Wines are one of those rare commodities that require a consistent and stable environment, in order to preserve and improve their quality over time. Wine cellars are specially designed to provide the best climate conditions for storing and aging wines. To maintain the ideal wine storage temperature of 55°F to 58°F, a wine room must be outfitted with insulation and vapor barriers, as well as equipped with the proper wine cellar cooling system.
A wine cellar refrigeration unit is engineered to help stabilize temperature and humidity levels in a wine storage environment. There are three main categories of climate control systems: through-the-wall self-contained cooling units, ducted self-contained refrigeration systems, and split systems. Each make and model has its own unique features, but all are designed to efficiently cool a wine cellar.
To ensure optimum wine cellar climate conditions, it is crucial to have your wine room fitted with the right type of Orange County wine cellar refrigeration system. There are several factors that should be taken into consideration when deciding on a climate control system, such as size and location of the wine cellar, amount of insulation, ambient conditions, and the number of wine bottles intended for storage.
This recently completed Orange County wine cellar refrigeration replacement project shows the importance of providing your wine cellar with the proper wine cellar cooling system. This project was serviced by Arctic Metalworks, Southern California’s leading manufacturer and supplier of commercial grade wine cellar refrigeration systems.
Initial inspection of the wine storage space shows that the existing cooling unit, a through-the-wall breeze air style refrigeration unit, is not capable of cooling a large wine cellar (10’ x 6’). The homeowners also complained that the unit was blowing hot air and noise into their living space.
The Arctic team recommended removing the existing refrigeration equipment and replacing it with one of their wine cellar refrigeration systems, Arctic 0050 ½ HP split system. A split system wine cooling unit is considered as one of the most efficient cooling option. This type of climate control system is designed to be unobtrusive and quiet.
A split wine cellar refrigeration unit houses the evaporator coil and the condensing unit separately. Separating both components allows for flexibility in installation and helps eliminate noise. The evaporator coil is mounted in the wine cellar, while the condensing unit can be located outdoors or in a well-ventilated adjoining room.
For this refrigeration replacement project, the Arctic team installed the condensing unit outdoors. The unit sits on a 24 x 24 air conditioning pad. Arctic Metalworks created a custom-designed sheet metal cover to protect the condensing component of the refrigeration system against the rain and other harmful outside elements.
The Arctic team used refrigerant lines to connect the outdoor unit to the indoor evaporator coil. Refrigerant lines are a set of tubes or pipes that transport refrigerant through a wine cellar cooling system. The suction line is responsible for transporting gaseous refrigerant, while a liquid line carries refrigerant in its liquid form. A drain line is also needed to remove water that is produced during the dehumidification process.
Arctic Metalworks installed a digital room thermostat with backlit display. Thermostats are control systems that help maintain the correct temperature in a wine room, and at the same time allow wine collectors to regularly monitor the climate conditions inside their wine cellar space.
The entire climate control system runs on 115 volt/ 20 amp electrical receptacles. After inspecting the refrigeration equipment for leaks, the Arctic team started the system and charged it with R134a, a type of refrigerant that is non-ozone depleting and is completely safe for the environment.
When deciding on a wine cellar refrigeration unit, always consult with a wine cellar refrigeration expert. They will perform a heat load calculation to determine the best cooling option for your wine enclave. Professional refrigeration experts will also take into account any constraints in your storage space, as well as your specific preferences to ensure that the cooling unit will suit the conditions of your wine room.
Arctic Metalworks is a family owned and operated multi-division company that designs and builds Orange County wine cellar refrigeration systems for both residential and commercial applications. The company also specializes in wine cellar construction and renovation, as well as handmade wine racking systems.
The Arctic team has carved out a name for themselves as a leading manufacturer of commercial grade quality climate control systems and providing professional prompt service. They have a full service team of refrigeration specialists and technicians on standby should your cooling system require maintenance or repair.