SPLIT COOLING SYSTEMS

Split refrigeration systems work by pumping cold air indoors. There are two main components: an indoor blower and an outdoor condenser. The indoor unit pulls hot air out of the room, while the outdoor component cools and pumps cold air into the indoor unit. The two units are connected by insulated tubes, which usually run through a small hole in the wall.

Split wine cellar cooling units (also called ductless split systems) are best for wine rooms or cellars that are on an exterior wall, since the condenser sits outside. The less distance between the indoor and outdoor units, the better.

Split system wine cellar cooling units are powerful and offer precise cooling, which makes them suitable for larger wine cellars. They are quiet, since the condenser unit sits outside the cellar. This is also ideal for reducing vibration, which can affect the maturation of your wine.

Split systems don’t take up much space, and the interior units are relatively inconspicuous, which helps them fade into the background.

Split wine cellar cooling units are broken into two pieces: an internal blower that is very quiet, and an external condenser, which can be located up to 50 feet from the wine cellar. The two parts of the system are connected by pressurized lines, which are set up by the installer. Split wine cellar cooling systems require professional installation. 

Ducted wine coolers sit in an adjacent room and gently circulate air through insulated ductwork. Ducted systems offer quiet performance and don’t require refrigerated line-sets to a second unit; however, they require the installation of a duct(s). Ducted systems are designed to cool a room of up to 1,500 cubic feet. For larger spaces, you may need more than one unit.

Most ducted wine cellar cooling units can be installed by homeowners or qualified DIYers, although professional installation by a qualified HVAC contractor is recommended, due to the size of these systems.

Split cellar coolers have two parts—an interior evaporation unit and an exterior condenser. A through-the-wall wine cooler is a self-contained unit, similar to wall a/c units in homes and apartments, but with a much sleeker design.

Split cellar coolers can cool a space from 500-3,000 cubic feet, depending on the model and the configuration of the space. If there are multiple rooms within your cellar or obstructions that restrict the flow of air in one or more parts of the room, you may need multiple split system cooling units.

Conversely, through-the-wall units may not be enough for large cellars or for wine rooms in regions with extreme temperature fluctuations. Through-the-wall units are also noisier for split systems, since these self-contained systems include the compressor and fan. However, there may be ways to reduce the amount of noise and vibration from a through-the-wall unit.

In the US there are fewer than a dozen companies who make commercial and residential wine cooler systems that are designed for long-term wine storage. Among them are WhisperKOOL, Wine Guardian, and CellarPro.

Wine Racks America works with these companies because of their solid reputation for producing reliable, quality products. Each of these manufacturers offers split system cooling units for wine cellars.

One of our most popular products is CellarPro Split Systems, which have been refined and improved upon over the decades. Today, CellarPro offers some of the finest systems available for long-term wine storage.

Choosing the best type of wine cooling system for your space depends on a variety of factors, including the size of your space (cubic feet), whether the existing space has insulation and a vapor barrier, and how much traffic your wine room will get.

Another key factor is where the room is in the building, which will affect where warm air exhausts.

Our team will help you choose the best type of cooling system for your wine cellar, whether it’s a ductless split system or simple through-the-wall unit.

Some wine cellar cooling units are easier to install than others. A ducted cooling system, for example, is an all-in-one unit that can be installed anywhere, including above or below the cellar. You run a duct to the unit, which is fairly straightforward. Handy homeowners and savvy DIYers are often able to install these systems without professional help.

A split wine cellar cooling unit, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated. The cooling unit is broken into two pieces: an interior evaporator and an exterior condenser, which are connected by pressurized lines. A professional installer typically needs to set these systems up, since the refrigerant line must be cut and then charged.

You may be able to install the interior and exterior components of a split cellar cooling system on your own and then hire a professional to set up the refrigerant line. But things get more complicated if the units are placed on interior walls, since this will require piping through the drywall to the exterior of the building.

Bottom line: It’s best to have a professional HVAC company install a split system cooling unit.