Category Archives: wine cellar cooling

Repair of a Leaking Wine Cellar Cooling Unit in Orange County

To make sure that your prized collection of wines is kept safe and maturing tastefully, your wine cellar cooling unit must always be functioning optimally. Regular unit maintenance is a must so that you can always check for problems and have them fixed promptly. A recent repair completed by M&M Cellar Systems in Irvine, Orange County, California is an excellent example of why a regular maintenance plan for your refrigeration system is important.  

Service Call from Irvine, Orange County to Repair an HS 4600 Cooling Unit

Cooling Unit with Leak in Orange County, California. Repair and Maintenance by M&M Cellar Systems

Cooling Unit with Leak in Orange County, California. Repair and Maintenance by M&M Cellar Systems

A client in Orange County, California recently called M&M Cellar Systems to report a leaking wine cellar cooling unit. The unit was an HS 4600 System manufactured by one of the company’s dealers, US Cellar Systems. The HS Series of refrigeration units are robust and reliable pieces of equipment. The HS 4600 unit is specifically designed to efficiently cool small wine storage spaces.

A team of HVAC professionals went to investigate the problem and found a leak in the unit’s refrigerant. Amidst the leak, the unit was aptly cooling the wine cellar but it would not continue doing so if the damage was not promptly repaired. The client was fortunate that the leak was discovered early and fixed immediately.

This case is one of the best examples of why it is important to have a regular maintenance plan for your wine cellar cooling system.

An Efficiently Functioning Cooling Unit is an Indispensable Part of an Effective Wine Storage System

Those who have been collecting wine for a long time know that wines should strictly be stored in ideal conditions. Without the necessary storage conditions, wine cannot age tastefully and can go bad easily.

What are the Ideal Wine Storage Conditions?

Wines require a cool environment in order to preserve their quality. An ideal wine storage space should be cooled around a temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit. There should also be minimal to no fluctuations in the temperature. Gradual fluctuations, like those caused by the change in seasons, are not a big concern. The problem comes with rapid fluctuations, and if these happen daily or weekly, wines will age prematurely.

Humidity is also an important factor in wine storage. The ideal wine cellar is not too dry nor too damp. The humidity level inside your wine room should be around 70%. If the humidity is too low, corks can dry out and shrink. This will cause air to enter the bottle and ruin the wine. On the other hand, if the cellar is too humid, mold and mildew might form. These can contaminate your wines and alter their flavor.

Invest in an Ideal Residential Wine Cellar

A prudent wine collector invests in the construction of an effective home wine cellar to protect his or her wines. The essentials of a functional wine storage room should be complete. A durable wine cellar door should be built, reliable insulation and vapor barriers should be fittingly placed, lighting that produces minimal heat should be mounted, flooring should be correctly fixed, and of course, quality wine cooling system should be installed.

A residential custom wine cellar without a refrigeration unit is useless. No matter how the cellar is constructed, if no cooling unit is installed, it can never provide the ideal temperature and humidity that wines need.

HVAC Experts from M&M Cellar Systems Repair this Leaking Wine Cellar Refrigeration Unit in Orange County, California

HVAC Experts from M&M Cellar Systems Repair this Leaking Wine Cellar Refrigeration Unit in Orange County, California

Subscribe for a Regular Wine Cellar Cooling Unit Maintenance Plan

Constant fluctuations in the temperature and humidity inside your custom wine cellar must be avoided to keep your wine collection safe. This means that you need to make sure that your refrigeration system is consistently functioning properly.

There are many situations where homeowners won’t notice any overt damage in their wine cellar cooling system. Most of the time, concealed problems, like refrigerant leaks, won’t get noticed until the unit has started to function irregularly. By then, the damage can be too costly to repair.

Having a regular maintenance plan keeps you updated on the condition of your wine cellar refrigeration unit. Regular servicing provides the opportunity for early detection of any damage or leaks, and subsequently, prompt repair can be implemented. To protect your wine collection, you should avoid problems with your cooling system. It is highly recommended that you seek the help of a wine storage expert and subscribe to a regular maintenance plan for your cooling unit.

Contact M&M Cellar Systems for Regular Maintenance of Wine Cellar Refrigeration Units in Irvine, Orange County

M&M Cellar Systems is one of the leading wine cellar cooling systems construction companies in Irvine, Orange County, California. With years of experience in HVAC refrigeration, heating installation, and servicing, M&M Cellar Systems takes pride in consistent customer satisfaction.

They specialize in the design and installation of climate control systems for wine storage rooms. They manufacture refrigeration units for individual homeowners, commercial developers, and wine cellar builders.

M&M Cellar Systems also teams up with various wine cellar dealers to help them provide a complete wine storage solution to their clients. For more information about their products and services, call them today at (323)578-3330!

Elegant Combination of Wine Racks in a Manhattan Beach Los Angeles Wine Cabinet

Overview of the Manhattan Beach Los Angeles Wine Cabinet Project

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars, one of the most trusted wine cellar builders in California, recently completed a custom wine cabinet for a client in Manhattan Beach Los Angeles.  The wine cabinet is located at the house’s dining area.

Manhattan Beach Los Angeles Wine Cabinet Design

Manhattan Beach Los Angeles Wine Cabinet Design

The wine cellar features elegant wine racking styles, glass wine cellar doors, and a wine cellar climate control system.  The dimensions of this wine cabinet include a width of 15 feet and height of 9 feet.  The total storage capacity is 840 wine bottles.

Width: 15’

Height: 9’

Bottle Capacity: 840 wine bottles

The challenge with this project was the limited space of the wine room, particularly its depth.   This could have caused difficulty in accessing the wine bottles at the left and right sides of the cabinet.

Custom Wine Cabinet - Manhattan Project by Coastal

Custom Wine Cabinet – Manhattan Project by Coastal

To address this problem, the Coastal team added a pair of Barolo glass wine cellar doors.  The doors filled the whole length (128 inches) of the openings, which made bottle access on both sides easier.

This custom wine cabinet project is part of a large renovation that the owners were working on.  The conversation and planning with Coastal started last July 2014, and construction began last October.  They completed the construction one week before Christmas.

Merging Different Wine Racking Styles

The main feature of this custom wine cabinet display and storage facility is the wine racking style.  Different types of wine racks were put together to create an efficient, elegant, and maximized wine storage space.

The wine racks are made of Premium Redwood, one of the most in demand wood species in the wine racking industry.  They were finished with a Chestnut wood stain, which enhances the natural beauty of Premium Redwood and blends well with the fixture in the dining room.

Striking Custom Wine Racks

Striking Custom Wine Racks

A remarkable combination of wine racking styles were used to maximize the storage space and create an elegant look for the wine cabinet display.  The wine racks used are:

  •  Single bottle storage cubicles
  • Diamond bins
  • Wood case bins
  • Label forward horizontal displays
  • A high reveal display row with LED lighting
  • A display cabinet for 3L bottles

The Barolo Style Glass Wine Cellar Doors

The Barolo style glass wine cellar door is a dual-pane glass wine cellar entryway with Q-Lon weather stripping and a concealed door bottom.  With these features, the room is kept tightly sealed, cool air is prevented from escaping, and more energy is conserved.

Barolo Glass Wine Cellar Doors

Barolo Glass Wine Cellar Doors

The Barolo glass wine cellar doors were finished with a Chestnut wood stain, which enhances the color of the wood.  In between the two glass wine cellar doors is a fixed window, where a label forward wine cabinet display is visible.   This part of the wine cabinet is intended for storing 3-liter wine bottles.

The Wine Cellar Climate Control System

The Manhattan Beach Los Angeles wine cabinet includes a wine cellar climate control system.  The Coastal team installed a ductless split wine cellar cooling unit from Arctic Metalworks, one of the best wine cellar cooling unit providers in California.

It is important for any wine storage facility to have a wine cellar climate control system installed.  It provides and maintains the ideal temperature and humidity needed to promote the proper aging of wines.

Coastal recommended the ductless split wine cellar cooling unit because of its versatility and efficiency.  With this type of cooling unit, the condenser, which is the noisiest part of the cooling system, is installed away from the wine room.  How can this be an advantage?

Wine Cellar Climate Control System

Wine Cellar Climate Control System

Wine aging can be affected by vibration.  It is best to keep wines away from possible sources of noise, movement and vibration, to allow for the natural aging process of wine.

For this wine cellar, the condenser was installed in the garage, while the evaporator was installed inside the wine cabinet.  A custom designed louvered grill was used to cover the evaporator unit, and to keep any mechanical parts out of sight.  A line set with copper tubing and electrical wiring was used to connect the condenser and the evaporator.

If the condenser is installed outdoors, it is always recommended to cover it with exterior housing, to prevent damage by harmful environmental elements.

About the Wine Cellar Builder

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars is a wine cellar expert with more than 10 years of experience.  They offer services in California, New Jersey, Maryland, and the surrounding states.

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars also offers custom wine racks, wine cellar doors, wine cellar cooling units and wine cellar accessories, available for retail and/or installation.

Coastal provides design consultation services and 3D wine cellar design, all for free.  If you have a wine cellar project at home or in a commercial setting, just contact Coastal Custom Wine Cellars.

Commercial Display Wine Cellar Cooling Unit Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club CA

Wine Guardian Refrigeration – Commercial Display Wine Cellars – Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club CAA Processed Video Transcription

 

Wine Guardian Refrigeration – Commercial Display Wine Cellars – Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club CA
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Hi and thank you for visiting Coastal Custom Wine Cellars.  I’m going to share a project with you today that we recently completed in Orange County, California.

In November 2013, I was contacted by an architectural firm in San Diego and they sent me this beautiful color rendering of the proposed remodel to the dining room area of the Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club.

Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club

Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club

The focus of our work was to be the enclosure here.  This is approximately 11′ wide, 2′ deep and about 9′ tall.  It was an area that the club members would have the opportunity to store and display some of their private collections.  So after a number of consultations and a couple of site visits, we created some design work for them.

The wine racks were provided by Vintage View out of Denver, Colorado, and the wine cellar cooling unit was provided by Wine Guardian out of New York.

Let’s take a look at how we came about designing this and we are going to show you some photographs as well.  What we are looking at here is the wine rack design.  This is an overhead view of the area.  It is a foot print, if you will, bird’s eye view.  And as you can see the dimensions are posted, this is approximately 11′ wide, 2′ deep.

Vintage View Plan View - Coastal Custom Wine Cellars

Vintage View Plan View – Coastal Custom Wine Cellars

This is the back side or fixed glass panels, so that all the club members on this side of the enclosure have a view of the wine cellar.  This is the front side where there is a series of doors, three pairs to be exact.

The capacity of this particular wine enclosure is 1, 380 bottles.  This is a front elevation.  It is mostly label forward horizontal displays in a three deep configuration.  In other words, behind the visible bottle, there are two more bottles stored to increase the capacity.

We also have a presentation row running the width of that.  The back side is the fixed glass panel view and this is a side view illustration as well.

Coto de Caza Golf Club Commercial Wine Cellar Display

Coto de Caza Golf Club Commercial Wine Cellar Display

This single deep storage on the side of the vertical frame is for the rear or fixed panel, and on the front side we have a three deep configuration.  This is where the series of doors are located.

Let’s take a look at how the cooling unit came to be.  This is the rough frame construction of the wine enclosure.  This is the cold air supply, and the cold air return.

The beautiful thing about the Wine Guardian ducted air handler systems is there’s no visible equipment in the wine room, and in this case that’s ideal because it’s all glass.  Also, there’s no evaporator mounted on the wall occupying valuable wall space when in deep capacity could certainly be an issue.

Typically, these things are installed about 25 feet away from the enclosure.  As you can see, just on the other side of the enclosure is the cold air supply that I mentioned.

Here is where the wine cellar cooling unit is actually placed in the ceiling and the cold air is supplied to and from the enclosure, and the hot air and the drain line heads out this way to the outdoors.  It’s mounted in the ceiling as you can see.

Wine Guardian D088 Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

Wine Guardian D088 Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

This is one of their larger units.  Their model DO88 is placed in the ceiling.  It requires a little bit of clearance around it, so that the ducting can be mounted into the various panels available.

Now let’s take a look at some of the wine racks.  The finish on the wine racks is a platinum finish, brush nickel or kind of a stainless steel effect.  As you can see, here is the cold air supply that we’ve been talking about.

Here’s the presentation row that was included on the wine racks.  This is the back side or the rear fixed panel of the enclosure which will go along here.

Now we’ve installed the glass, it’s a 1/2″ tempered glass.  The doors are quite tall and quite heavy, so we used commercial duty pivot hinges that are self-closing.

Stunning Commercial Wine Racks

Stunning Commercial Wine Racks

We certainly didn’t want the wine cellar door to swing in being so heavy and causing damage to some of the wines.  Also, there are lots of these at the bottom for security reasons.  The enclosure now has some bottles stored inside.

These last few pictures will give you some different angles or the many different views that are available to the customers.  It’s almost as if they’re floating inside the enclosure.  It’s amazing.  All in all, a fun project to work with, and we’d certainly like to help you design with your project if you have one.

You can reach out to us via our website:  www.winecellarsbycoastal.com or call me at 949-355-4376.  Cheers!

Wine Cellar Cooling Systems Technical Update – LPQ Coil Changes

US Cellar Systems recently did some technical updates on the LPQ coil. This post is a brief explanation by Dan Phillips, the owner of US Cellar Systems, about the changes made on the LPQ coil.

Wine Cellar Cooling Systems Technical Update – LPQ Coil Changes

LPQ Coil Changes: The Aluminum Stub Tube

Hello, today we’re going to be talking about the LPQ coil. There’s been a few changes on it and we thought we should go over it because there’s been quite a few questions on it.

Wine Cellar Cooling Systems

Aluminum Stub Tube – 1/2 inch Male Pipe Thread Coupling

One of the first changes you’ll notice is now instead of the aluminum stub tube coming at a 45 degree angle on the back, it now has half inch male pipe thread coupling coming straight down, so you can connect your PVC copper directly to the coil.

LPQ Coil Changes – The Wiring of the Fan Motors

The next thing we’re going to go over is on the inside – the wiring of the fan motors that are now being used. The fan motor is a multi-speed motor but we only use it on the medium speed, which is 900 RPM.

Wine Cellar Refrigeration Unit

Fan Motor Wiring Changes

When you’re doing the wiring, you’ll note that there are 3 wires for the fan motor – a red, a black, and a white. And you have 2 wires for the Solenoid Valve, which are both blue. When you connect the wiring, ignore the red wire. You want to connect one blue to the black wire, which if you’re using our wire harness, will then connect to the red wire coming from the controller to the black and blue. The other blue wire will go with your white wire, and that will be connected to your neutrals. And that finishes the wiring for the fan motor. As I’ve said before, just ignore the red wire. It’s not used.

Wine Cellar Temperature – An Essential Factor to Wine Storage

A lot of people in Orange County, California are getting into the hobby of collecting wine.Wine needs to be stored in a custom wine cellar in Orange County, California, that can provide the ideal temperature for it to mature tastefully. Learn about how the temperature inside a residential custom wine cellar affects wine.  

The Relationship Between Wine and Wine Cellar Temperature

Wine Cellar California

Ideal wine storage solution – Wine Cellar

When people talk about wine storage, the first thing that comes into their mind is temperature. It’s safe to assume that everyone knows that wines need to be cold to be properly enjoyed. Aside from a cool serving temperature, wines also need to be kept in a cool storage temperature. In fact, temperature is the most important factor in the storage and aging of wine. This is why your wine collection should be kept in a residential custom wine cellar in Orange County, California.

Heat is the worst enemy of wine. In fact, this is the reason wine bottles are generally dark tinted: to protect wine from exposure to UV light, which is a source of heat. UV light damages wine by causing the degradation of its stable organic compounds. These organic compounds are responsible for the aroma, flavor, and structure of wine. It is imperative that wines be kept in a wine storage room that has a cool temperature (of 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) with minimal to no fluctuations. To make sure that your wine cellar is able to meet your wine collection’s needs, you need to have an efficient wine cellar cooling unit installed.

Although 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal range widely accepted for wine storage, many wine experts still disagree on what the ideal range really is. 55 degrees Celsius the widely acceptable temperature level, because it makes historical sense to most people. In the past, wine storage in Europe was practiced in caves, where the natural underground temperature was around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, the “ideal” level is actually there due to regional custom and not necessarily scientific study.

What Happens When Wine is Stored in a Temperature Outside the Ideal Range

Residential Wine Cellar

Wines in a Wine Cellar in Orange County, California

If your wine cellar is not capable of keeping your wine collection in a stable temperature suitable for aging wines, your wines are in danger. The following are the things that happen when your wines are stored outside the ideal temperature range:

  1. Wine Ages Prematurely as Temperature Increases

If you store wine in a temperature higher than the ideal range, it will age faster than it should. Wine aging is a process that should happen gradually, because speeding it up will cause the wine to taste like vinegar. If your wines are stored at 91 degrees Fahrenheit, for example, they will age 50 times faster than if they were stored at 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

  1. Undesirable Chemical Reactions will Take Place

Wine that ages prematurely is bad as it is, but the problem does not end there. Another concern is that higher temperatures will result in undesirable chemical reactions taking place. Speeding up the maturation of wines will cause a bad effect on the bouquet of a wine as it ages. Keeping wines in very high temperatures for even relatively short periods of time can lead to nasty chemical reactions that produce foul odors and tastes.

What are the Indicators of a Heat Damaged Wine?

How can you tell if the wine in your residential custom wine cellar is damaged by heat? Here are two of the things that you should look for:

  1. Check the Color of the Wine

You will know heat damaged wine from regular wine because of the color. In fact, color is the most important indicator of a heat damaged wine. Even without tasting the wine, you will know if it has gone bad. Premature browning of wine can be an indicator of oxidation due to heating. A brick edge in a young red wine is a telltale sign that oxidation has occurred due to excessive heat.

  1. Taste the Wine

An altered flavor is an obvious indication of a heat damaged wine. Since Sherry is an oxidized wine, you can tell that your wine is heat damaged if it has a sherry-like taste.

The Ideal Storage Solution in Orange County, California – Residential Custom Wine Cellar

Wine Cellar builders

Construction of a Wine Cellar in California

A genuine wine enthusiast knows how important it is to invest in an effective wine storage solution in Orange County, California. If you truly love your wine collection, you want to make sure that you keep it in a place where it is provided with the ideal wine storage temperature, as well as other wine storage requirements. Among the various kinds of wine storage solutions in Orange County, CA, a wine cellar is the most ideal.

It is always better to have your wine cellar constructed in your own house. A residential wine cellar provides the convenience of accessing your favorite wine any time you want.

Having a custom designed wine cellar is also recommended. Your wine cellar is the place where you will store your beloved wine collection. Therefore, if you want to show off your wine collection to your guests and friends, you will have to show them your wine storage room, too. You’ll want to make sure that your wine cellar is designed to represent your style. Custom wine cellars are designed according to how your want them to look. Moreover, with custom wine cellars, you can make sure that the design of your wine storage room compliments the existing décor in your home.

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars – Trusted Wine Cellar Designer in Orange County, California

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars is a well known wine cellar design and construction company in California. They are reputable for creating beautiful wine cellar designs, that range from simple to extravagant. Moreover, all of their wine storage solutions are effective in providing wines with the ideal storage conditions. Coastal is known for consistently meeting their client’s satisfaction.

Have your dream residential custom wine cellar designed by Coastal Custom Wine Cellars today! For more information about Coastal and their products and services, contact them today at +1 (888) 735-8889!

Residential Wine Cellar Under the Stairway Closet California Installation

Residential Wine Cellar Under Stairway Closet California Installation – A Processed Video Transcription

Hello and thank you for visiting Coastal Custom Wine Cellars!

I’m going to take you on a tour of a small wine cellar conversion project that we recently completed in Southern California, and then we’ll take a look at the design package for this particular residential wine cellar California project as well.  This is a closet that was situated underneath the stairway.

Residential Wine Cellar Under Stairway Closet California Installation
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As you enter, it is certainly tall enough to walk into and maneuver for about 4 feet and then it rapidly descended to about a 5 feet height and took a right under 3 feet.  It is limited in size because the back wall here is an exterior wall and made refrigeration method quite easy to select and to install.

Residential Wine Cellar Design – The Drawings

Let’s take a look at the drawings and then we’ll come back to some of the completed pictures of the residential wine cellar.  This is an overhead view of the wine room.

The entry is up here on the top left and the walls are labeled A, B, C, and D, all the perimeter dimensions are posted, and on the top right of every page, in this particular page, you get the total capacity of 404 bottles.  There’s not a lot of room to enter the area.

Wine Cellar Drawing Overhead View

Wine Cellar Drawing Overhead View

So, this Elevation A we utilized a 6″ deep component that will lay the bottles sideways.  We’ll take a look at that in a moment, but they’re label forward horizontal displays inverses a 13 1/2″ deep rack, which certainly allowed for more room to maneuver in the wine room and certainly didn’t impede the entry.

Elevation A was label forward horizontal displays.  They stair step down to allow for the change in height of the ceiling because of the stair.  The side elevations show the depths of the wine rack and we’ve got the height at its highest point.

Elevation B is the back wall across from the entry.  It’s the exterior wall I mentioned and we’ve got a series of X-bins for bulk storage below, a little bit of single bottle storage above that before we hit a display row.

Wine Display Area

This is called a high reveal display row and as you’ll see here from the side view it’s pitched to the 15 degree angle so the liquid stays in contact with the cork.  We’ve got a beautiful way to display the wines, lending some character to the area.

High Reveal Display Row

High Reveal Display Row

It’s a good management tool because you can place like wines above and below the display row.  Nestled back deep in the wine cellar is the end wall.

We actually placed a wine cellar cooling unit.  The reason this is a bit shorter than the other racks is because we placed the wine cellar cooling unit right above here, which we’ll see in some of the photographs.

Wine Racks Design Specifications

This small rack made a transition from the back wall to the right side wall and then as we come back towards the entry, we’ve got some bin storage, open bins for bulk and some more single bottle storage.

These are 3D visuals of the area, as you can see the entry and how it kind of made that L-shaped back to the rear portion here.  It turned out nice.  I think you’ll agree when you take a look at some of these photos.

3D Design - Residential Wine Cellar California

3D Design – Residential Wine Cellar California

This wine cellar was created in a Philippine mahogany and we put what’s called a Chappo stain on it with a clear lacquer finish to give it a little bit of a luster.  This is the entry, obviously after.

Wine Cellar Art Painting by Janina Pazdan

Wine Cellar Art Painting on the Wall and Ceiling

Wine Cellar Art Painting on the Wall and Ceiling

We had an artist come in and do some faux painting.  The theme of this wine cellar art by Janina Pazdan is a grapevine.

If you live in Southern California, specifically Los Angeles and Orange County, we could make her services available to you as well.  You see a little bit of that faux wine cellar art painting here on the slope ceiling, that’s the left side as you enter.  The back wall with the X cubes.

Oak Wine Barrel Flooring

Oak Wine Barrel Flooring

Oak Wine Barrel Flooring

We also utilized oak barrel series flooring.  These are random links of tongue and groove style boards.  They actually have some stampings or brandings from the cooperage on the top of the barrel.

These are the display row.  Isn’t that beautiful?  LED lighting, by the way, is on a separate switch with a dimmer so we can control the mood.

Here’s a little close up picture of some of the cooperage flooring, and our base molding.  A close up of our LED lights.  We had a little patching to do here, but that was remedied.

Split Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

WhisperKOOL Split Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

WhisperKOOL Split Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

This is a WhisperKOOL Platinum mini split wine cellar cooling unit and it easily keeps the room at 55 to 57 degrees, minimal noise.  As a matter of fact, I don’t think you would hear the noise anywhere but inside the wine cellar.  You won’t hear it outside the residential wine cellar.

That’s me after a couple of glasses of wine.  Cheers!

Wine Cellar Conversion - Before and After Photos

Wine Cellar Conversion – Before and After Photos

 

 

 

 

Completed Residential Wine Cellar California

Completed Residential Wine Cellar California

 

 

Residential Wine Cellar Refrigeration Installation Project in Aliso Viejo California

Choosing the right type of wine cellar refrigeration system spells the difference between enhancing the quality of wines and hindering their aging process.

Wine Cellar Refrigeration and Proper Wine Storage

Wine Cellar Refrigeration & Proper Wine Storage

The proper wine cellar cooling systems will help maintain the ideal temperature level and provide the right amount of humidity in a custom wine room for wines to reach their aging potential.

To help determine the type of wine cellar cooling systems that is most compatible with a particular wine cellar space, there are several factors that need to be considered.  These key factors are: location of the wine room, room size, ambient conditions, the size of the wine collection, and the client’s budget.

Addressing these elements, along with other constraints, will determine the proper wine cellar refrigeration that will help create an efficient and consistent wine storage environment.

Arctic Metalworks specializes in wine cellar construction and wine cellar refrigeration equipment.  Their products and services utilize the latest technological advances in the industry, which are proven to be effective and of high quality.

Arctic Metalworks Wine Cellar Cooling Systems Provider

Arctic Metalworks Wine Cellar Cooling Systems Provider

The company was established in 1962 and has a group of well-trained designers, technicians and craftsmen who deliver quality and trusted services.  They have already completed several wine cellar construction and wine cellar refrigeration installation projects for clients in Southern California.

Bode Project – The Original Set-Up of the Client’s Wine Cellar in Aliso Viejo California

Let’s take a look at a recently completed completed residential wine cellar refrigeration project of Arctic Metalworks in Aliso Viejo California.

Inefficient Wine Cellar Refrigeration is Harmful to Wines

Inefficient Wine Cellar Refrigeration is Harmful to Wines

This project involves the replacement of an existing wine cellar cooling system.

The wine cellar cooling equipment and the modular racking systems were originally installed by another team of wine cellar builders.

The wine racks turned out okay for what the client paid, but the residential wine cellar refrigeration unit created problems and entailed additional costs for the client.

The client was not at all happy with the outcome.

Getting Rid of Breezeaire Cooling Unit

Getting Rid of Breezeaire Cooling Unit

The original wine cellar refrigeration specialist installed a Breezaire cooling system that was not effective and efficient in maintaining the ideal climate conditions for proper wine storage.

The diagnosis of the Arctic team was that the residential wine cellar refrigeration equipment did not have enough power to reach the temperature of 55°F, which eventually led to the equipment icing up and leaking water.

This posed significant risks to the condition of the client’s wine collection, especially with regards to the wine aging process.

What Arctic Metalworks Did to Revive the Wine Cellar and Preserve the Client’s Wines

Arctic Metalworks tore out the brand new Breezaire wine cellar cooling systems and replaced it with an Arctic 0025 split refrigeration system.

split wine cellar refrigeration system divides the evaporator and condenser into two separate units.  This set up allows the noisiest part of the refrigeration equipment, the condensing unit, to be remotely located.

In this particular wine cellar cooling systems project, the condenser was placed outdoors.  This not only keeps the unit perpetually cool, but also eliminates noise and heat in the wine storage area.

Residential Wine Cellar Refrigeration Unit with the Evaporator and Condenser

Residential Wine Cellar Refrigeration Unit with the Evaporator and Condenser

Arctic Metalworks always emphasizes that noise is a factor that must be avoided inside the wine cellar, as it can cause significant disturbance in the natural aging process of wine.

Since the Arctic 0025 is a ductless split wine cellar cooling system, it does not require an adjacent room to exhaust heat.  It is also not necessary to install a ducting system to supply cool air into and exhaust warm air away from the wine cellar.

The evaporator unit of this residential wine cellar refrigeration equipment was installed inside the wine room and is connected to the condenser by a line set.  This line set is composed of a copper tubing and electrical wiring.

Products and Services of Arctic Metalworks

Arctic Metalworks Products and Services

Arctic Metalworks Products and Services

The Arctic team provides warranty on parts and labor.  In addition, they have a full team of qualified technicians that will conduct on-site repair and maintenance service when needed.

Arctic Metalworks has a 1% call back rate on all of their refrigeration equipment, thus making their products the most dependable on the market.

Arctic Metalworks is a family owned and operated business that specializes in wine cellar cooling systems and maintenance services in both commercial and residential applications.

As a wine cellar refrigeration expert in Southern California, Arctic Metalworks provides wine cellar cooling systems, commercial refrigeration equipment, custom wine racks, heating and cooling air conditioning units, and wine cellar construction and renovation services.

Check out Arctic Metalworks on Google Maps to find their location, or connect with them through Yelp.  Click here: Arctic Metalworks Wine Cellar Refrigeration Installation Expert.

The Importance of Wine Cellar Insulation

Custom wine cellars are the perfect place to store wines, because they are able to provide them with the ideal conditions, so that they age properly. Wine cellar insulation is an integral part of the ability of a wine cellar to do this. A wine cellar in Orange County that does not have proper insulation is practically useless. Some people build their own residential wine cellars without any vapor barriers. If you are a genuine wine lover, you need to understand the importance of proper insulation and vapor barriers.

Problems Caused by Poor Custom Wine Cellar Insulation

Many problems can arise from a poorly built custom wine cellar. You will have to deal with mold problems and/or the need for more moisture. Also, if your cellar is poorly constructed, your wine cellar cooling system will have to use up more energy to function. This will wear out the wine cellar cooling unit fast!

Moreover, a wine cellar in Orange County that is poorly insulated will have problems providing the right humidity for wine storage. Ideally, the humidity level in a wine cellar is 55 to 75%. Humidity is very important in a custom wine cellar in CA, because it helps keep the wine corks moist. Wine corks shrink when they become dry, and when they do, air can get in and ruin your wine.

Thermal Insulation, Air Barrier and Vapor Barrier

There are many kinds of wine cellar insulation. One of the best kinds is Closed Cell spray foam, which is also referred to as medium density or 2 pound insulation. This product is liquid that turns to foam and expands to 20-30 times its liquid size, creating an air-tight seal. Once it has expanded, it seldom needs trimming, with little to no waste. This type of insulation is very durable and is able to increase the shear and racking strength effectively. This product is a Code Approved Vapor Barrier and has a permeability rating 45ng. It is also a Code Approved Air Barrier and Thermal Insulation.

Other Factors That Help Creating Proper Wine Storage

Wine insulation is one of the most important things in creating the right storage conditions for wine storage. Along with good wine cellar insulation, you need to have your residential wine cellar designed and built by a professional. You also need an efficient wine cellar cooling unit to keep the temperature and humidity inside the storage room at the ideal levels.

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars provides more tips on how to create the perfect resting place for your favorite wines. They also have wine cellar professionals who can provide you with a free consultation and design of your dream custom wine cellar in Los Angeles, California.

Home Wine Cellars Orange County California – A Wine Enclave Fit for a Wine Geek

Wine Cellar Construction Orange County California Project

Wine Cellar Construction Orange County California Project

California wine geeks not only love collecting different kinds of wines, but also throwing wine tasting parties and hosting wine dinners at their custom home wine cellars Orange County California.  The main goal of wine cellar construction is to create the best possible environment for long-term storage, as well as design a comfortable space for entertaining.

More often than not, the most dedicated and passionate wine collectors install a private wine room in the confines of their home because it affords them access to their vintages at any time, while also allowing them to grow their collection.  Home wine cellars Orange County California are designed and constructed with the aesthetic preferences, storage needs, and budgetary requirements of the client in mind.

Home Wine Cellars Orange County California – The Wine Racks Used 

This particular wine cellar construction Orange County California project demonstrates how a simple room can be converted into a climate controlled wine storage space that can accommodate 2, 772 wine bottles.  For maximum storage space, home wine cellars Orange County California builders installed a combination of custom and semi-custom wooden wine racks, constructed in Premium Redwood.

Wooden Wine Racks

Wooden Wine Racks – Orange County California Project

The integration of different styles of wooden wine racks with varying bottle openings, ranging from 375ml, 750ml, and 1.5 liters, allowed the collector to organize and display wine bottles of different sizes and shapes.  Premium Redwood was the material of choice for the racking system because of the wood’s natural beauty, durability, non-aromatic quality, and resistance to decay.

Wooden wine racks for this custom wine cellar construction Orange County California project include a high reveal display row that runs across the back wall and continues along the left wall.  Concealed LED ribbon lighting dramatically highlights the client’s favorite wine labels on the display column.  It also features a tabletop made from the same wood material as the wine racking, coated with a clear lacquer finish to protect against spills and stains.

Wooden Wine Racks for Home Wine Cellars Orange County California

Wooden Wine Racks for Home Wine Cellars Orange County California

In order to achieve optimal storage capacity, wine cellar construction Orange County California builders incorporated single bottle storage racks with a depth of 23 inches on the left side of the wall, and a combination of single and double deep racks on the back wall.

Bottle racking with small and large openings provides additional storage space for splits and magnums, respectively.  To accommodate the client’s Pax Syrah collection, 7 columns with 4” x 4” bottle openings were added to the leftmost side of the racking frame on the right wall.

Wine Cellar Cooling as Part of the Wine Cellar Design and Construction Process 

Maintaining a stable wine storage environment is a crucial element of wine cellar construction.  An efficient custom wine room requires proper wine cellar cooling, which will help facilitate the aging process by regulating temperature and humidity levels inside the storage space.

Wine Cellar Cooling Unit with Wooden Grill Cover

Wine Cellar Cooling Unit with Wooden Grill Cover

wine cellar cooling split system from US Cellars was installed to help achieve the ideal climate conditions.  The Rack Cool Series wine cellar cooling unit is designed to eliminate fan noise and heat discharge.  The evaporator was mounted within the racking frame, while the condenser was placed in a remote location.

A specially made wood grill box cover keeps the refrigeration equipment hidden from view.  Constructed in Premium Redwood, it blends well with the rest of the wine cellar furniture, and creates a smooth and even appearance.

Home Wine Cellars Orange County California Project by Coastal

Home Wine Cellars Orange County California Project by Coastal

A properly constructed custom wine room must satisfy several prerequisites of wine cellar construction, such as properly installed insulation, vapor barriers, and an exterior grade entry door.  Satisfying these conditions will help create a wine cellar environment that is conducive for storing and aging wines.