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Wine Cellar Refrigeration Design

Questions to ask based on wine cellar refrigeration design

Q
What is the difference between Through-the-Wall, Split, and Ducted?
A
Through-the-Wall, Split, and Ducted are common types of wine cellar refrigeration systems that use forced-air to cool the air inside the wine cellar by circulating the air via fans (rather than by radiating via cold wall.)

Through-the-wall systems are the easiest and least expensive systems to install, because each unit is self-enclosed, fully charged and ready-to-use out of the box. These systems are designed straddle a wall in the wine cellar. The "cold" side of the cooling unit is located inside the cellar, and the "hot" side of the cooling unit is located in the ambient environment outside the cellar. Some cooling systems can be installed with the "hot" side exposed to an exterior environment.

Split systems are expensive and complicated to install because they need to be installed and charged by a qualified refrigeration technician. The advantage of split systems is that the the "hot" side and the "cold" sides, which are attached via copper tubing, can be located in separate locations. This allows the compressor and condenser fan to be placed where noise and aesthetics are less noticeable.

Ducted systems are the most expensive to install because they require professional installation and equipment that is powerful enough to cool the cellar from a remote location. All equipment and noise are located remotely.
CELLARPRO: Exceptional performance and super-quiet operation

CellarPro through-the-wall cooling systems are fully-charged, self-enclosed and easy to install, service and replace. The through-the-wall cooling units range in size from 80 to 1500 cubic feet. If one of these cooling units needs to be serviced or swapped, it can easily be removed from the front or the rear of the cellar with a wrench and a screwdriver.

CellarPro split refrigeration systems allow the noise from the condensing units to be located away from the wine cellar and living spaces. These split refrigeration systems must be installed by qualified refrigeration specialists. All CellarPro cooling systems offer exceptional performance and features, the quietest noise levels and the best warranty in the industry.

 
Q
What's the difference between top and back vent exhaust?
A
Most units are preconfigured
Depending on the layout of the wine cellar or cabinet, the cooling unit will need to exhaust it's hot air behind (back-vent) or above (top-vent) the unit. Most cooling units come preconfigured for top or back venting. Generally, top-vent cooling units are more expensive than back-vent cooing units.
CELLARPRO: Interchangeable top and back vent exhaust
CellarPro 1800 Series wine cooling units come with interchangeable top and back-vent exhaust for maximum installation flexibility. There is no extra charge for top or back vent configurations, and the vent panel can be swapped easily in the field.
 
Q
Does it matter if the cooling unit case can be opened?
A
Usually service cannot be performed in the field
Most cooling unit cases are riveted together, so repairs cannot be performed in the field. Therefore, easy repairs—like recharging the cooling system—must be performed at the manufacturer's facility, which can create unnecessary shipping charges and delays.
CELLARPRO: Designed for easy service
CellarPro cooling units are screwed together, so the cooling unit can be serviced in the field. In our VS and Split systems, we've provided valves so that refrigeration technicians easily can charge our units in the field. All of our cooling units list the refrigerant charge on the exterior case for easy access and service.
 
Q
Are all cooling units tested and certified?
A
Most cooling units are not tested and certified
All consumer products—including wine cellar cooling units—should be tested and certified by independent labs to meet established safety standards. Unfortunately, many cooling units are not tested and certified to meet these safety standards.
CELLARPRO: Tested and certified to UL Standards
CellarPro cooling units have been tested, approved, and certified to meet rigorous UL product safety standards. Each CellarPro cooling unit bears the ETL Listed Mark, which is the fastest growing safety certification mark in North America. The ETL Listed Mark assures that CellarPro cooling units meet the requirements of U.S. electrical safety standards.