |
yes |
yes |
|
Is a water cooled option available? |
no |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
|
Is a humidifier option available? |
No, see our humidification systems |
yes |
no |
|
Does this manufacturer also make a through the wall system? |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
Need help in building your wine cellar? Click here for our wine cellar construction tips.
If you would like wine racks as well, we will be happy to customize a design and obtain a shipping quote for your entire order. Click to go to our wine racks pages.
Wine Cellar Cooling Units are available for shipping to United States of America (USA) and Canada.